 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, I: j+ ?2 E; m" ^ J3 _% ^) Vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the M& Z9 E2 i8 T1 N! D9 k. B
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, b. z4 y; U3 Z# zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# V' w2 i1 y+ g. n- p1 gbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 3 Q0 t i* \0 O2 \2 G
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ) H/ V+ c% _6 @& ?( k
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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1 x3 t; v8 D8 P- l, m/ n5 K! j* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many . q) w! O' ~8 w9 H: w
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . @6 `/ ^7 i- q4 F8 B7 M
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 r- C$ A9 s1 A' t) Dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with., J( o5 R" O) Y- |+ ~$ m3 k
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
9 \* l7 @" T: p1 bthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 p) w# U+ ]$ D
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / t( {5 O5 b e0 m1 \" M7 L; G
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 O# }8 T4 V5 P. D- X1 Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ) s" s+ l5 J7 S+ t8 d: l' a' D! x
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" ]2 ~% J% \% I$ ^) {/ ythe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ K i4 J: Z7 R/ C" ^7 K: p! ?- z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 Z6 Q# ^) _! W+ \what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
/ ~" Z3 ?5 D: a( X6 H- xproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
- U! r) Z3 \: q, q& ^# ?7 dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 W8 U* x% ^2 \! s( R* \
price.5 I: U" d% q. Q7 H! L1 c: H8 N, T' J
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' F4 _ ^; \/ F& T4 v. O) [business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) z+ c; P! ]( x% ^expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
5 c0 c& q1 ]& A# Y0 m3 Y7 Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ \8 ], E8 S+ Q$ fhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of - Z" C8 f: Z* o3 M
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ' y. s5 d4 Z: I" n" j
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will # H/ |. N* f/ g; \1 ~
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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+ r) {8 ]9 z# M9 |* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 9 i9 ~+ j! v8 c2 x6 d
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 5 C* n2 X: f! p# s# s( m! o
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " ]% @! P/ g: ^4 l* q: X' h3 z
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : Z' `. D- O+ M7 g4 @
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
U# s( h( V5 w0 H# t, kbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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5 p) d# L, m6 B1 m" K5 T* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 t/ ~/ r2 j! ?4 }# \9 [properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 z& I" g9 e4 q, D+ z( Q# `# i
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) P6 |% d" Y$ ^4 g1 U: }* N% Tto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ) p4 w4 k& e4 g& ~4 e9 F1 t
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
# q/ U7 `5 D# _buyers in during the bubble years.7 g2 e: e( S; j$ O$ l S. A* H6 `
7 S/ }$ M- D2 @: r3 Q7 Z' p* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
. t& j0 Y% Y# [# kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 c. t9 f: K+ g1 Q6 b+ O
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
( w- d. h: _3 j2 t: q/ s Ohe’ll close. |
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