 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 9 g2 K5 V: N" a$ P& q8 y
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + ~0 ~5 ~# W; [5 ]# J9 c
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 H& ]* w9 \% G
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
$ s0 ]' y6 m ?. U5 k9 _: Xbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.) r7 Y+ c; @9 w
; J5 h# i4 f- ]1 B, Y) QSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
+ H5 t1 v' R; xyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , k+ w1 x% \- @8 J" M( S
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.): j5 {1 d& r3 q# ]/ @) l
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + m" g7 i0 y' j0 n
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 0 w% d) I, Z/ c) R
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' b: @# m" \0 m# F; t% B9 g" e8 S- f
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& \0 y: M5 j# x/ \& nthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 i( G9 T7 T* l# Q* N; p4 w9 Q
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ r# |* [) I( u$ z1 N0 Dhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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; l: E! M+ g7 c0 i* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 ?7 U! s+ Y/ x5 ^* ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
5 Z8 y; E( W: A& f2 x- g torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 E4 \7 Q0 O6 m7 u+ |" `the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 0 ]: ?! t: \: B) g D E3 f
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) P" W9 a- s5 i% v9 Y! _
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 L! _) |- K3 |2 O
& u p, |8 j9 \ D* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
: B! Y. ~. h9 A" F+ v R4 k, j9 u0 Lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 6 Z0 _) [ ]; `" ^) j& ^
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that " b* z( l0 }. @6 l
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
) @2 ~0 d0 Y& cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
. e2 @" A6 l3 U+ J/ R- I2 Gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
# ]# c" b8 l$ s9 m" n; Twork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 Y+ S2 }4 o- ehave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 P! _1 |) [- y$ lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 _2 O' o2 T& eSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ( Y; Q( `; L: A# O# L0 t7 A
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: Z7 q1 A6 a: S- {& z
1 p1 R u9 `; j/ Y' J( [1 Z4 m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
q$ O; Z9 j& h5 b" A5 }your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
) h8 \, T; ]7 Tprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # }; s$ c# f- s; G
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The X& l6 Q2 Z* P; c0 m' y, a' w) M
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
; Z. R: ^; a5 r5 a* n% Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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" `$ I k6 F# ~1 w* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 5 _9 j3 A. B# s4 Z" N
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
* F& Z; t: ]* G+ P6 A8 T& j. u7 d/ uwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
G# O0 M# U, Qto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) j n ?+ M* J6 Kconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 Z# t5 M. x- n, P) Y' W
buyers in during the bubble years.) e0 \/ Y' V M) v. g# I& @( g( p
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
3 D% c- }5 u# b+ `4 W6 n6 [; B- _die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
/ X: X4 B; s- W& k6 |% w4 \; y) @; swill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ m, }* P' H- x& q4 d1 s* ?he’ll close. |
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