 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
. i2 U4 X. P2 jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 p2 S! G4 O8 n' A7 i1 h. e: Hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' N& v8 Y1 S- k: D1 Z( d" athe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and / g6 `- g& t6 F8 U% O* M; _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& u- F) P. f: S- T+ W, T/ d
" z. a4 K4 |: B- fSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 3 i; X) _. B3 M: |9 @
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % T- B* b" Z* `% W9 C- A }
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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: |0 Z V- f: Z( \0 J* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 l: W0 A$ D+ w& K, ~( E
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* X7 x' m. U( h+ k. Z) |4 r3 Y; Fseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; L+ K' d* C# a& K7 O1 ?get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ n# d, K# M1 v, I6 }) S
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 3 \) ^8 W" |+ @: ^0 \
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) _, C0 M0 a& {$ A5 Tcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 A+ ~- I1 w: f/ @2 w- [
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 L$ D$ o4 r3 r- F g" u
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; X8 t0 f" S W+ @4 L" r
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 5 H2 n7 T8 z. ^- h+ e. e
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
& B$ p, v1 S! {9 C$ i8 w6 Wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
. ~% P5 k3 U6 t0 x) c5 ~2 ^7 `what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.* P5 n# I3 v9 N4 M* t8 j- W
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
! O5 d5 w' h6 h9 q& Vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 p1 \1 t; d5 r: Y2 \
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ) x$ g* P$ X- ~- j$ T1 [' y
price.
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, s, [3 o+ x% E5 @& p' X7 @* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 z0 N% `7 s6 x3 y/ [ F; \6 Hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ; ~# W; d$ I: C/ c
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of : D0 M2 g) l( Y# t: g; N
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
3 Y1 f! E' h7 V- Ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * S8 \' ?7 b, i8 ?( r7 B
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 |- c$ `3 F8 c4 E4 G# e& n! R8 x" k
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will - X0 ~8 @7 f3 d
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 h' ]" l% `6 n
! }" r9 W. m2 y5 W& \2 E3 R' F* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ! H, a7 j' ^& {4 X8 q6 E7 G
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ o8 r9 e& e9 t: a8 [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 9 I) w9 o- a* ]" p* r1 _
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' J: K1 }, X2 P$ o; S1 L# t
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
. r% S' } T0 a) V8 r% Ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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; D, i, o2 C- z; W3 W* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! D9 U+ w& N+ M) p% U7 P
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 Y# Q" g0 D2 X- {: s
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
* k' @, p. g" Cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
( i( a* v2 @) p4 bconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ @* k% V& C; W2 T) h4 d
buyers in during the bubble years.9 F8 `) P( P5 [7 e; F! _& {9 `
8 o' V4 y4 [: H. C f' r1 I* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 e2 x; T4 z* [4 K1 U( o
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; L4 b& y& i) i$ }# ^6 N* F( J1 y; I
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
6 w/ m. Z7 x+ A1 `5 ]* F/ ghe’ll close. |
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