 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 % U# U8 d! v( @2 Z, A- Z7 B; k- _
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
) v9 a$ t: }- O8 Mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 a# N4 x, [& u. \! s
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 G! C* F* P( m
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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$ k& N2 [6 D# s, ?3 k7 Q1 R( cSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if $ g( i2 U- H1 i
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 c/ Q* {1 O" O/ Z/ G# Oand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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# i( ?. ^7 V% R" l* D$ H6 \7 u* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
0 ^4 C) ^! k% ?8 E3 D0 vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( D* y1 [$ v# }, R; L Aseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
, b* m9 s; ]: _5 p7 uget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 ~: ?, |2 t I& A! A, h& o
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on r5 W, m7 f8 Y2 M# @2 A
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' U. |; l9 r8 W7 O5 k
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) u6 v. r" o* ~ zhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
" o v' s8 P6 Gcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % ?6 F& D6 p" [( C; }8 c. |# `
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ Y) m$ X( Q( h! [! I. Kthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; C6 a' W2 k5 k2 w2 I3 o7 Onever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
_1 Q% p/ D& hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.: z8 D( {" H0 B4 Y6 k
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
5 R2 P$ T! R& {* gproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' ^. I2 O3 x! |that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 2 R! N4 g1 B) S+ h% T
price., }# \3 k0 A9 b! t* }8 }# Z
' f& H* Y3 y4 @8 H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
1 l. ]4 F# H- d0 o( g! k& d9 |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 E) i9 {( `5 U' {$ gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 b. h# T. ?" m" y+ ^ o) Pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 }3 Z! \* ?! ?& g8 x/ j! F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % \5 A( G- i# M
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 Z, v! |) R) G. b. k0 i
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. T9 I3 f8 X. Idie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 p2 _$ @2 e; ]4 @! V
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 u% t1 b; x- a. M8 r4 d$ o
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; @ Q( W# g$ C, m* Vprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# g+ P# ]$ o+ Hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ; m V8 B3 Z* H9 R$ g5 ?
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 q. k8 }5 b" O: _
better chance you have of securing the best deal.; t% H. m) E- k3 v; k
3 s7 K4 Y7 y8 z9 u* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& g, C/ p/ _8 Z- ~! pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 T. a. q+ n( T" xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . L9 P. R& l, @* ]& U* P
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # ^7 s- k8 s; a1 e- B+ j
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * x3 a3 g" l4 [* ^* O6 E
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ( ]) j1 {+ @% I' D' p. m
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
* D- n5 \; I1 S& N) z( I) U* D3 pwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 a' C+ W: E; ` \' V. R1 n
he’ll close. |
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