 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
3 ~4 u5 k3 Q- T8 @) s3 O3 _. Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. Q6 [3 k f: Z8 I. Qbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( } V' H8 |8 k; x0 o
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 j( M3 d( a2 w) Rbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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" ^3 g) n/ L z" aSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ x3 _- F' W- G/ r% F0 vyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 ?' H: V- d7 Q8 xand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' F) |' J& F5 F+ N0 c# n) X7 F* n
6 x2 c W+ H0 E8 \* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 5 E* W, R9 L* M$ Y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken % `/ q4 [* |1 }9 k! d& z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( q4 l% w6 o& V
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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# P% W) X: I: M/ z* V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# e6 K" ]$ ^0 G; z( S/ Z; Vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
& _9 Z, A r; @9 D1 B- |4 |$ Q4 mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % W* [* y P7 H2 u5 X6 T3 R
having a powerful psychological impact.( t" z7 z( f Z7 f
6 ?. p" h7 ]% F- N* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 A* x( |0 D) e$ |6 Y& o; I* {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; x8 l# o- ]. s
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
) E' b- O# K) a. P7 ?; fthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ z( B5 o5 |' H% z( C% Y1 cnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 b0 H' u$ |0 K1 B/ b Y! Zwhat 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 z$ y; e/ w- h8 a% ]1 _
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 Q) Y' i8 h. I% ^that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 d' A* o/ e- k/ w: r6 x$ l! o" x3 Hprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 F( X' J4 @* P0 ^& G9 L# n# F
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
4 I8 v b _, O+ e! r$ Pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
6 d+ s) d- m& ~work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
' K& |4 h: p7 r3 E, O% H8 _5 Lhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . Z7 r" e# e% Y& B; A0 \
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
7 n1 |3 _: H% w0 Z3 RSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
8 Q: y8 ~0 `% p% cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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E7 Z- P; g' C1 f) P* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . Y5 C( l& w5 J5 ]
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 1 b# l# P s; `( c
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. O1 f: n5 z+ `; C+ S5 n9 gyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 2 a3 Q8 e6 Q$ o3 A: L
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
, }+ Y+ W; F5 m8 g- V$ `1 Jbetter chance you have of securing the best deal./ j; C: e3 D$ ~1 P+ H% g$ @" r
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing B1 U; C0 l# Z$ e
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That # D3 Y, S; B' L+ x& B) o6 n
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 u% _, P" Q1 Y5 Q
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 B8 q& \) [" c( f- r7 P! g% R
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
4 d7 y; x4 j/ N- ^# I' J% ~buyers in during the bubble years.
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_8 s- c' G& b8 O; u* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
- b& l; ^, N8 l( `4 \ F" Pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # z I2 {3 a- m% q8 s
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( @: `. x t- N. Y
he’ll close. |
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