 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
$ w+ S$ X+ o2 f# yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
6 W# G0 `& S b! D1 zbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( U* a2 Q+ O2 d( a# L
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + t5 ?8 w8 a6 ?
begging 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 . K! r: N3 l2 M9 B0 Z0 \* U
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! q7 \" f6 [. R' Cand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); H! ~" c* B0 p! S% U
; j/ Y5 r5 U7 Q* Q; g. f' s) a* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ; S% C+ y- O; J
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 T0 E' `& U4 s0 {; nseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; u( D) q" n O) q2 }7 p* Vget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.4 R# U8 x% ~# G
/ n6 e3 K1 v) J# x. a8 J* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on * j" U* L; x; b( n! r9 ]8 C, _+ }, n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " j4 s) e5 m) c5 M$ ^! |
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: B" x0 G& x4 x# Phaving a powerful psychological impact.4 y q- a- i6 P0 e
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & \% }& Q* I, B1 e
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " q9 E" ]8 o4 U R9 c
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 c2 y& a1 Y( [* ~/ Xthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you , f+ K3 D/ O6 I. V q/ m
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
9 |" S- A' U+ K8 Q( kwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price., U8 ~5 s1 |, i+ Z0 r% x. a
5 U2 H# q: A* V/ E) O& ?, [9 F: u, O* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another $ ? {# a) V6 n6 ~6 Y6 E8 p
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ g- v2 y9 ]1 J7 l- G$ n* ethat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
5 x2 a* E( t2 ]9 `" R* d6 x jprice.: N0 k8 G& l% e k" k) p. ^
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! f( Y, }4 f8 t j- M) ~business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ' ~) O- d- F$ s; F6 @1 L
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % }* M' w; t' K! Y- w% l# V
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ) K4 |5 C6 a: U/ J0 x3 z+ t0 Z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; _$ k; m$ i5 ~. p4 R- @the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 T" Z; C/ ?% d4 o! H8 t, b, l4 @
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% X& f* v' d5 O% N8 R* T& Ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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0 d: y W8 H S" k8 l) O% l- _* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 w: A3 t" c3 f1 K. [5 Q7 Gyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& a- ^/ n4 ?% F. u- G- d5 l: _price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - v( f: g w$ q/ S
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 5 O1 j7 D2 i# i2 ]( P" O
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- c# s" w) m7 s/ W+ x: C4 Rbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.3 ~$ i, S* `( m& i, e9 f: ~0 U& p8 m
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 @6 r4 U2 i) o
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 d, h: G/ j& f9 k( j4 y
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( H1 V# m% z/ Y# W( f
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
- U" ^5 a* l9 Y* l: F! c" t" L6 vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ B$ l2 J2 u2 x% \& j c: W5 i$ D
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 & g& n' y% y$ r: o2 l
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 _3 v, L- I2 qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 z8 {( A5 G8 H6 P
he’ll close. |
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