 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 . o2 r* ~: O/ a9 A H/ r9 w
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the # _+ M% l2 u0 }
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ' q& v. _+ B/ R
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # ^, }, H" c4 X& `2 M) C0 P
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 b" y# ?2 V9 K) ]
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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 " b: B0 ?2 I9 s- i% ~" R! }
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
V) S. }: V( ]2 @, `0 M2 wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)4 }1 @- O6 d! x0 F, r
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) M% x& G% `2 Lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 s1 R7 d( t, l9 C3 Y pseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
9 f3 `. ~5 `! F! g& ]8 F4 Nget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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Q Z7 }( l' C* B* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
( k- C8 u' P' H, [/ ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
& |+ b$ b( S& ^cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % b! E3 D1 e) u2 Z' P$ g
having a powerful psychological impact.2 E5 |* @& |/ U& `+ t3 T
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . ]5 [# Y! D3 m. R6 K6 G( w
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - [+ Q: z/ M/ \" x) Y. B! ~( H
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 U4 @/ @7 W, V2 t! S" v, a
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
/ M' k! h( x3 ]; `/ dnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; `6 N) N- A+ R3 twhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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7 n, L& ` i- k* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
9 D& _$ `" ?( h7 q' @0 K& a0 Fproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know - S. ~3 Y. ]( i% j
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * E0 s) w" ^& o- c- W* k! h
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ A- f5 k) l2 r7 vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" G( J6 k( |" E# |expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of e! D1 F* C6 s8 d2 m" S
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you Q5 r) h! {& T# u% z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
7 F( o+ k$ y2 I' n( X7 |. sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
q- C; n2 Z% R6 k1 J: S( m; MSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will / l; w! ]9 R* @4 E
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 h1 w. Z) N0 t
( P$ v ~" L2 G8 Y1 L* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # }1 h7 r/ l. {8 x
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: l9 j2 y0 ^7 Xprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - o/ u' c/ w8 ^* L7 i
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 _5 P( y! a, k5 Y% z" \' |. cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ `: G' |2 K9 H$ Kbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 3 h- g$ m* C2 r: J- h1 q/ D
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 X9 s: W- g( f2 c) a
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 q j7 B {2 {1 L2 A+ X
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % Q) r7 t, _( R
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
7 t y* m7 }" _& c, _- mbuyers in during the bubble years.
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( E* Z8 G, t2 g% ]& ?9 L& Z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it A' `* e$ P# `! l/ g" K/ @, L
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 i6 o, Q8 e4 Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: V- W5 U2 u3 C \ Khe’ll close. |
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