 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
8 k% O8 w+ A# ^. Ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' S: x6 q# x9 ?7 j! L3 V; _3 Mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& Y: d7 t! y% B" J" mthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : g. `1 _: p3 C# ~# G
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.# n& d1 ^- c0 L8 v' _, D+ m5 Q
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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 $ f' ] A0 s+ ]8 V5 L" o8 V/ s
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ( c: _; E( d. ?; @ a, ~5 N
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) z6 x6 r) c$ k* K
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
& G& g, f6 h% D- q( kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 N( V T7 @7 _/ Y L! Iseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ) a: H* y1 v- J1 ^
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& o( B) Z) X* _( Z3 ^) ]the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 X7 A2 U" F- S3 N( E$ n# s
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. q+ t9 l2 q, I" Ohaving a powerful psychological impact.6 u# N3 ?# U0 s' T0 r' c
/ b8 e! u) i! ^6 P4 v T5 b* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 ]7 D4 ~ L. K* Pcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 6 V! n: q0 k' E8 k, I0 I* k
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
; m! m, c& _) _8 `6 l2 Ythe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % m' V6 ~$ h& q3 o
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ! v q; Q5 ?3 s6 Z! C. b
what 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 1 H0 W- J, M# O
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 1 w8 p, I) u. b; d5 J9 c' ]7 A2 c
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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9 S1 S ^9 d9 H5 C7 Z! o6 y* Z5 N9 \* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 `. ?# ]1 w( @+ ]3 m" F# h
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
6 q4 A* `. v5 z8 w+ bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
8 T6 a' A$ K7 E/ {3 Cwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 `" i3 ~- L# H9 w/ f
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
/ R3 f5 ~* P+ v. bthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
* q6 o/ u6 v- @2 L4 FSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will . y' y) i2 w" G6 p$ ^
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 z; Q* |. @# l. c9 Y) N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 n, l6 A6 y' ?9 ~
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into $ M: V p2 G) _
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 a2 w( u. ~. g4 [6 Z. `+ h
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - c3 a) C e% }5 c5 u( W5 E0 b
better 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
% v( d+ ~ g5 s' R3 y/ Y( l- Zproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
1 Q% {8 d" U: a. Jwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; E8 ]4 F7 h0 u. ^: {7 G; T9 z- Hto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * X9 k. e' m4 ?, l
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 Z2 y0 @( E" w6 \buyers in during the bubble years.: }3 b8 ?6 Z7 @: D! h! H: v
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
' M2 z: k) D5 D/ Y% _4 v1 _7 P" pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' z. b, }* i+ F1 R$ o. K" A; t
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 ]! F! W9 j; h% \ {% qhe’ll close. |
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