 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
5 ?7 X/ B* S/ d! H) ~- e2 Efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , C2 Z$ X3 \' ?$ _& k1 N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all % w* F$ p ^" }( F
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : O; W; \9 f8 V4 `* S
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.. E1 Z7 ]4 Q% H& m3 F. Y
/ P% b5 d J: s! q0 _So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
1 ~+ Q6 Z8 F8 ^2 gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 \) m0 m( i8 z- ?and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); y7 N, S) G1 E
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many t2 a7 T! y# W8 B$ A( U$ ]2 P
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . T4 P5 P( ~- L/ B/ t
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 d8 R9 F, b; L- W8 p4 e" i/ Sget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! c2 ?9 u9 B" C# F6 i! ]: W
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( p- w5 I' ]& p: y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! `8 \' X5 Q4 R2 @0 Q$ ucashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " ^3 Q9 V5 R' H( l9 c/ G
having a powerful psychological impact.
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" z" j8 v9 {+ x/ i$ I/ r5 R. c* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 F3 E6 Y5 D% Gcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 7 @5 u* J' C2 E4 U/ o% Y, ]& }1 E
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 k5 ]; q' v! P* B
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* T# Z# O+ E! {* p6 \never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; ?4 H5 w b W! H! J {3 m- e8 o
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 / a! k! _9 b+ e- Z# }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* A; D* X7 G; r6 H& u0 z6 Ythat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* H7 I6 C) `) S' K* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- E7 e% W; U/ X! I/ Z. bbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 3 Z3 X, \$ |: X, y) z0 Z) K8 F( e7 w
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 V O& B5 U. k
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ I7 g7 f9 K9 W
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % R* L6 w; [- `: Z- m. O% O; \
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ s5 P# q: N# @+ _/ \; nSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 F0 g/ P; E7 ^6 ]: k: @die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 ^8 A; m0 D2 Z5 U1 O" ]& r! X
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 P: v. z9 A; g& r/ f* g
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 S$ }3 w! E; c% a1 v$ @4 F2 {price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 V7 X$ X7 _% @$ ]7 Q& x* z2 Uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
. V9 I$ R$ z m/ s; o$ O) Pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the $ d( A. S- h* z/ [& u( @
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ H2 E. X: w3 j. ]! \9 H2 Y: u
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 5 `2 {! h. g" j3 K4 R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 9 _3 j/ s: S0 ]+ X, d
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
+ ]# W7 q$ C! z+ d" S: ]to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! |$ w+ Z2 F) U2 ~1 }' dconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % U$ w9 b9 c* v7 ~) k: @% G( p9 }
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 7 t! s& y8 W; l/ c4 W& m+ H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( u7 D9 r; g$ D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but & ]# s. J, E! z
he’ll close. |
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