 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
" H; w0 E5 C$ M' s. P9 |falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * n1 M3 {7 y7 u' \2 R$ E
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 C( Q% |- e2 d& ~* n
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , C5 H& W# E0 p! o
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% a- s, W, t y: j/ I: X
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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 + ?& a! j* [. U7 D m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
& o) J1 L/ p6 W. ]" H3 m- Sand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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Q! ]' m5 ~% s* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many * T) Q/ ]% H% T" }! _
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* r& \' o8 b: n3 _; a+ J- R! K7 g! j1 wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " |9 Q$ p4 N& |4 M5 m2 g
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with. R! R$ C1 g# F/ \: f
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # ?7 G/ u U% {
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
e n) c2 w, C: G) b" A4 k2 Lcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 N7 h% l3 Q# k& ]; ? y+ _having a powerful psychological impact.
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& }3 A- [ V" A3 @7 x) b& I- t* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
7 @4 x: n0 E: Ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; `1 I# l a5 [. qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) \) W, Q i& [- V" K3 I+ f w
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 ~; @- p2 C5 `5 fnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
' t. a/ Q3 @9 _# f* nwhat 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
7 K/ }: Y P& M: V$ V# W% wproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 H& s5 I5 E- x9 |; N* r, c* athat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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) {" i' R: `) h( C+ a* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
; r8 {' a$ c' N' |; p; S9 j7 [/ ]business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: B7 c1 Y: C( f+ Lexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ) T$ k, o* n" [* T
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you |, R3 S8 c3 M# \2 P
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of q. d8 V5 ^2 ~" ?( a* W. ?5 x8 c
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
: K( X+ c$ m" p4 b" W3 ~6 DSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ H- D; I% l% m1 Q( e$ Qdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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2 l7 z2 b- m. h, [9 n9 Y2 _* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; z0 J. J. b, myour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 \; D( y. D% T7 a- E; r0 l
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
F1 l4 G; b; Qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & I/ W2 J4 m* Q/ x3 f1 B7 j; j$ N
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" Z1 C4 [0 f# Q% h( c( o M$ Hbetter 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 9 {9 s5 }$ S7 G- F- u9 P
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; o2 b M6 P9 c) F* D* S0 J
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * d$ Y9 v; R% I( j9 l3 [7 m
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 2 V2 D" g6 }) u( Z% B9 F0 A
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
* p8 L7 k( c. Rbuyers in during the bubble years. q! ?. {8 A5 i7 `
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' N$ Q# V4 S6 T) h" u$ l+ p
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * | R% ~" w/ g
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 c: y9 m4 _' Q g
he’ll close. |
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