 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 0 k- ^1 ]0 @5 |
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
; k. ^% B+ o. M9 t8 `7 T3 Nbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- k( J' ?. W$ u1 v: Q' ?$ sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% {0 a, n: _" e& j' X3 ebegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% b5 U! l' f# A0 Z5 Q. O. x
( V3 k/ p5 z! ~$ K2 tSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
7 W5 c) W5 }" D2 W7 o/ j) ~# ~; Hyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 0 m3 F( ^3 f: e- F5 z
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' K0 q- k: u2 k9 g$ a5 p& p
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 M( O7 K' L! i) h- |0 [properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
. @7 z: F4 ]5 y3 B4 gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you / {! u7 \: a' N1 i
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
/ b, k# Y' T# o* Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
% u% n$ Q4 G) Q& ccashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / k% o5 m V" ^' U
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 c5 ^7 s* a8 o3 M* C. z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in * ~7 j- R, E5 u) {+ L# J# o2 d: I
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# W* ?& p5 E) @; Y: Sthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ; Q6 C; K. @5 K. c( ]4 r
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / X: | y( O* y; G/ X
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
- W+ @! `/ n% m( ^- ?' vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
5 ]( q0 o% f2 n- ^" R4 ^that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 z# t, ~3 T( X) _3 [: y
price.
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$ n4 U1 r( v }4 o/ \1 n( s* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 ]; n# g% Z1 e
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / f7 e; d& h: A* U
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ! F; R. |2 T3 R( Z8 W8 U
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' ]0 w4 D U! y
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
4 A2 v; _+ Q$ R% |7 h5 [9 [+ ~the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
4 Q# s0 I2 Q0 I% d( b' QSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ O0 Y( B, I5 w0 K: odie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.$ V s6 V' c, P
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # F5 u0 ~8 @4 G+ v: S
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: J0 j9 n1 b1 V- X. l+ {( yprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into |9 `# A* W( h% _% f' ]
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 5 ~. v4 A; T. I. L
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / h4 p1 H4 q2 I8 b3 {
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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0 ?/ D) L$ J. N5 {! A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing : u3 C J; I. ?8 y1 O- J
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 e! ]$ F4 K3 G3 b' ^! iwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 _/ W6 Q% I2 k2 m
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ M8 F7 Q) ~1 [consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 i0 F2 w% A8 P; t" t* l
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 6 d |; M% f2 s' C3 m7 H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' A& }+ y# q2 o! f# p& f% qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
* i3 v$ r. f8 v2 K, C6 v& D, ^he’ll close. |
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