 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 4 O# [3 {: @* @4 I$ a+ ~
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
; j+ k: O; [4 f% A/ n6 rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
. q- f4 P2 V) x8 I0 ythe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 ?! _* d( F/ ~2 X0 W; u: j" c. Z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ C) n& e1 w. v
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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 ; D) m. B- M( q! S1 J# @' T% p
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 j" w5 r; r0 Iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
3 ` W/ l$ [/ h7 l' l/ d1 {properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 h. O# |- B5 q" B0 y( E6 {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 k2 F8 I- N9 O' |/ ?9 v
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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' I6 x3 j! g9 u* V5 W/ C, h* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
) @: j" C u- R# I" R) athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
1 b4 W" E# i7 P2 \cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 7 ?- L% S. |4 b
having a powerful psychological impact.
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u% d6 Q6 N4 Z* v* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! ]4 F( W" h7 L& Q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 k, Q0 n6 |' V2 ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on / B4 e9 K; F; x/ u. s0 ]1 {& c* O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* H# e0 ]1 k& W9 B/ r4 A$ enever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 B4 C8 c0 Q" `$ V, Fwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# g; N. b! J" p+ U$ v
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " J# `/ w q u$ A) {6 k# G
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ' e- _, `. q( t1 b% g! n+ b
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* Z+ S& A+ r% t( o( g8 [5 m1 Wprice.
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E( m2 x( N% d/ B' m w* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* H6 Y" p$ a3 Ebusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s o- |$ G/ O( Z+ j0 J% U
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ I3 p) f% ~ m. E& N7 Q0 Qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
& d6 g/ I& O$ H [3 y xhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of + P7 q7 W% e, B! K6 ^! X3 f' @
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
% j3 U4 j) B) i) fSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ' }% [' U- D6 l! 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
9 I. z& h- w3 t$ p4 h/ |! w6 Z9 R, cyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 Y" P8 }- Q' s2 z8 p | S! g9 a, w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
! R& [6 m$ ?8 g: wyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! O" V% b2 b- z5 t
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 O5 M/ E* j, A: L$ u# }
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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) I4 X1 {$ t! ~4 b& U p0 C* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 2 F" Q8 d9 W/ g) m _
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 4 @( F8 E) G# m! Y7 o/ {% A
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 z$ P4 H7 p" t' O$ \% n
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
( v" S. K2 t7 ?( s. J. q, rconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
& H3 r" U& W# ?& abuyers in during the bubble years.6 B! U9 R1 O' W, g" _% [
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; P, s7 r8 j I5 ]
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
, o7 Y4 U( G4 awill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but : J0 g4 _% @8 N' |0 c, g* L
he’ll close. |
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