 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 \$ t7 Q+ R# Z" `0 Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 3 h) v. B. B- \0 _6 |. g
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all & d. T. ?$ P; t* v& \) O( V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
' i! l) b. c3 F4 G* Vbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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4 E* t; i0 K1 \% {So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if % z9 y' N, [1 k$ O
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
+ |( a/ J6 B( I& G4 h9 }0 land stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)$ r) Y" k# k. C9 J) _! D# R2 P
& ^2 ~+ p' S5 S: B. [ a* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : P6 H- W& R8 k7 `. I) k; k! c
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
0 t- e2 J0 k) Jseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 C% u4 ^; w+ T4 h6 ~9 o4 rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.; Q2 t) ^# _# T
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " H" J$ k0 L" e. A% B
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: {1 g: L& ]; l9 }( _: P0 wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
! U1 s2 r, z# t% j3 x7 n! p6 \) ihaving a powerful psychological impact.
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2 d. P M. h* |! ?- t% E* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: J' Y8 j2 ?; o" z- Ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% \, e5 h# v/ }( w, R' a- J8 \order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ! a) f3 @- v6 O& B5 j
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! z, Q) B A0 ^' d+ v! ~% hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get Z5 Y- `, @5 k/ ~) f; H8 u$ m: b
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* \- X* J1 ^# e1 _' |* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 X2 k7 ] u" X. bproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! L& G! k5 w$ ]) }& {that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * \/ s( {2 f; d! |
price.
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/ F* _- o2 g( _9 W: u* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ ^# s4 Z* K |7 G2 K, g# wbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( q0 g4 w% O6 M( Q' d* u8 Bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; V( n1 p" J+ M2 W& u
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
% q# d8 w8 u5 ~: mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 6 F' E7 V% N6 s1 B
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 {& L9 X0 h0 Q( M3 f3 B# A: e" ?
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) E) S7 u9 D' U+ r3 M/ t+ pdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 a$ c% }( p: Y' y. c6 ^) v+ J
3 Y5 @% z: H" t2 S0 l* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # Q; A1 \ }) u$ M
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# @% T; ]) }9 O! iprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
6 a. S8 ?# P$ b: v0 Hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * e- T u! Y& f) O
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 j* }" M; }, c- N( A. Y [( cbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.$ `- l9 z) x% @4 O
$ H; T( X+ O) v( F8 G0 E* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 E: c/ a: b6 l; Y5 D$ I7 L
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 P5 P) ?9 G$ g' F1 {: X$ O+ {will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 {6 {1 W: J% A$ [( [& Oto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ [4 F0 Z) b @# L8 W( _3 V
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
7 T' ?$ {, m$ y2 b$ n" abuyers 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
) y1 d# i6 r+ p, c* Bdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * R' ]4 M6 l; Y: J/ G2 y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 p) s) }! y3 t7 z* Z
he’ll close. |
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