 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 # g3 u. n% G6 k# a6 D3 O
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ; E+ N$ L1 {5 A, [* J3 p, v& a' Y
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
% J$ ?" o* j) \; Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% Q6 R! A" S% p; rbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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 # R" }8 n( A* G% e
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 |% X4 W% Y4 @# b% P+ [* V3 _1 Vand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)# f/ P9 Y* g$ ^) E
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) ?; b' ~2 k% Oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
+ n. e" m# [3 Z6 Bseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! w7 j' E% U% d/ Aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! p% N: N9 X- [7 }5 y
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
4 M5 _5 {. @; G# m- wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " c: a( A9 V# r. U
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 Q8 ?$ \* Y8 p! vhaving a powerful psychological impact.! W6 |3 e( e1 S
3 ]" ~8 y! N- E4 {# Y$ L9 p7 l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 s% A, u3 l) [) d: Q p. \" x; Y1 O
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 9 I$ J" Y w, z7 m
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 y5 p( x1 b* R4 L2 i& a/ X! v, i
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ( ], P! e. z; D4 D6 ]0 H( A$ O
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : ?/ R, d x3 {0 O) i
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 P- v+ V9 R- n* _
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; |8 q0 A& [) Q; m6 x8 T8 s+ y* B
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 9 q# ^4 m+ @1 |+ U/ J e
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * P3 K0 _2 f! j. J- |3 M' d
price.* e! b& g) A5 d/ |+ R0 Y B2 K
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 w- ^# J2 u% p, G% f g& Jbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 _, s; Z8 g8 ]$ V: R1 m4 gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" ]% T4 j0 l( J3 uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you + |% w$ z7 b; h( C* r
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' N7 ^* i, k) N3 g
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ( m# H. E& Y k
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; _$ i g9 n4 S( Ddie 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
' ~& b5 [* n: n5 b8 ?3 byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the & x# Z4 P) R( M: @$ L% ?; t2 u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( G) G- W; ]$ n0 a& i" F; u
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" e) o- x+ p3 H( D% H, Tmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 7 h w7 V4 q' ]! g4 }
better chance you have of securing the best deal.6 G* K3 x" o( R5 R0 O- V3 k
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 H; ~& b! V3 T# Y
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That q+ M+ v* |6 [% D4 R. V/ b* |, C
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : Y. y6 }$ Z. V7 Q) z3 r# @
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
- `- M3 f4 B% |& Z2 ?consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # Z' |. F4 N* a
buyers in during the bubble years.
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4 o8 w5 A: }( T4 S* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 X6 g v( q. Z+ `4 N" {, V1 [& n8 X
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
9 N8 c+ Y- V7 [will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but % M. |! c, @: Z n
he’ll close. |
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