 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
; U% s% E. J$ l$ \" U @4 J; {- Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the - _( u4 f6 B% `+ N3 I/ p a
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; M+ z1 ]- V. othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! Q& m; W8 t z' Hbegging 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 ' W0 @( d7 W+ q" X% R
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 6 I V1 e3 x7 W1 ~2 W5 H$ K
and 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
/ N( h5 E. U( h3 I/ w$ |1 \& Kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' v4 w7 r' o7 P) v! P
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' ^8 X5 w- L7 a+ Z. S0 K. s
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 4 Y- H$ Q3 C! t i- \: [0 k
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 0 B# w3 L) G0 f
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 D) x, U5 Z' d A! Nhaving a powerful psychological impact." {1 C6 a1 ^) A' ]6 u- v! O/ \
8 H, _9 e" l! {, W3 f- Y; ?* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 ]- q2 P& j( M2 V* {; P
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 8 ^5 }. N! H' Q
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
% K9 }' i: O1 _' s, Wthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % ]0 Y: t" _8 a8 ?! Y- r T
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 ]; z% Q/ o0 A) x: Y# _$ Nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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% L* e2 X- E; H9 e7 |# A* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another * Z, G5 W8 J$ V5 Y3 k" }) Z- d2 y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * C& R1 F- s9 p
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
8 K2 m: C3 y( i; w' J9 n+ u# J9 X# C0 {price.
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4 ^, F- c' o8 R1 b! o/ m* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
. ?. i5 z" B! }( e$ M" Y# u& [business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s & ^! D1 G0 e) ~! @+ c
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 f* O w! g; swork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( v6 c: }) V& u. K" ?6 l& K
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 Y' z5 I4 _. v0 S4 \) `/ j5 _3 gthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
+ o* X; U; L4 ?Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : }+ e) @) A9 U f8 @
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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: ]2 A/ K' W( M+ v0 n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ! ]8 Y- ]+ k3 J9 I7 j, M3 j* @
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 G) s1 B$ L8 v) C& H8 M
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 0 @$ O% O E0 Y% |$ S1 O; y5 O* J
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
9 p: w6 \" ^/ i g! Pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 e$ C: _% w1 ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal./ T+ D1 T" E% x- @* @' N
9 O% z& ~ `# j. X/ @1 @2 @* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 8 n; D6 t: k3 w7 |/ }0 _
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
w( \; q+ O; N2 uwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 }, K8 {8 w# `( s7 V4 k' r
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
" K m" u+ S1 G& i2 X6 T8 g dconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 o/ y% f; Q R* @0 A
buyers in during the bubble years.6 i, k& J" I8 O
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / q- @) g, ]% S5 u
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 ~& a" ]' v1 Y0 I$ [
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- h* p* w. B. Mhe’ll close. |
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