 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 9 J% Z1 F: c, v+ x4 _, R6 G
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " n/ ?" L( s1 Y/ f4 b; @( N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, ^, c& c7 ]0 L5 Fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 6 J4 a8 ]% c7 X5 d/ s# v) \
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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2 i$ p$ h- B+ N" |! E) rSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 6 \* H L) ^* o# m" {0 D, p# H
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
. \& \7 Z7 F; p6 [) s5 ~and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) F2 ]% I" A" |
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
+ R' r' W0 l, n6 h( q# Fproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " f! h, v- |3 j8 }
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
: K& Y2 s" e2 `; P- H" ]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 8 T2 Q1 r9 ~2 j1 P+ B
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 9 c8 Q4 K/ _1 Y0 B
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 0 B5 @' P( ~( V2 _: a/ i
having a powerful psychological impact.- z# |4 v2 x: [* _
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
6 l5 L; n6 c" X5 x Bcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ }& ~- x3 f8 k \, Sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 4 @/ \9 p3 t' [+ V% x4 e3 q
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* ^+ R2 H A0 knever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
! H B$ C2 G9 X3 O7 l1 A1 g2 A& p4 vwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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) F% [ n, [# m+ k/ S* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , x/ g0 Z1 U5 N, G/ z$ D# r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ) C8 o* o2 u- S( Q% x
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : ^* y0 e K5 J' Q: o
price." C" \8 j$ s! q. E" Y
7 w6 V# L4 R+ H8 s) A2 Q w& c* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ) _; D7 `/ k m2 _& S; q! Z" ~
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s $ O( v$ h2 H6 `. c4 K7 ~
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; ], d+ ?; _2 {7 v+ b
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 y6 L/ T8 p0 [# D! k
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! b4 j0 N" H/ P, @2 {' t
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 V9 B) }/ `8 mSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
b, _5 g2 D" c" v$ 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
/ q( U) j. F& y- {( V+ f' h: r5 e3 Fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: O; i! C) Y7 bprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
S& N, v1 L6 n7 s. Cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 O0 ^7 Z7 Z, L( h" V, [% l
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 o; w" {; J6 u7 q6 T) ~. P, v
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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1 V- J6 {" l" l- n. s! m" M* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ; G% X5 K6 R' {* N5 p/ K2 [
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ I' V, Q, G2 {, u iwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 1 a6 w5 @! _6 q. V" N$ R8 S
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
, k& e) ?( s3 m+ \9 _7 \0 yconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( O6 o1 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 ! F1 j& t+ y9 D
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you , M1 i, M; N6 o' O, @; ]2 R
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& ]$ q' L5 Z3 r; l1 q ?' ]he’ll close. |
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