 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 ) _8 I6 G2 K* ?8 Z: Y- `
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 k5 y S" H2 L$ Bbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 K- S/ I5 v# |$ E) Qthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" j3 g2 K4 X! `4 \0 \, w; L3 Sbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& E0 M# E, ]7 R) f$ @: U
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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
& f. a" e2 T" B1 D* h$ w1 |you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . L" i, y3 c( k6 r( g; R8 D3 T
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 & k# p5 Y. i- w1 Y, ~, h# q' ~
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 4 o4 Z' |/ ?* K6 q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
( j5 g. C9 u+ lget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- D" ]( m( m# t7 [8 _0 e# N
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 i( N5 c2 m/ q5 ?, H' x6 t
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
9 n! l4 M& s) v1 V! h: Y* dcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 v5 ?6 r B5 C: a; fhaving a powerful psychological impact.# _4 m/ a- M$ e' l+ N9 W
/ Y+ a( O) D- k' N0 N% C. s S* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: ?0 o9 x& M" D4 r0 Vcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " O& _8 E0 _% m4 Z5 ]6 Z
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# {# K9 x% g0 o. V! P& ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
$ R) L- x" K2 xnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ T0 D) ^) P; M) o2 Zwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 I8 Q, F8 s9 U- F" X+ zproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* U' c5 |) W- Fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
" G! x" J/ ^ ]$ _& j9 dprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five , t# @- Y3 D" p( H4 v3 I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- m2 R) I7 Z3 L& y- N7 _expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ! v6 G5 x# q0 \, I
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , e9 M6 Q5 }9 i
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of # p3 s7 ~. g3 R$ ?
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. * U; M6 j3 H$ q' N, z
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 9 S1 T$ c) [% u% x4 g, d
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: W' L' A" c4 l+ i H
) {8 R8 T5 Q! K1 L' n& d7 D$ O% {* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ~( o7 I* Q+ t0 @
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ' ^* w; T0 u: W: o7 P( T" p
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - h; j- M# Y; w
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# y+ R' K* c4 C( u! @8 Qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : @6 N; R: v8 A( b1 k
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & M/ J7 C8 O- N0 E6 m C! h& T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! I5 K. }0 M' E& c
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 T# X0 C. I5 W/ D# \
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just : e$ }) ^" U2 W% `% }" F4 d7 z* y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 c6 _5 I" I' Z1 a5 m) N* h1 G/ O5 b
buyers in during the bubble years.3 b( b/ O0 m9 b9 Z v: L- e/ q
) \6 {" w# v# f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' {1 w7 y( }8 \
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
! z& y' b7 S& Z; }will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 d1 b& \! ~1 ^. ~he’ll close. |
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