 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
* T) m6 b5 b6 \8 C S% x5 C- ~, hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
3 c( Q2 X; t) Lbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 8 |9 y9 E& g7 C0 a# y# }
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % d E; I- z6 ]
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* o, N3 {' f1 R" y
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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 2 @1 d. g5 p& J( F
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 0 S, t, T5 }; {9 ?* D7 t" w
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 e# h6 V& @* z" F, |
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
& Y9 b. ]& S% o& V1 j$ Cproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # ]& {' ^2 P! m
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! N- `4 {, q! Q& Iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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$ W+ O2 n3 Y) n5 o: J {* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
7 Z4 H' l) w2 I3 |, T8 Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- N9 g1 Y& T1 D& L& X. t, \cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 7 @5 J7 ~' @% s, G6 d1 S& h
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; q* @5 V q) _. f- R3 o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' K) q' _, _. R* r' v" B
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 0 Z) D" @. c. [( C1 j+ S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! T9 h% d# y0 R* Jnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 v, A6 P/ H. M$ ywhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.2 z4 j$ m6 c9 A: R; R, w K/ B# y
% P9 K3 g0 O( q3 D: {* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " w* l7 J" T$ c) q% Z* P9 X; e
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 5 A' K0 o$ w# D0 }! |5 d2 w
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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# ~/ x7 @2 i W4 Z* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
. |7 o- b' y. a! V! N( Jbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" c0 X: O# z$ G+ Zexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 a$ H3 W; S4 ?work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
r, d' q5 i$ Q& x9 M; J' ]8 {have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 ]: `8 z' p3 v" Z3 I7 I" Fthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 ] T4 z/ {) lSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will & E3 v4 Q6 H& o) H4 z: u- Q' c
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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- \( }! Q( o& J6 m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
) |+ |% P" b2 _! O5 Syour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 P* E, J2 C" y5 u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 Q x9 G2 [0 \* ?8 t5 I2 Ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ G0 T: y3 b+ S+ _" h7 _more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 J! O+ A/ B: {2 x
better chance you have of securing the best deal.$ U/ M1 ~$ U2 @8 E
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
' L4 }8 |9 H& y, mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
; l( M8 e8 W' G4 Xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( K$ v8 s. X) ]% R `
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # f" K V) B! o1 T+ E& e
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 T3 w, A: ]7 P: J
buyers in during the bubble years.. m1 l% v) r5 g0 E$ e; r" I
8 p5 R& I" ]2 [: F* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it % L/ N- b6 W8 Q4 j0 k
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ _& V2 s5 b7 l5 N7 Qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
0 I7 c9 M K" R! ~0 h1 Ihe’ll close. |
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