 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
+ l1 L6 n# u, p; ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 V, N' e4 b" Fbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " ^# g; I7 S& W7 ^( c6 x; p5 L
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 2 }# ~. n. v, c, l+ d0 y
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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9 J' \0 ~( z8 k# _: D O% BSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if $ q a |: @' @, M2 {8 z, {# ?0 Z
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 Z0 @7 j# F6 t. ?4 Kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- i) }. U" y3 I; z
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many E/ S! ^7 y* H
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ A" S1 Z1 w7 V8 e. rseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
, `1 B) O0 l( l- ^8 f. r! cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- g% h8 l8 U! H1 p% J
. D+ \0 F/ l) W3 E R1 }% \5 z/ c6 ~* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % H# N$ d s& r% H7 |
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. J- G4 k/ M, P8 F' Ncashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ B+ d# Z D p+ Q/ [having a powerful psychological impact.0 E) G: o9 }9 s ]1 Z1 M
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
4 F$ g x' `. |7 `completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 L ^/ z R" B6 D6 G
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on - m2 e' A- C" X
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ; Y& }6 K, K' k0 [) `7 Z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ n* r; x1 v- w" m
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price." ~, G1 D4 R# j4 a& q0 {2 E+ h
) Y0 y( t# J% q5 ^+ W* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 7 Y4 M9 [' |% _6 \& `
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
# h& k( g4 C: d/ h3 ethat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 5 K8 Z7 V* R6 j& ^+ r$ Y" j
price.1 F6 B# w9 `8 C% \% J
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 g. k% _" z$ q9 ^2 j! Dbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
& m \- R* c* R6 x# y* `expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % s( b+ E! s" E5 u
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* \4 Z, D' k* N, ~- ohave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 1 z- a( Q# a6 u, m. ^* y
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! u- q9 j8 Y- h4 B
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 R+ A( u# p9 E# t
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture., E9 w' |" M4 P& l9 `( X) ?
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 f6 {* m0 ^/ r. z5 K1 T6 z8 g- qyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; m, b% X4 Q) P& |% p
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. [. M: B: T7 d( m6 syour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 k1 T- R& Y' B& i9 k3 Y% Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 k( [1 g8 x! Z) ^* @; Lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.) _# V9 T5 X ^1 [& X: O) |% J. Z. E' ]$ l
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 5 s+ \ ~0 x8 C4 K) Z5 m' Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 1 ^8 ?. ~- V+ E: s1 g
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 V+ m- q1 W0 t6 dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 E0 K& Y5 N( _ U+ y' t
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed O9 d! s# u6 x4 K' X: ^& }
buyers in during the bubble years.- {6 i5 P3 V7 X6 i1 G4 t
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; @- [ S5 `3 K7 u) H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 5 E e. n0 Y8 r
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but A$ V, N, h+ l ]
he’ll close. |
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