 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
7 g* d% P' K' ]1 u5 Rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the # X9 a$ K2 x0 ^$ G: L/ ^
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all . J! [3 s8 @9 Z' p& l- |, L
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : y% O9 }1 C9 l
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., _( U& U* b. T7 d8 E8 o
7 Z- v& a2 T" @9 g2 k+ V$ aSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if " R. h5 f" t3 o
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 2 R6 F: s l8 E
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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9 \. g- v, G3 Q! J; R* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 4 S/ J! q# I9 p% F4 {8 B# ~
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ) f' o' Z) q7 [1 j( T
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you $ h; [7 O5 l# A4 L
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 0 {5 h9 @ J" e7 T
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ( V& N6 H5 ]# [7 C
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while + L& V6 D+ g) ~. E
having a powerful psychological impact./ d* b Y& b# F' ?/ @( l. x
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
/ [: C# g7 D! N6 Tcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: }8 E$ f! i& L6 q" C( O1 forder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 ]4 s4 K9 {$ d3 v. X/ ~the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
1 v( w' A+ P8 Qnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
- g4 Y8 X. X3 j/ Kwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 Y9 C' I2 n" N& y, ?. P
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 7 }. j/ {2 f' M3 |
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 X- |' u' k0 fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 `; G' G5 W9 I/ {$ qprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! G1 S0 t- a+ d1 o2 N; m5 Y; @business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " e1 ?& c* S) [: w% a9 X7 b
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: W6 _* d+ S& H6 e, r7 Pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( j# ` O/ }' m' U" E
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 0 Q# ^( u- J6 h7 Q: A0 F
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 ]/ P1 G" u k3 i: f
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ A. @7 V) F3 X0 }% w% j7 D) fdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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- ^# [9 _% S9 y" l, Q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
2 b1 Q: x8 y3 x# K, Xyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
8 C7 m9 m9 j3 X) f% r, bprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ) m. Y, k! x: q& g! K0 c
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The # @# S w# u/ [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the * P, B2 F2 {) v/ y- L- R' u3 S3 Y
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
' `6 I. g ?& S) o. R( C5 n r+ bproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That " {8 t9 T9 ? }, h* d0 h
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" p) ?# m% O, s- ?6 F8 l# Lto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
- |9 I' V# N2 F* {1 ?consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 N" g& u: P {7 x' ? N8 u3 Gbuyers in during the bubble years.% \7 S# D/ O" ^2 d& E" C
5 I' d; ~% u! j# ~6 x+ T+ ~* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it & L0 F9 y3 l( K/ b0 K) c3 c1 `' M
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' F% \+ W8 S+ H
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ J. `, Q, z, g( _/ N) v( nhe’ll close. |
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