 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
, z4 f% y0 {4 n4 h# l) b2 z$ ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( W% {+ t6 {# ]/ u4 A! I D, r
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " O& q$ z2 v+ Z, y$ |5 ]/ Q
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ H% f* f$ S# ?1 }5 I
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
$ c9 \* i# d! Q; o+ L3 qyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
: e, t2 r7 w9 ]# @% Fand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)" g2 u4 ^. m& q7 ]: Z+ _" y
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 {0 q5 Z3 c s% F( M$ E2 n$ q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ G3 x+ N" T. D% Iseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 y d9 P$ f0 j1 p+ Y
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ O/ H1 Q; F1 d; O Z% F3 B6 S9 [
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : d i) D7 {0 l2 n" K+ }" _
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; ?; A7 n) [% g" r$ O: M2 _
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
! d5 S& ~" ?5 d$ jhaving a powerful psychological impact.( m6 Q2 E7 n$ y- q a I a& `" n
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . @& \8 i/ O1 y0 l0 T, |5 E" d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
9 |2 @. q6 H3 P$ @% jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 \8 G* G* z. J; z. @: n) N
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you O+ z6 E- Y* R1 [+ v2 O
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ m; s. I5 F, x; A
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.$ `9 W( b# X3 x: {9 |4 D4 ~
. P, d/ x9 e0 @2 j- c* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 8 J0 B# A# N; t5 v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 S E" v' K8 x# E# m1 ~that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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: T+ h- e" S( v; P# P* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
5 y- A/ ?4 Z' Tbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# N, z$ J8 P: }8 A) gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . }/ c* J7 O8 \: Q( Z. T
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ b8 H4 e8 I2 T$ _have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, t+ _0 S/ N; x; cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 P$ g% a( ]- p V
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) O" k# d" v8 q, q) t, x* vdie 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
$ n% {) h9 ~; s- Nyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 1 \" q. z+ G' j! ^
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 5 M( k; r8 [4 Y+ b. R9 x
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 L: y! `8 b6 Q2 j1 ]/ ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 p; J1 ?: I, _9 r4 pbetter 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
, U8 @) ?7 V6 [properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. U+ D* P0 q: q7 V% G) lwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) q" j: S, m7 c& I0 Q4 T. Qto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # k+ v4 n, m, W! E" {
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; x ~" `. i8 D- W# ^2 pbuyers in during the bubble years., I V1 L% ^3 l& f; B9 u
9 Q7 T# o5 h# P }( m* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) v/ U1 o6 k# y3 C0 Z0 pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; J# i2 u( G) J7 C6 e& Kwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
4 L( \+ F* e6 Khe’ll close. |
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