 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 ) D, {/ ^4 F# t$ ?% y9 q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the - v# Q* N$ Q- D7 m4 I* f
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ; H ~, G$ l# O8 F$ }
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 5 t' |" g7 w& Q2 K' I4 g
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 & z4 e/ a1 k) p7 w. R. k
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- y. c& I: r% ^! Band stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). l# A$ }0 n& u! e" \; x- ?
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
( f2 {6 w$ r& O6 h; P& b; Oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 z6 L- i: w" T5 `* ^8 a, eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & |, _# K- Q1 j* q. i
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 ; z' f3 e; m! D9 P
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ M( h4 y7 r( j j+ Y* Z( Z
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while , K7 D/ W2 w& s, j$ U0 [/ t5 Z) ^
having a powerful psychological impact." p) | k2 `, H" v) E, c
) x6 x4 P4 j$ U* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is - o: @! Q/ f" N0 R
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % Q# L1 m: D1 }9 y
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 J3 O6 _- `$ a: l' p1 ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% z7 k0 E/ o4 A% ^( Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 u G1 m# { Y+ B- O3 p' g% z1 A
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# x9 E/ _( m6 p
9 S1 {7 W3 t% ]5 a* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! I' m# c0 {5 _7 e. S; E
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know # [" m0 m) q& _, b3 N5 f5 U8 o
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & j# Z( `' ?6 V# S1 G& q( r
price.
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, x: u7 B0 y! t! U$ v* I5 h# h5 x* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* S/ b8 k4 y+ G6 \ fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 m z6 k: W0 x5 v6 W- k! _+ {
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 n; C9 F2 B- q* r! Z4 x
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
' y$ B7 s+ F/ v7 F1 A% Q* L+ uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % d+ H. u, |# L9 x, K
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
: R' X) A" X+ @- d1 ~ JSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will - b# ?' D# Q$ L" ^
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.( M! s& s/ J8 j$ p! i; K
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
! b b8 m$ q1 Q/ b1 a' W! }your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # t9 [9 j B# ?# G+ j+ f
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 d" ]9 T: e$ E/ i7 R6 [; v; Yyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
7 _, E5 p9 Y7 ]+ h0 V: `more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 0 Z. `: o6 }! j1 U3 P
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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7 O; S* S1 Z- {+ Z0 \4 n& _* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
8 L, Z8 d) {+ Y5 W8 ]properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! e/ t1 n$ k$ x! P" H) l
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do - y$ ?8 ~( H1 Y( a& L, N k
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , ]! W; R5 I/ y, N% I. s1 Z/ t! l* i
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed - R0 W7 c; P6 T2 ~* d! {, l% n0 R
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it - v8 ~5 G7 t% z3 ?7 \9 T9 g: s" Y
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 }, U4 z- o. N) @. i$ B& b2 |) ^! K
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 O8 k' N2 U/ e" uhe’ll close. |
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