 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 ( n( \* V$ t: {0 _% }* u
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 e* `& d+ ]& E, j/ s( r# Abottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* I+ D% i H; L5 A2 w- e/ m" @the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; ]7 Z* W- R O* ^ Ebegging 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
7 D6 ?' l; ]3 y/ O. U. [$ x& \3 Dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / m; K1 A4 Y" W" @2 a" i; y# q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)! p5 c | t9 n& e* j
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
3 z: U1 |) N% u2 R4 ?9 @properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 4 j9 |* C% g$ n
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % W& H0 R ]9 e
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) {: y( ]% `4 v9 _
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
9 J! U, E) m* \( n- w. v: Bthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not , l! @; i+ T. Y) h3 c! f
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while * ^1 n, `; m6 t a% k
having a powerful psychological impact.
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( u! T4 |* p8 U* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is - v/ T l" M+ Q" T/ k" j: j6 a2 d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in : H" Q1 d! t) S# G/ L1 B
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 S9 b' z( I; l/ P8 |the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ; m& q2 N1 e7 e) b
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 N- N8 I( P) M2 N9 `' owhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.% U6 n1 h4 D: t
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
( F" B$ U7 z V$ U- Iproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 5 N5 G n1 J M. H5 t2 s
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 L x" ^9 p0 n7 ?, qprice.# g* e) E* B* u1 G/ f1 N; \6 v' l
% s+ Y: d% Y* Z1 R) o+ [- N* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- ]1 V8 G- V1 y, t, Gbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ G2 h4 q* d& a! R( pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of , r8 Q8 `) U) Z, n" ]; P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 6 P; S8 @' C4 o! H# A+ K& y2 e
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . w1 m* [- A. i7 D
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
4 M( N' K2 Y6 X3 @) `# ^/ p/ ^" `Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will A0 D s% w2 M% `) }
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 X- `# @ `1 p' |0 H
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have * E/ M3 ?6 |% U! s2 F b% ~0 c. Y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
4 B9 g( ^6 x4 c* Pprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 7 Y. N9 I+ P! \! x( n' c
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 }8 L& y0 `/ D7 ~8 o! O _more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 `0 `/ e9 l$ p( vbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.6 H7 j: t D+ x a/ i, j
( p. Z7 v) D% o# g& Z+ _) z2 U* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 ` k% R/ g1 `. G) A
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
0 V( O7 q! }0 X" l2 Z+ Z$ ^will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do + e% N- F# n7 I! Y% V# Y; s0 k! Z4 F# `$ k
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ' D+ t1 J+ o8 b, k& T; {, I; l( D
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ D0 L. p9 P2 Y1 p3 Ibuyers in during the bubble years.
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7 d1 i! J$ Q: R0 S+ |' Y* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% p4 L3 X" ^5 V" c: R* fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
. q/ C- t# B' Y: `will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 I4 i P! E: [, M& C( s7 t
he’ll close. |
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