 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 2 `% m5 j$ _: R+ V6 Z4 R
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 6 E# y, z" i6 Z" I
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ [) G; i. T( \: D+ q* ?
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - C& { t' z% ?- J; e+ ?
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.# e* [. u) z8 I
& Y7 M; A8 F, p0 }So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 5 i6 |, m3 `0 e$ {' [' z
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ) R1 e* u3 k7 B
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
0 ^; T2 N/ \; d* V" i" vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
$ ?2 _# M5 ^8 k& `% d) Wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 O' c* S3 B% P/ \( j1 R8 r# ?
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.9 e: [( Z! Q; B _4 L+ H2 G# }. k
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % J! S7 ~/ ^9 ]* |3 }8 w+ V8 g X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ d6 Q! S, G- v, P/ z/ D
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# j4 ] i5 e) W& j& w0 Bhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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0 o9 X ~. e% v0 b, G7 g* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) g, q8 {3 w( }8 u# D6 F" e6 ?2 w9 bcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # h! q& x K8 }
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
6 R. U. z' W/ L! ?; t) y1 Y( Ithe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# X0 r$ h$ W' U9 Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; F% F1 F2 o0 P: ?" k& E
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 I: M' m% \3 N7 d r
! m+ o3 f& d* @; b2 N- o* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # O: }9 A0 t& c$ r! i5 Z: a# e) @
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
1 B l, d8 C- x" @( g1 s9 h K* {4 n6 Mthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 4 @9 B% m. u* V R" P
price.% [2 H" s- F4 @8 h5 C6 }
% D* f5 `6 d( N0 x* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ P% h3 o m6 M1 }+ ]business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
9 n- }8 P5 ~0 i/ Jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
6 p& s: I5 E4 mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " P$ T4 g2 y- `
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % Z; P+ j" D0 t* j. N0 y7 ~% j
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 v9 A( l7 ^' ?" I
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ x9 i8 |0 }, K6 w3 v" ?/ |% M0 gdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 M2 L. m- ?+ a4 X/ G. G
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 C/ Z) Y( ?/ D! P& L
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the , U$ M) |# ?$ s. E" S! O5 Y) ~! w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# ]- c0 m9 L+ D( B/ jyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
, ]8 U8 O5 D" R9 l; M) T& L! }* r( Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 Z- U) a: ]' W$ z/ ]. ~4 k
better chance you have of securing the best deal.: `+ p6 D9 H0 U$ l2 `2 c
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. J0 {# r8 k2 t; |5 j# ?/ c* `5 K8 ]properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That & U. a# U" d; v( E4 H
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! h5 }7 H$ u, U& }1 k: yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just + M6 t& X7 R. I' k; }
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % Y, J( |& x) w4 ^2 \* q! U" O
buyers in during the bubble years.3 G! T A3 j" X1 l) _
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
5 e9 G0 l: q Zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
, u4 l" W' [- y3 g- ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
# ]1 E! H5 \" y$ S6 H) {% s9 q( {he’ll close. |
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