 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
* V8 r5 ^ O% Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 8 C1 s1 q" y) g& {: {; |+ ^, f
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' Q. ?; a/ ]2 U* u) e: C3 ~% othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 6 d) } ^9 k: Z+ b, |
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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0 A; H% G) J9 ]4 |& ^% S- HSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
0 G) Q9 \+ ~: O1 vyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! o& Y' X6 ~0 }, ]. \8 f4 @- Kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)( G+ j2 Y) n& \) Z' E# I# n2 g; y
$ L4 z% ] r4 g- j* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, F F' N( X% vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" |) {% b( e% Jseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( J/ b6 A4 l! A6 N
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' A* @$ v2 m! G* \" F- X
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 7 O9 y! W; A: B) Y3 f$ [5 x7 D* a% A# f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! N7 H6 C& L) _5 ?cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* j7 g/ \' Q f7 \, [: Ahaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
5 w1 i+ A7 _ U; B) qcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: y. b B1 H8 t# o$ t& N2 q" worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
7 _$ G6 q, Q! X' l- a. D* Y( A* Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" ]$ I3 b N# H- V) Qnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
9 X( u( N: g% I `( l2 }what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.7 `9 E5 L8 J. u) e n0 P4 i
* W; f% z* ]( r& b6 p: G5 Q' ?* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ i, `+ L5 {& uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 g( i0 G; X3 A, {9 Bthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
6 V( X9 _0 a$ {/ H5 @price.- | k, |" {6 r
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 y) U1 r$ o/ U& ebusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: t* Q( [6 v2 E2 u; d3 jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ) ~" }. u# t7 r
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# J8 [# ?0 q& W4 B8 Z7 {* Qhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 h5 z8 J3 Q5 C& b1 r$ T2 V
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / P8 {. _5 |! j" \2 K
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ; W+ ~( u$ e" F1 I
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ \: R4 O9 l# E; F
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
! I6 V/ \1 [ J4 L4 U! n7 A# Ayour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the i! ?6 Q3 H* P" R3 C+ o
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( z7 v, v p; p% i2 _your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 2 u' I5 o) {% z' u$ o( f5 P" l
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the # A- M. j |2 c) Y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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7 e' k! f6 x" B" R* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing - a. ]0 o& P6 ~. u2 @6 ^$ e
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
u) {, c7 g! _, i/ K, ~will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ `" {# \; x1 i+ {2 k. z* }5 R, Yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
g1 C; o1 B( ~$ U: D* k) e, M/ c2 |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed & X3 \6 a- U& U* ]
buyers in during the bubble years." C; Q" O- Z0 R5 d! Z. D
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / h8 U; d# {9 p2 K! @$ Q( Z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 3 g# O, d8 s$ E0 n
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but Y5 B$ e [+ _$ x* W4 A
he’ll close. |
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