 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 : i" z$ N S/ h/ C5 z% D& d
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 l4 m% G i" m3 L
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 L$ {9 G M y) h7 `; z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
( g2 a& P* V! e: V$ bbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.2 {6 K- A9 c: q2 A. j9 Q" s
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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 " M: f- E" w4 W! o
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) r5 S6 N# ?: e& l- Q9 v5 Eand 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
1 t4 ^4 [9 q2 K: [: p+ w( }properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
+ J2 D1 C6 @7 E j* @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you - d3 ^3 |% ^7 A8 x2 N
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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8 F$ p. \1 d+ {7 w# r) G8 D3 X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
2 f7 B. @: {9 h% H! athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 a, ]7 G% O4 ~1 K; A" icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while _+ C- U$ T- ]1 ?
having a powerful psychological impact.0 y4 J2 s* j7 X/ l% r% _0 S
6 p X2 R S" u* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 k0 I/ a& b" a0 [completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 1 p: c, k, Z/ X$ h( ^: u* a8 q3 v
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 z8 P9 L" n, R/ w1 Vthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 G- j9 f6 c1 X T+ Dnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ ~) j+ O( Z: u( X. `what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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' A7 `$ G }" P* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 G9 r2 z: S: W v, U4 d) u* z, ~+ `
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* A4 ~* i' B/ K2 A9 u# u% j/ Nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that # T u7 y; {* E9 A
price.& Z) j U1 Z3 i0 z& T. R8 ~# ~5 ^
( q5 V/ \6 N6 u- J* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
; f0 F O0 @( J7 b. e Hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
8 U5 U" {6 [* f9 f5 R/ k; i, \; uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 4 x" ]( B" ?% P# E: k
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * G, l& ], Y8 m T* A
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ N: D- J2 d6 b( b: I- F- P
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 v v g6 m8 dSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ R8 |2 W" |3 k3 Z; G- J! H7 ?% _9 ddie 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 7 z. {; h v4 T7 Q+ q% D
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
5 j9 \/ K6 x: t& `& i3 J& a$ F$ gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
* z) {, x' j6 j) \your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The - J; `) x3 W3 J$ V: [% f3 V% R
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 Q6 Y' H I, [0 E
better chance you have of securing the best deal.; z( J* _1 N# R% _$ S4 ] c
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
) d; Y* J* ^& J% H' d+ E+ |# yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That h# ]7 j C5 I" [( `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : H8 L6 A; l! A# a
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just : U6 n+ G. u9 _7 `3 G
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 ^2 X5 m6 u4 _8 j' Y4 x |! J( s
buyers in during the bubble years.% N% x9 l, @, j' W$ b0 E
3 Y! b2 Q9 H4 S' e/ Z' N8 b7 b* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it . R5 A- I: J+ B$ b
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 A- O" ]( O+ ^ z0 Swill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 z& z. a2 X% T' i4 N2 j8 Qhe’ll close. |
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