 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
0 M5 B, T! K1 C! G" |7 E4 w# |falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
# r/ w% C0 N% v+ b& Wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all P( Z2 B1 u' M8 {9 f
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 Z% R& j* g1 b5 G
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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3 C/ [0 \" }6 y% f9 W/ z' _So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
4 l+ [& b6 \* s' D8 ~you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
& |2 c1 \/ J/ E2 Dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 t$ N+ M% ]/ X
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
+ G' r. v& Q3 G+ B" P ]+ Hproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken * M# K2 b0 k8 P) l
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
7 m" p1 }) }5 o( |9 m6 A; a, G0 Tget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with., R' R- l3 R3 X$ ?- x( S8 }# J
% Z& |9 |% Z( j1 J$ e& F* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 8 [9 t, t; ]# z: J# G) X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ Q: z1 ? I6 ]9 lcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
/ S# G$ g6 H3 c. Y- \9 L3 T9 Lhaving a powerful psychological impact.% ~* h1 r1 ~) N3 c& B
+ ^$ _$ }9 ~* V% Q+ G' Y* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ( @' p% Y- z; f& R. M8 t/ ?
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 [6 Y3 J6 A3 ^: z1 o& P9 P5 o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on G( n- e+ p6 D4 N
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 \* S$ F& |7 b5 Pnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 r$ K$ j6 G$ ^8 l, E# s% u# u; Gwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 ]% P' W2 u) H& D, U7 y9 ?. E
) v8 b# h& U& W, F* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 2 M1 @0 G( J5 D% o2 Y* L7 S: v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 n( b, ?9 M; h; \
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 ?# i& z% p5 @2 r+ E
price. e) N8 F1 y/ k0 p! o
/ j2 \+ y, ^) i* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 p+ ?+ }1 B; f3 e
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
% i+ E( u2 E, [ V- K0 Oexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 p( T* X+ n J% W
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ l8 O+ [* K0 o6 t: L
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ) v" L- v$ \) G) e! A! c3 Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' t' D! G6 W* M8 b& uSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will " e% L$ M( R. U1 k0 f( P/ f
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.; v. A+ @7 _( X+ G2 `3 X
9 v* z, a9 m( Z( W# V0 g* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
8 J* n" Z% Z8 X6 L, Jyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ s, C& w( S, R) x
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
5 D) W3 w7 r* ^9 y* N# s% `your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 Y5 w* i# m' v0 F5 M/ D8 T
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 k4 c) b4 G) Q/ }( |5 Y8 p$ Kbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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" ~2 X$ @+ N5 b1 m9 D* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
S3 G* H' w2 e& Gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, z& |* W) O) \: }8 a1 uwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; O. _. E+ [3 rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 Y0 A( e0 p" G- d% t8 Wconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ {2 i- v; t2 j9 \3 a9 V( v
buyers in during the bubble years.) u! i* J7 S9 K) u) B- g g4 k
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
( `/ S# x7 G* odie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ J, q- i# q7 q# g# n: ]% }will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; H# |$ h9 N: H+ G3 r( nhe’ll close. |
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