 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 8 E6 a8 T, K, S$ D2 {7 m
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 G1 k( x" w4 k5 |5 p* m. F
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 K% s. T/ {, Y' r& f% h1 [3 a' A7 jthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + {" P( x ?3 ? O
begging 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 1 O6 S8 n! `7 S
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 2 ^8 |( T6 p2 w M, K
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); }. N8 _& M" ^3 ?/ S
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 M0 w) a& \# n J: \. C! B1 s/ X
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) f1 i6 B+ ?& F: n& ^: [1 Q( v( fseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
( |) ~& e! R" r1 Xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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2 n) U0 I, s. U5 G& I* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
9 S; Q7 W& A' M d# Ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' I: G/ Z" W9 Q1 v/ C* ~$ dcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " h7 J$ N' L1 [" f" \, f% C6 k# u
having a powerful psychological impact.# c' B) g+ P- H# O) c3 G: z
* ~+ {; q$ U- c7 ~, q* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 v. h9 n/ l8 |/ p# X
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; m H( T2 j1 xorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ w4 o8 s, G3 Z9 @4 |9 xthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " S. I B7 c. f5 _! @0 _
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( T0 t8 v0 J3 c0 M( g( q3 ?/ A Z
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another / {/ W, z7 x& t" y% G
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; K1 @2 C% \" F8 v7 t- D1 kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & b! Q9 u. T" p1 @8 L& B
price.
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1 C, ]: E" H+ m( |% w4 v7 X' N# f* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% Z' t) F a+ R0 j& ybusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) l/ y- \3 K$ U0 q/ Qexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
/ k1 l/ j7 W0 G8 q9 }, j' [% ywork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 {, l2 N0 U9 h; \2 }0 j6 U( A' K
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ( K$ f1 x" w' ^$ g( P- \
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) ?/ A( ^& M; J3 o4 R/ V1 _5 { SSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 V$ ?9 h1 T/ n1 R4 Hdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- t# I9 V6 ~, @
% D5 M. K$ ?7 Y4 {/ S# Y" A4 u* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have $ [; J" A! z1 } T
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; \; j: q. N2 c2 G. m! Aprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: [, v' j2 @; ?3 H1 cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 2 Z$ I- V$ u' X! x/ b
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ; J# \7 ]* T6 b5 K4 {, v* g
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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# y) C9 v5 f/ O* o* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" p- @ q: R7 B, I5 P/ ~+ O7 I4 @properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
+ d7 N( Y( y- Dwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% N9 C1 O9 w/ e0 W( ~' Y+ ito save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
7 d; @$ `( \7 \% U7 F/ S8 Iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed & l- t8 |3 h/ N* V. A
buyers in during the bubble years.
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3 _4 u' a: g0 ^, B* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it $ q: X) C+ N# u0 }2 w4 k7 M
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ G8 I) F1 O! J' wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * f# z0 a3 a6 Y% R
he’ll close. |
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