 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
' F; Z. |( u& i) R4 C2 g* vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ; d$ Z& K6 q! I0 Y; X6 T
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 Z# w% O. |' v( Q5 k- _9 U
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
' a: E' { G) T. W6 Jbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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; |5 v/ f8 ]( A' W1 T! ySo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 j! x1 P% A: oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
& V- z: I( T! F: }) Y/ P) {and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)9 k3 F/ C) Q8 R
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many % O' X. G; W# L3 S/ v
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% H3 E. S& b1 `1 s% Eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 W/ f- j' t' T
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.1 v( B! V) I! r" b* [, @7 Z# f+ o
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : {7 j; \- L9 v: l
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / o6 } J1 q% ]
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while : {9 h: v' q8 [( U5 }& {
having a powerful psychological impact.
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$ m# D8 S2 V* t7 o; U( L8 Z* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
+ e- k w) j4 r0 Wcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - [" j* U5 N) |
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % t7 o T( C4 N( E8 i: h4 [( n; g8 S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 Q: {4 z7 E8 Z7 k/ ^) Ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 9 U5 F" ~3 ~% E+ B4 M" C
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 s+ N$ e6 ^- f" _5 H
0 o+ n2 \$ |+ z' H! ^* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 U: F2 F1 J) i& Uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. @3 F' `' V( y9 p+ g, k8 y+ Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 n- X) S# f* F, ` k0 g ^9 X* z) w
price.
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8 B9 a7 D' y2 b/ \3 p& y5 K& c* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* j* t" c9 Z9 h& }/ Wbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; o+ h$ ~# } a; wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ( \/ c; T2 h) t4 t
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; E: g' N3 ~- Q ~
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
3 F0 s* X% i0 u$ \% r3 Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 [" c S' k1 O
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : w2 v1 Q( r% v5 r$ z( K
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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# O1 f7 J1 l3 @* ]6 q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
" }5 N+ v* `/ v& k6 f( zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; s2 p. O9 w/ t: g- o6 [) ^6 ~price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: c2 C5 j! Z4 p. m- e) d3 _# q3 Nyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ M( a7 {- i9 C3 I4 L7 gmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 K! m) Q3 j0 v W
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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) t. D! x2 J V* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 |. J2 m5 n; e o9 Y
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' i& D+ \! }5 \- @! twill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! C$ c5 W% H. r* l' R" ]
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
9 P/ h! n# j0 t; A8 W# N/ xconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 q- s( c+ L3 r, z F0 f
buyers in during the bubble years. d0 Z8 d, |. M- U
! Y8 Y5 |- i$ [; s9 U% k* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 X& p9 ~" T3 z7 ?
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
* P( R" J$ x# I8 Dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' W3 n& _+ ]7 }# z; S" Q" Xhe’ll close. |
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