 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
) s; _( n! f% W$ ?- I+ U$ H/ Zfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( Z1 C- X0 G& }( A U2 G9 @0 ~
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all . i( o; F l9 Q* r0 m/ S5 d
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 L8 v9 w; v! t$ z; l( |begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* V" g9 Z" j2 Q/ L, k# `; P
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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 2 P+ }/ p V! B) w5 D' v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 T, H* K" x( M+ D+ f9 }
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)1 ^* [; p0 i- g! ?( f* m
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
6 R: Q& ?2 A3 j5 _/ @properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) V& x: L& G" Q% cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you + Y" v+ S( H) Y: w0 f! \+ f
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; h0 Q9 }: z" _; H, Y* @
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
# t, P- u2 i. s0 Pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 |' F- ]; O3 U4 Z) N# t! X( u
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 Q8 O$ A d0 {/ Fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* V2 o' M# u- z7 o* Qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 a* D& ~0 i3 g( b( b' K' r* t( _the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 0 Z% l. R& j& A5 C+ l! @2 X* Y
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 }- D& s' k: b; Bwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. _' F) P, ~: @8 ?' v/ b) s5 a
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 G9 [7 {- G# n* M% H8 sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
1 o# |/ X- L5 ]" mthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
; P2 \8 v: x: X: n. r, d' ^price.) H' B2 L: I: U; D6 H
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 g- H6 C& _) ^business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- u7 ?7 ^+ v$ p! gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" P0 `+ @7 M ]- Ework done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . E6 u* P# E- A1 r# t7 S
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : ~6 J# ]/ W# ^
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ C8 e$ @* P9 Y/ E9 NSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % f2 x* k Z8 W5 n: @+ D
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.. [/ i' Y) ^: i5 U
" x. F3 n6 ~4 K2 N6 f j1 C* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
2 X+ K3 a5 N, |your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
8 u+ }5 Y1 `2 S: ^$ }price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
4 f5 {$ J- m" Gyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The O6 _4 \$ y7 F/ G7 R
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 G5 ~% [4 i, O/ Z' S* b, v
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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& h1 ^# Z1 n# T/ `0 z, y* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, l6 \" {1 H8 u8 B% Y9 h" Iproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 4 ^6 m$ ~: s, H8 O7 N6 k* I- B
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 Z9 F5 |9 D! ?! u1 O q. B
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
t% L( U6 z8 l8 W, _$ yconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
: A! P+ |! @ Z' w& Bbuyers in during the bubble years.( M1 a* G9 Q3 E! F7 N# V! j& A
" _ O1 Q: I9 f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
( R+ b8 \- W" Ddie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
+ V" G" I( t4 f( H( N4 vwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' Y' p( x" W/ M/ xhe’ll close. |
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