 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 z U# \, @falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' Q8 ]+ | D( \, W5 Pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 k, F! b& g8 Y4 y
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - k0 A4 @* H3 c7 @
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
9 B+ c8 w5 ]" L' Nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , Z! E3 h9 ?- [" q# M* k+ \
and 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
( l7 I. G; N$ i! dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
. m& w- p5 K5 zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 n% B. u* A( {( e9 N8 C
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.8 ]6 [; Q: [+ ^/ x; ]6 v
& T d, @# N% S2 o1 o& G$ l* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
0 o& ]: U' o( Q! P: J5 Mthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: p# f, ]. P$ q- n) c% j( N j1 Ecashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) Y& V$ y/ M9 P0 a8 Xhaving a powerful psychological impact." R# w- B. { v
9 c+ M1 }, _5 \/ V6 k- K* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 3 V: _' K! O7 W9 T
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 7 {4 s) z( ^7 G2 }1 h
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # r# w+ P" [( B8 S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
3 c9 {2 A$ I; _8 z6 Hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& M9 d2 l9 P4 j- {; B# |5 J9 `what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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2 Q3 k6 e/ e+ B/ n* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 W+ c; `' O6 J5 M7 Lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 L; `+ ~1 @6 ~) v9 jthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
6 E+ y1 O T' v# G% H- z. |price., S. P, {5 {; u Z" m. x' |
, k4 y! _3 m! }+ B" q5 f/ K6 t6 \* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' n" k8 U% x1 ~ c1 C
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s . ]1 k: l6 r' }. m6 K& u) Q* @" i) I
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + P1 v4 F. d- U/ R5 o' [
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : j5 U% e# I1 J1 l5 I' {
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 2 B* r5 i# h. G1 {- G0 l6 |2 F
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. O. T" X) u/ \Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
( P0 U2 o, `1 { L8 B! ^die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.8 Y# v0 L- M" [
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 i' v9 m2 V A! y* b0 G J9 C; p
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 2 Q3 N( q) k) I; X9 x
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 9 n0 w0 Y2 u$ m, s. W c
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: o0 f% O* v: _5 K# U; [9 k" P2 Zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the $ r t! Q. z# N
better chance you have of securing the best deal., Y" x8 M `/ D X- v* e
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing , U0 B1 z4 k* N4 [$ U
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
- P+ R2 \$ h3 a* { ~% E% Kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 0 F9 x' `" J, z, S& `
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 9 }! a+ X! O5 w
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; k+ q6 I, f. C- B b* t8 _; j0 vbuyers in during the bubble years.( A* \+ l) x/ d; y( A2 M
2 e/ j- H, ^/ b* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 y+ K: N; o9 u% K6 b4 P1 a1 v
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 [- z: ]$ L6 q0 jwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 Q! A! {/ n5 `( j! X2 e T1 Rhe’ll close. |
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