 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
' m- `- D+ W6 X6 ?5 R8 r- Tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
/ r* A4 f+ r/ z7 Vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) T0 m; H( |0 a( [" x, e' C0 tthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % V6 S1 P3 Y+ r2 x" e, X0 r
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.. i y& w6 ]7 {% _* Q' t/ R* L
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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 + h4 I& a6 g) G2 Y c
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% {6 \: ~) P9 w: P& Gand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- }+ R( G: L, ^ o
) v# C; g6 C, o) D7 \9 B* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 _' z z$ [: u$ @- Lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! d& z$ F' Q3 i' q$ l" |# b
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you # A K6 R8 G5 K" |. F& ?
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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) G* { g4 g) c- |6 n* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 p: J( S5 T0 b* ]4 ~the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ) J" j1 m: C4 m1 U, J' p4 }
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 2 \: H) P F1 k' ^+ n* Q6 r# y! j
having a powerful psychological impact.
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0 b: S& L1 l8 D" v% w1 g* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is % b5 ?! G* v2 V; e# x1 K
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in + w- ^3 H, Q ^! b3 B' {
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 d" T _5 p- d: ^- P+ Sthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & K P9 P9 v1 B/ M3 \" F5 H
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
# [: N, b% P; t, A9 g; lwhat 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 ' ^! x6 O% J% P
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. o* I" d8 ?8 r; x; Wthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 S8 W8 y f" b# B2 l
price.
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0 r2 q2 ^& Z- v$ _* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 5 t6 B ^6 A1 Q0 M8 P& V1 j
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " d* k4 K' y/ S$ f5 y5 d* S& R
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of & x& g8 y# K8 ]; @& e4 A
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 m' F A/ v- R/ F+ Y8 Nhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 X8 i! S- c! A4 x. x
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
6 `$ {$ q4 W/ X. B3 C( XSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
# y7 V, e( I. i* W8 wdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have " Y3 T' s |/ x4 ?( A! T
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
1 j" l9 R5 r( Q* C- C* _price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
0 }1 X0 m9 [: Y6 \( b9 J7 p: d' kyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
, ?" s3 u0 f8 g6 m4 G2 g* K8 j( Bmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
5 y2 N8 E% [, Cbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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. |& o9 Z+ l6 T6 ~- ] V* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
l- e6 \( Y; ?4 B( ?properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' f' f, K2 M0 h4 j+ @will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! T5 w4 H0 Q3 s8 f+ V4 oto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 3 E: J: w' ^' z7 r# b6 n" c, V3 c3 W
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ ]+ ]+ i" ]% G) u! g$ s( jbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
2 l M- _' M f* o, zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : O5 S. @+ G7 [) ~
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but - s9 i, q$ Q" z( n/ i% A5 ~
he’ll close. |
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