 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 ( G! q) K, c8 N9 N) w' |( W
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ s5 t, c9 y+ e$ b) c5 Nbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
/ H. {/ l: u! c1 gthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ( K0 d3 V# g( ]
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.: n' N- k% N5 U. J
9 ]3 g! R, W+ ?* T3 j6 g7 {So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ! [; ]- ?; x! o0 n2 o' C
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . @; e+ _2 n( D3 j. j" j
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); t0 h+ g: ?8 s O5 t# U( c
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ! q' D$ T1 k6 i$ s$ I: @* ]3 |
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
, f k& q$ C v! H$ E! J$ _, Lseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; \# l" W( ~9 S) l- g6 T# @$ }8 dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.( e* H( F$ g' }
0 J; [/ q: I9 S7 Q2 d4 q# Q* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
) j0 U8 Q# [+ v1 h$ w% Cthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
% _* W2 r# }* D; j* ucashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. d# |8 m# n# N% J- m* }) Ehaving a powerful psychological impact.% g5 o) o2 A2 U1 P5 ?4 Y# q# }! Y
: R( V% J7 W5 F* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) V, d7 r# d K# n; y2 |$ D1 y
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ C, t( |# r) T# Torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on + \. g% S7 ^, O0 u z8 a; _
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
5 o4 k7 r1 J# f7 U7 E' p- Ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 m& I2 h/ e$ Q0 Nwhat 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 ' e& q; z- u9 h$ [+ b" Z- v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
- G2 Q9 ^, O( r Bthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ! j# T5 F( T: W8 Z, _) J$ I
price.& P0 [/ F1 P3 _ u( ?3 C$ h
3 Q3 \9 v) ^: P: o* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five : K0 i8 l4 i: E! _
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
/ H l v$ g9 J9 @" }expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 n7 E' I: V/ A& ]9 j; d* @
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * m2 E( @ Y( B' F0 L; |6 P. a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 ]0 ^; q3 G* p
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 h Q; L5 y j8 w5 u3 V/ z& ?Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will " f# |. \$ F6 I3 i) m. D/ v( M; \
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.4 b z E1 z& q8 w1 j# V8 t
( d @- W' f" ~3 m j6 ?0 x7 M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have j4 O; H) t( {; a9 H9 j* n0 m7 r
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ]# s i B0 g4 } \. k
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " |% O1 o1 u4 {2 ~2 H
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% F- P6 M$ o" `8 M; r! Pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the % x, K' O& x; }0 \6 w0 X! |7 K
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ a# F$ A+ O& dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : T4 ?& B% w9 t7 U2 m
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 f6 e# W4 Z. X$ Wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; ?: P7 d. x7 m1 I$ @. N
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 d0 R4 S0 D. ?& J8 V) jbuyers in during the bubble years.4 {& v" E1 [1 w3 B
+ n- Z- x9 h+ i5 k3 }1 n* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
' M% F& M: L6 X4 W9 fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: ?5 B# [+ F* b( }/ g- r" ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but , y( [" W8 U; Y5 |- p* O& ~
he’ll close. |
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