 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
* Q7 j* |, Y) [, M7 G$ {; Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
! X# w: ?# P5 }bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 {% Y( ]6 h7 [1 D7 {9 i" |5 ^2 @! M
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# c4 T( I% r. b4 K* x" G0 zbegging 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
& O8 f( R9 Y5 @1 J4 qyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 P+ K+ C/ `/ z/ w e
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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" j. q. C' `! b! Q0 N; e* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
( }) F% _/ q: M% H8 s' }properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ L$ B" v' l8 s, @. p2 Zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ z0 i8 _1 T O# S X. vget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* o* t/ n+ J! Q, h* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 6 y! z: g0 u G e9 B g
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- N8 Q) d4 L- Z. M! j" {4 Hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 T7 @, ]* g; _: b* N$ e# z
having a powerful psychological impact.3 u! J: X. S% ~+ A# b
6 s' ?' S4 i' Z1 H% w+ R n* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is - ]4 F3 Z; H, J* |$ K
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
3 ~! J' [. Z9 _7 J7 korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 N! @/ g i% ?8 k8 c3 Gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : G1 T, P. K- s! ]+ D
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get # v6 `- ^ c3 N* ^/ b+ }3 x
what 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
! j0 v( g' E. ^& e; B% U1 fproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; |' Z& l2 b& ^3 _that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that $ T: `$ ?/ n6 R. B
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five * [; \# ~" _# b& }
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s * o9 g6 T, Z1 u7 b: R2 ?; y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! r; Q" Z$ z- a0 }: {work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 1 z" S9 I# d0 t$ d! ^4 S7 j. b1 z. v
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 g. ~1 j' x. X3 Z' c% ?& nthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
" V4 K, ^) O$ m V- e# cSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 0 r7 H0 h" n$ o
die 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 5 j3 I8 T7 [7 S5 c$ q( F1 B
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * V P. w" Q2 r) V. k
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into + ?4 I' o4 E9 Q& S) @
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( e# i2 I1 \- E5 {; \ j& nmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 W" ?/ q- Z" m1 D0 F: lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.; M- {: f" }3 b. H% s
; k( m; f8 f: P7 o; q& }4 E+ q* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
5 E3 k# `% X8 t$ ]4 [- |2 \/ Cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( f% w* i; M: n. ~will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 ^* f& N- i# P( c( F- Hto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just n& F: C' i4 m& q @% Q
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 n: f- g7 J+ W& g) D6 C& }
buyers in during the bubble years." U$ a# e) m7 \. w
' }5 h% e. n, w6 O" W$ Q+ l0 B* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 Q9 L- N+ F! G" C7 k: |
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : l& p" L6 O3 w6 \$ k0 D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
* h3 S! e# k. fhe’ll close. |
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