 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
, H: f O! t' Y4 M( }7 t# wfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * k7 V% ^ d9 X% n* P3 x. R$ ^
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& D. n) j" Z, S1 X7 F# Qthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # \' C7 m$ {2 }% T" ]6 g
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 m' z0 o6 ~. G1 @2 g% Z( R2 M
* d0 x; z# X6 v4 rSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if + H/ W" m0 r3 P6 }$ c V' G
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 P. C) K: p, @. i9 h
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). P3 D3 y6 {2 K5 r; V' Y% ]0 P
; i) p+ H0 x S, i* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + y( c1 U0 ~6 n0 |6 v2 @5 F
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 s% E) W$ C; J5 Q; \seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 H( E7 A4 d* y. v5 Yget 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
0 s# P! l: v5 C7 ~$ Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 ?0 ?: I9 E mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 ?0 v3 D2 _" `having a powerful psychological impact./ d0 B2 y c' o6 q
+ z1 ^$ ~5 b) [4 S* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! U( j) |$ j8 b L6 _3 Z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' m) q3 t& R! q3 t! w% `6 @( xorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 ]% O) }4 J. m1 [the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
3 X6 p0 P4 g6 Z" k1 O" mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& K, H: Y" N$ A9 _what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# Y& c% Y0 r6 a
- A; P: Y5 }) \% l* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another % M+ }( r( @2 H
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 7 l0 B2 n; ?5 c; k
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . u" a! n f, X: T* S1 S& h& D
price. g/ l% P4 F3 y# N0 ]# W3 @3 ]
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 [. x6 U$ m3 E$ Cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 4 u/ c: x8 @2 @- [8 c) B% z5 G1 Y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' n4 [7 d2 S0 [& Z0 c. W% g- X7 nwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 6 c. }6 O# U7 w( }1 h8 t; _( D
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
1 b3 D3 F/ p; Wthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
, N' d( t9 u6 F* q5 k0 vSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % Q% Q* h) W1 s; f$ F+ ~0 g: `
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 ; ], B' }" B9 Z' @; C+ O
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the , ?! P D' {. D i
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' R$ M! y% h s/ s. z
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & [6 e( N, b; Y1 {: E" ]' `/ u9 f" M
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" L0 G! m5 M4 L3 |% |better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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, Q9 F" n: O6 N" ]0 L* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
6 y2 c! Q1 v- [$ M+ ~# Qproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
* I3 w0 O, W) }$ O8 E3 G9 ?, Xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! x }5 [" N5 J, Z8 q4 F5 Nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , G4 A1 s/ h: U) p) |, h2 M
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed / z! C0 b2 T4 C) }
buyers in during the bubble years., z8 d B# u9 V: y( C
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 3 C4 e5 z$ o! s- B
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 Q! v0 v2 |* a, i
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- d* G8 f1 i# P- o) V7 V( v0 _he’ll close. |
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