 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
$ f" ]! e) n' E$ [falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 S; p- s# Q5 n* E! j" |
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 C: I( d. p3 V' L% i$ w' G
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 7 U7 R6 k4 N$ g( ], m
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.! f( ^3 L% ]4 g2 J7 G
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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 5 x8 Z- E0 i3 V4 z7 x1 A
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + [$ r( _+ I p8 s ^9 H
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)5 m& d! h' L- g" H2 L9 D6 V
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 o6 P! @) Q- v: m) W* A% }7 H1 ^7 t
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 N/ A% J. y8 s a$ q `) gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
4 b8 ]/ k) P% n* i7 O" E( j' ~. z dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* w4 M2 Q& U/ O$ W. c
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
8 o, W3 q2 P; i0 |3 W4 t q6 Athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + D; v4 N {6 v8 S. H& Z
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
! l; n7 j9 b8 f* e- bhaving a powerful psychological impact.$ i/ y {$ _7 |/ w
2 S1 w& ?. u2 b1 y8 v: v* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# H# e' z) V9 b L: vcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( Q) i- [ T# W5 B/ ~9 @1 X8 ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
9 }# e/ U* D) P) dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
/ h1 e J9 M# w3 }never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ |5 T* b% l; P
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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/ S! ~- U6 F. C$ t8 k* j* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
. M6 u1 |/ ]6 L' pproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
, p, ~+ `& t4 O- w" v( @( othat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 8 L }8 a5 P, E, E, e( G
price.5 m3 S. m- ?6 s) @. \
9 P- }4 Q" E/ |7 O$ ` z* ^* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
" R1 V, h8 y" V6 J# Y! ebusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 o$ y8 k* j" ]/ Z; T
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! q! f! J5 M: C& [/ I' q3 Rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ! z) U7 s8 _/ X, m5 W) M8 k* _
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! i) u$ M- d) ]& C9 ]& P
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 X/ u! S( m! g) USince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will + {$ t5 \3 H8 I+ T
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
! S N, u9 x* l- o" S# a/ Dyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the / e: t7 p$ g2 Z1 W, t; `' N& B5 E
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( n* q% q9 _8 h5 v$ }your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The # @% {2 u1 U2 k
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " b6 P3 h0 s: ^, s
better chance you have of securing the best deal.$ Z5 T( g9 @" @! Y2 h9 I' L u/ _
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 `1 g) s; M: R4 t% n7 g
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ {$ F+ ~) R* T( k h0 |& Xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' C1 X, Y5 Y0 L3 f
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
# d6 P0 t( q3 [$ O# p# oconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
% X( z0 V3 j4 U$ T' _1 Pbuyers in during the bubble years.
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/ t- j; p" @$ i* j6 N( J* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ V2 D" s B/ Y6 s4 {% Ddie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
! k& O& l5 b r/ U$ Vwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ Q; j: M9 A* L6 J3 Qhe’ll close. |
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