 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
+ _3 u, s4 e: [. p* M" w d7 Hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
5 K6 f; o9 X- H# u' e0 h- g5 ebottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + h3 T% j% s0 I9 W, Q1 Y
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 E1 V; C' c4 _! j7 `! Obegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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8 r8 K5 o% b: ASo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 2 S. k" f1 d- \0 H+ |$ G( R
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + f, ^8 J$ Q P1 b
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)& U' C+ S* Q; Y& X: C
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
' a1 R4 r: d# ^9 \ g" }" ^ B0 dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) x- T: f" U# G/ R vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % |% h0 Z/ f" u- W+ g
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! N/ k* N1 m$ h6 \' X+ o4 U
2 F$ X: b, _1 z. I0 d* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 Z3 }1 X1 v0 J- u! Q7 w# b3 f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 e3 k$ ?4 Y8 V" p: h0 |
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) D/ W1 R. d+ N) bhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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. @( w0 S$ j) v" d! }* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: I; Z9 p% _1 ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in / D( ]$ N: g: ]: Q. d3 ^3 S
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
4 C" f8 e- \* F4 lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % B$ {8 @) X4 Z6 E& J1 v' m" ?$ y
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 F4 j% ?5 a1 R' u) D8 h& ]what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price./ f4 [9 H" b; J$ o* r
! i. n# K& {( q" u# }5 E0 O" m* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " Y) E& T5 @7 f; P' _5 D; T
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * r9 c2 e: N- f( P; c2 O
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
/ X& n' g- t# v F: `7 w5 |price. p9 o2 Y0 e& Y
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 h8 ]0 }+ y, I8 s5 F% r2 Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + \) Z8 O8 F! o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of $ S6 k v+ A. T1 i0 U! J
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 9 J8 a! ] J- C k) ?) \7 X
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
( g3 ~8 b) K& i6 M/ W! [% O( ithe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 Y2 G+ W1 y+ q+ ~* mSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will - m* N# O: b4 O T
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 E1 Y/ K* ^1 Y( ~! @& @
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have - e$ [ R1 c# N: E6 S2 w$ g1 w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 F5 c, E& J) x; _+ [3 o
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# a1 [+ E: E5 _- o5 e7 L5 [- Xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 K+ u! {4 ~6 N, g, j
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
. y$ ?* N( U( d# _7 A! \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
" f; H5 T2 a" I$ t) pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 }0 T9 s; z6 `) }3 b1 A5 \% d2 q, kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do # D& r9 ]. L8 Q% F. U
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; |7 m. g7 D' Lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, m$ x- x0 f& g* T& Z, S+ Ebuyers 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 + b+ d% n- _, y" ^% D! ?
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 f; p" i- ~ l$ Bwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! n8 H, E! Z/ Q
he’ll close. |
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