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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a `1 u! C, n5 P% a% g
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
! w5 z6 S" s1 m2 A0 N: Fbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
" X E. h) ?' i+ kthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 z. K' @& }' l6 l1 I
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 F$ a- h8 M1 `
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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 8 f8 Q9 E+ n% \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 6 y/ G2 W* _5 p, J
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 5 ?7 i6 K" P- B3 P
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
. ` _8 m; E- g0 ~2 |seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
3 J: p5 w. D) aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) C7 a- ^: e! E7 K8 P
4 L. L7 l. s0 L4 y* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on $ j: x* _. i, }& q. n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( m+ T# h) o6 Y8 a+ Q- ]; G# y7 M2 A* icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
+ T3 n& A7 O: e3 b" l4 g2 x5 bhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
5 n, d9 X5 \0 Z1 e dcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
& y: c; J" i4 L. eorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ h4 h5 C+ B {0 D! b0 nthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 6 h/ r5 h6 Z! r
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ K5 \# D5 \& E* Nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.( J8 e, v) v# s P* i
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
( s1 f0 J) m/ @3 ]; ?7 gproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 q, F$ Y# i5 ]# X+ T0 v
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
" p. h" S. G4 C$ |' I# u) d6 Pprice.& ], L% k5 Z+ Y9 d1 {
/ m V" `/ t/ d- |* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 b( z6 h" _* W( ^/ kbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 t* j9 b, ?* |/ i! ~% u
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 l, C' [5 {' W6 r3 |+ R5 c6 n
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . v2 g+ _% a8 [& q( J% ?2 l
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 y' f9 @8 i$ Y, M, A; O: ~
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
; h' R- @# A) p' DSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ Q- Y7 n6 M b) t. ?+ G( |; Pdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ R+ f4 K& W$ h# R9 ~5 m
6 {* e: Y. F& M( Y5 m" `* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
" z2 E( Y' X y& e0 |your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
2 A; T' M2 [# k! [9 {3 Z4 c2 Mprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' ~9 X, W! ?' W, J7 t! a' Q, Eyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 J- Z& |/ U9 ~* Gmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 o% _! L7 v9 x3 o1 j' m' F& `better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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; q: |3 C) P7 X _9 ~* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 x% g `- b) G `- nproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 Z: q, f. ^2 H# n2 Nwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, N1 D+ U4 l/ [/ K; X) @to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; F. v3 C+ F. gconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ r4 ^! A, p8 X9 Dbuyers in during the bubble years.3 o, r$ ^& C( @8 v' v8 }! G9 Q
3 o" u3 S& L. O5 h h( e* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) G; g$ j, b; F/ s/ i+ z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : l+ Q+ _. J' E# V4 e U
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% q. [* {7 _& qhe’ll close. |
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