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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % h) X6 M8 M' L( x2 W4 @7 }, [: c
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 ~ B9 H, O5 ^; X+ ^
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; `- |8 Y$ g \- w* Fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: C! U$ m6 o& `/ pbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part." H/ y0 A' A3 |1 g4 C/ H
# b3 r$ I1 n- vSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ V* P* K0 i/ syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, c; q' K4 i! Z$ qand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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& e* g+ N- r" |9 R4 e# s. ?& ^* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 |- Z; j$ E9 u; D7 u0 Q; t
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , K c5 _: Q _; }6 j
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 |2 ~+ w3 c5 k+ _8 p
get 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 , h0 Q/ X3 G( I$ l' {; [
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ | b. K" Q! X% _3 i! G3 C0 X, r0 M
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 T* k. `0 ]* ^+ B( ]0 rhaving a powerful psychological impact.. `! K$ {/ e9 @$ v. ^
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is H6 x7 m$ p% {) X& v, e" q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 |1 O. N. D. ?3 g R" z0 Rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ( X+ i7 ~' r, l$ G) U6 N- Z
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( g' m/ T" N; u; ~% A1 W1 mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) h2 i9 O7 T' `& P7 Q; s
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 {' p$ b) m$ l2 l
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 M" `& _7 v2 c* L
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / ?! y3 y& f0 j
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , B4 y: o/ T+ n/ X6 C
price.0 Z; {( p0 R X* O4 H8 \: F
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 ]4 E& n( z' J) Lbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 a: ^8 H# P, \3 bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of : Q4 n2 U& A& A
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# Z; k; ?4 Y8 R ^! Z! Dhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . e2 ?, v2 i& ~" k) Q& r) A
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
* s L5 A2 N- h$ R/ u" E( ~. sSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ! I# w, V; j8 B* p o# l9 o% n, w, ?
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 ' b2 a, C& U' k$ `4 I
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ i x1 s6 o. k* q3 R
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( \% e4 \# k4 l: Dyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 u. }$ ?/ j. q0 y4 kmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
7 O- z% a; V# D: tbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.1 C4 I% h7 o2 |/ |. x, f$ \
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. g$ @& W$ e- ]* k; xproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + ^! @# p/ B* W' x
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
+ w# C, f# ?0 ?8 q F! Nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 y1 `% l6 V, ]% V- o2 i
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # P- V1 D# O: G
buyers 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 : S! j+ T( ^- N _
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you . u, r9 x/ x1 {' {1 Z# x! k
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
6 P, y( u" I: `9 H! x: g; Rhe’ll close. |
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