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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
" F, u, Z0 |" X1 g. Jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 ?# Y- H8 H9 |" tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 5 @9 y9 j* v1 N: j
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and " c$ n* |/ ~ X8 S. @8 B
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
( v8 M {1 c& R: S Jyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 7 @* W B8 S4 i$ }
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 & S. q" j- l6 x8 A [; Q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! Z' l! y" O/ B fseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! v- u, [( g( N; ^get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 U' M$ n6 {- r) @- u
& a1 R3 h5 ~% }$ h9 ~* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 n) T# Q7 F* R4 n' E: }the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / U- {+ ~8 v3 f5 x+ H8 e- d
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 7 ]3 H' n3 p3 `9 F' f5 {' v
having a powerful psychological impact.( ?3 P4 R# W9 K1 F+ `
! f! L9 `" H, K- V- f* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 7 i5 U6 C" A1 c( b& S- q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % r1 L. r: H1 R2 H# h; D1 ^/ c6 S& j
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
' ^2 F5 u( o4 gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
- {+ }: K- H' V6 \/ t3 Bnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 U9 d, V% ?+ |
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. |8 g) k: s* j
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another . K1 F9 c3 Y! ?- b
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
1 [, E" @" `: E+ t: Q/ Tthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . Y8 J8 j5 ]. r _; ^4 w
price.
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3 E2 \* R- n$ j" j/ O* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 ~( e9 D+ G0 @7 ^4 S7 Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
5 b$ O' X; A8 B4 [2 Qexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 9 N7 {2 X7 X, X
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 c7 ^# D* H. y6 q& a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
4 T5 C# v" d$ o3 Lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
M- {1 [( P1 e% N- Y* ]Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ X' v4 E, r/ v2 _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
5 r( f- Z* I- l2 {. lyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' b; @( P/ W. R: N" j4 ?$ ^7 ^price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into * p+ j+ H5 ^- Q8 f( n7 g0 A
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; g8 l6 f/ A* N. [! lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
/ v, U# S# G3 x- N& ~2 mbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.2 `5 ]! Z" G) P% n- g
2 O& `* b* C6 E5 |! K, K+ Z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing $ U" g- h2 X$ S: ^) ]! t1 `0 {
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : N+ M, ~0 |" G3 E
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' g* n' o* ^/ L# R
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! k$ x4 S. d2 U0 H
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 6 b" p3 o% l ^6 z, I8 t
buyers in during the bubble years.% s6 P L6 r( Y. ~+ D
4 R$ M7 @! A# D6 _* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
7 h$ i" d$ B5 O: m# y4 w: M' udie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 ]# b0 u" m7 G" b& I! N o
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) z5 f8 d3 s& M7 T' Uhe’ll close. |
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