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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 1 y* c' S( X( K" r# }
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " r( s- H7 ~! t- L- Z. {4 N, ]
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 r* Z7 V$ g5 {: qthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and * q: g6 F) P9 |9 X6 z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.- N1 k% I( B" `( w2 ]: Z
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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 ! i" s7 N+ j3 @# k5 v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
# `/ }" I) {, j5 `/ Eand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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3 K8 @5 I) Y2 w# e( Q j* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 1 I- v* g( A2 b" h' ?% o
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " U+ \) _; L2 o9 B
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 r6 W, `3 G, h9 D
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- K8 C* O3 Y. B+ o& Y
9 ~/ X. F- D8 V1 I$ u: a: b* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : Y# d1 s/ o3 ^4 ^
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 s# B0 h. p" k2 s' e' E/ z! V
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 R0 [/ E! |2 P) Z; Q- P6 l
having 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, o- n* R& w! L5 s0 j: I
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in W6 U6 ^% s2 I: t3 P6 w+ ]# H* B. e
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # [+ ~0 ^1 f, y0 ^6 i
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' S6 Y$ d8 b& i8 @5 u4 z8 r
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & a0 k& G8 e) b+ O! _" x X. n
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 c4 M) y8 y! q; V% x; x* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
" h; t+ t) i( T6 A' T% Zproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* B# `- Q" p8 \% K% n, nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 C5 F d* ^% s) F& ]
price.. ]/ Y! }' W Z; h& e
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 9 E' H' |- U+ y% M$ `
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, u' O7 b; [; B" ~" z5 @expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of / E) }/ E% U& B5 N
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " [ {6 U7 W5 y" [6 _! W' k
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 l6 a) F% n( t/ q+ o& ~the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 M! G# L) H* k. c7 t7 T: E* FSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, c3 A( v/ M; a& M9 ^die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 t6 _7 A9 O3 U: |" ?
5 t6 W" H" H- V. t/ M$ Z$ L* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
: K* y( Z6 d/ {. u/ eyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" G! N. @2 m& Rprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 0 n4 U7 U" k$ o O9 l+ @' O
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The % v: ^/ p+ C& Q& @# n5 K
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 z, h& ^. @% l0 O% y
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 * K, J8 {4 }; d0 r& n
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
) u4 H# y7 |, E: y5 Z% Dwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 1 C1 L; [) c3 ?) p
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; R+ \( z6 D' w4 v; Y4 L, M0 qconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
}) F. e0 Y1 j# [4 obuyers in during the bubble years.
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2 G, q2 k+ ~2 a1 C* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
P8 Z4 K U8 i1 u4 C7 H) Ndie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 N* X6 d- n: {' r- fwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 k6 _8 |8 | C q: c. B4 W2 ]6 X5 uhe’ll close. |
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