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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ; ~- s1 t6 K1 S9 f
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ T2 ]6 l' Z) H' g( ]/ rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 x' U$ O3 n+ Z' T C
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' @# H2 l5 e; D! j% ^0 {
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.; M6 g! l m% i$ y
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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 ; S1 A& z- C" l4 U& Q; F, x
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ e. p3 n1 @! u+ G
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). G& H/ |0 L. C9 c! K
! B3 T" W; ?0 O% N5 u* |' l* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
1 G$ t5 G$ M- M3 Z& o' dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 |+ j& D& n. n/ v# @' C7 }3 d2 F* mseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! f N! [/ h! w# `0 e/ _% a
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- s; k& Z$ F4 `, Q& l, _! G8 `
% U4 F7 n0 p+ z' R* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
: l* G( b$ Z& N& ~% J! _the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; `) o9 @( {; b! _# \9 hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: u' C! }1 t" ]' Dhaving a powerful psychological impact.4 K" S7 Q+ n9 n' ^6 P
& p$ m( d; X8 T* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; v, h; c$ R" m4 X9 fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; W' I: k) u" M9 c/ [
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
, j6 J# V* N6 @& m2 V4 {8 W8 Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ( A5 ?# T9 [% T% w: H
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get k/ m; `' F) H4 u, R
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ R" I% J; N9 m4 x9 s2 eproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % h9 P" Z- ^5 i; [% j
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; J# U/ i" n) V( i
price.
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, q2 U) R2 i3 X; K* L" I2 }" T* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five , H; s9 e' v ]8 p* x1 h
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - K; H# `# @% Q+ ~
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of " s8 q$ q1 n* O
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, J4 z# [0 ]" G0 G! shave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; h- V- l2 J4 u5 N. d
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. : P. D( G$ _' o5 ]% w# _# L/ Y
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ; W2 {: n. M5 o: N. o9 R7 E3 R
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 7 }4 X p5 D& T" v# D4 C( y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + u' ?0 {( b: s0 f7 g8 C7 a9 d" |
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into |' f, O5 P/ t, Z
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( \+ v. [* a7 c2 A- Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 K! ^0 \: Q/ Q4 c) L
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ K" @4 E7 e. X0 P# k0 y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
1 Z) H7 K0 T% Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 6 O' x3 l: Y9 H! _6 f% Q
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ C& V3 n, k: e8 Zto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; ]7 o& S2 M, S. i8 q$ iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 p8 L/ _4 \( I2 `; f0 Gbuyers in during the bubble years.2 B* ?0 o: y+ a
( U& W& G4 }4 o+ Y% g* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 9 Z6 q% l$ s8 X @& _3 B2 Q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( n3 V, H- m( k7 f. F. x* k
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
4 U c% K" l/ Ihe’ll close. |
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