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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a b2 H$ I! {' B h7 Y4 c
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 V7 d9 |; d$ O; g0 Sbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
9 x& a7 H1 a, T Pthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and P+ D: `5 I! k! T h7 }
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.( T( D9 m0 w3 y0 B
9 k8 f4 s' }! M6 P0 ESo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 g6 @2 k. r% W# |you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 H# n& M9 { E1 Q9 O, mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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9 X4 h; p3 Z1 @+ \* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : f. @" O3 C) L9 M) `+ K. B8 r
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - q. i3 M! g- e# E& Q9 S: _
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ p, e6 \6 C% E( b& U/ Oget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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c) w q- C3 k; e% t' _* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 c p* R5 v( @- s- I5 M! e! c
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' g, v3 K* G4 I& Z) z# ?
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; k( v* i+ i: J3 f
having a powerful psychological impact.. z! t+ c2 Q/ P$ W- g( L
- ^' {( A t, i& c- o& S& y* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; w' h2 \& P4 H& I i& w6 ?* e" d8 X
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % N9 U _0 p# q O9 t
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
* B6 I/ n4 }& f% L1 ~the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 z( z" U1 k5 l5 z' P$ ]
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 z& i! i/ V. q3 A5 D. v, Xwhat 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 w) w' T- W# g' z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( S! G( T! G3 r' F- x) P2 Vthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & I/ z* g0 A3 J6 G7 b" I
price.% Y' a- e4 N- E0 R
( M. Q. q9 }" J) t; o* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! w8 t& v d* c: F3 A- E, {# Gbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
. z$ E; }$ y9 V. r* N8 texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
8 _3 t! F( h* [% N! Fwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " [- c5 I2 Q0 D! t6 D2 N7 s- I
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
! L# y7 V3 d9 N3 @& N4 Rthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
4 x3 G( Q, E9 i7 b7 P9 p1 ?Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will & w' ]7 {' a7 m
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ d" |# V* }" V6 `/ f8 B% h o2 h
- k. Z2 }8 Q1 ~' V/ [* @- Y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 b, n+ |# B: r+ D. gyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
1 ^$ O! A5 O- \' ~price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( r$ ]- A* z; a( `+ b: x3 {7 k
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 I! \7 q5 e0 x. X; S& Imore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the + g; `$ N2 _ B5 A. j7 C2 v
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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5 k# m/ P) ^6 @) ?* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 Q5 ?$ T) h6 a. b o" F$ s: {2 m
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 R) K4 V* Q; q* k; v/ H# C
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
A0 z, O1 B3 u# T8 wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . \* d5 V$ g% ^0 ]$ f
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , I" i0 j3 f$ |5 z; Z- V; B5 T$ r
buyers in during the bubble years.
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. ]: O2 u. W0 m& U% ]/ ]* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) D3 t' Q- t( Y* a
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
8 C+ U- c( Y: Twill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! ~) C; {0 }# t9 H
he’ll close. |
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