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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a + G% a) @3 D9 I k
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 1 k( Z6 b8 X; B. X* m* v4 p
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all v! U: E. D4 C8 \) g
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - B0 j. ? N p7 [* n
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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7 Z2 K& |+ K$ p1 GSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if * k0 Q7 w" X; m& {- w; l* l4 j2 p% P
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
$ Q; L7 x1 M4 sand 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 & k" a4 x) V5 N$ w1 C! S
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! z# g# _' y9 u" H6 Q. e F
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
- j8 ]+ ~7 x4 o4 @- l5 D3 Z; \' x2 G$ _: gget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- W- y. s! F4 I# N; g! A$ K% }
2 I0 D( }- ~: \9 N ?* f* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % i- @7 t+ e5 p3 l! D: j6 q% r
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % X' e( ^, K' w9 ?* O
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
8 g) g* g' `3 w: l2 chaving a powerful psychological impact.6 {/ e7 T4 g' o: U" y. \. H0 D" ]
% o' d9 k3 M' ?6 m* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; Z. { H+ }7 s* ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
) @* T2 N/ t, t8 p. i9 i6 F }order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 I# G( e% Y" c! K( Vthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ( H8 j* R3 I/ ^" b: _; z5 ]
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 q2 ]/ B0 r, f$ c0 Q6 t F
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
$ Y7 p, A7 Y5 B9 ?* ?# U' Iproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
k8 w8 x& }" t4 j3 _6 Qthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ' u; S! R! ^: |, o
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . L8 _+ r) z4 A. O
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( [+ J v3 L% I6 ]1 M8 t: u/ V2 z
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
/ Z! q O- G) Y( xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 7 C% X7 c9 n' k- P+ {# ^, n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 p3 t$ L6 X& y7 lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 J" D7 i5 l' ~9 L$ c4 iSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% x8 F& z7 z- Q7 |$ Hdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture." C: O! X/ f3 J& [: ?
# g; J7 z, P* O* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 5 S! F5 x% E# e \- Z3 u
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( R9 T& ^. n0 M$ m/ L- N8 M+ oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 C U2 w0 C7 U5 }# I7 V5 L
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# [9 j$ S/ i9 R; K hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
' K' M6 I. @1 k. _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
; e8 [7 g; [0 `0 @7 g3 t) Y/ q% mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
# R, c$ q9 G V/ N/ j4 g; d0 @6 B7 kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 l+ \" i# J! e# Jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just / }& M0 d: C* X, v' P2 V
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , u. l# R' P2 e* s3 y6 v2 ^) Q3 M' @
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 Q/ Z1 s5 y3 y7 B% d. S; ]
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 6 A+ |6 I4 E- N' ]) d+ G W2 f) A
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 _7 ?* P# l' c3 k t% @
he’ll close. |
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