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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a j) k; s% E$ p2 W3 u* a
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the % v4 e/ v: ]" W: j8 ?' s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 P' D! N# Q" g
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 c% _0 z- V1 m7 j+ O
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
0 q8 U/ Z7 K7 V! Tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' F( {. e" r; Wand 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 4 m. ]& F- `6 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- ^8 Q' T, `/ v( s( wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
/ L$ Z% M7 R4 T1 D" Xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.# c+ U8 ~/ D* P* q- }- V
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ! w; G7 F; o7 V+ T3 @5 e
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " i: h6 v0 O! I% v J. B
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: Q" A* v+ R' u: y4 khaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 S& Q: y7 W# j$ u* h2 H( d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. |# w" K4 R6 `% \% qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
( O& r/ N. @, r! E* gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 }- k m b$ `never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; B/ O5 c! L. z s
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 . h" u* u K4 K* x
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
9 l$ z3 U: Y8 I, _that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 G' u O) v! H8 j" p9 w1 w8 ^6 Z% Dprice.' F7 {$ j- v e1 N5 _9 E5 e
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 s* S" n) h8 F8 Z, r; L. Y. D) wbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 M! G9 C: Z7 N; Z4 z3 @$ x! c' uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
& U( x. @7 C( g. f6 |$ R+ M- Lwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 9 j: B, \- @9 A
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ `3 T- e0 v! i) E( tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 F9 a/ H$ |3 k2 n: zSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ I/ y3 K, H* j# u; {0 h
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
* v$ J8 p/ ~9 k5 i" A% t2 d/ lyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ! I1 ^" C: [% g2 m
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into / o& T- R% {( q( S
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
' o5 Z& L* z( X3 A9 Kmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
; W; R+ w I3 o, o2 ^2 {better chance you have of securing the best deal./ `0 ?5 [; A- j, L# f7 ^4 f6 R+ h
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
2 h. D4 z2 l; ^9 eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
7 L& V1 k0 o% h M: `1 awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
1 y- H9 x g6 _: [$ W/ q$ Y& Mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ' s' I V! T- Q4 z
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
" v0 B/ e! J; z- X2 `0 _/ jbuyers in during the bubble years.6 x5 a+ t: L1 {1 _7 z, G6 j# C
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it l4 R3 `# U& ]. i: ]4 \
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( V$ W/ K1 E4 u* ?% a! ^4 a4 y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 _- j* S8 k1 A P2 D- x qhe’ll close. |
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