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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
- W+ t9 }0 k4 H1 Z+ \" p' vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
v1 H6 w1 l, j; p) O& Tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
0 i& s3 G% c) Y/ p! nthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + k: i6 v* h6 x- T& ?
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.3 o' X( W2 H2 S: B
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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
# T6 q! m- b1 C! Q! ?8 y- ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
9 z) ?- P5 j: k2 ?3 i# _6 z; _and 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 X" V2 v6 i. L a, W
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : P3 f& T5 j B2 `
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; y( @* {1 \) G0 p* P
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* g3 R" W, ~; n& B6 l
( z9 j, L0 E) d6 ?8 e& j0 i* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
0 B# g% I. s/ U* t6 fthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not , i+ E- Y3 u+ m4 E0 S3 h; a
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while $ S/ l( o7 S6 D. a! m' O
having a powerful psychological impact./ C& [1 C% Z4 l
S1 s$ S- E' A5 i* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 Y- O5 x/ h" S4 m8 bcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
1 P+ B0 H c' T. @& u& `order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , w* _! u2 S! z4 N
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 6 x" G; U' \5 _ u# e. Q9 C0 Q
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
4 d, d _5 p- x% P# twhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; N9 h. M3 c8 b" l( z% R
* r' J" T4 A) Y) [+ c- G* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # S4 A5 `* M3 Q, n% |
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 9 B( ?! V7 ?; A# M! z
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * _# S$ }' T$ U' H
price.; p q% t! c Q4 m# B6 B r
9 i/ b2 l5 T. l: l6 p* E* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
& _$ g' c! }# Rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! t& f1 q! F6 Kexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 n# T6 @0 T4 f3 ? b2 e0 I
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* p, S; k, E: s5 Whave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' M) j- ?' h7 A# @0 K: q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / `+ w2 Z6 P- e/ K) ~* S
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
( w J7 L" N* D/ g3 J( E9 mdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 X' ~) }% r0 s. h
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 z2 w* k; u6 Zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 p! V: w: C N; Z
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( L8 K( b0 L2 }* x6 s" i9 [
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ; _0 m7 _. @( c. q: ]7 \
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
* {5 V: b9 z3 Dbetter 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 6 \5 b6 z) j1 b" l
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
1 g$ G0 g2 \) ^ S9 W, Z d, `will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 U1 b B% C+ S8 {6 m$ xto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ( y$ x" G# }$ G& n9 E
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , H2 I8 I* |9 P& I, Y2 X
buyers in during the bubble years.8 L% I; o x1 P: t3 ^1 \
% s* [* P2 H0 P3 G( n G: u* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / Z) I0 _) p" L; K6 q/ W! q$ t
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; h6 {! I# N; A( H4 A0 v. qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 U, @7 S1 o* \9 D% b$ ]he’ll close. |
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