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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 T5 K+ U1 b- p" i# I
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ) v2 r+ W6 q8 x y2 M
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! }: F3 |# N+ L5 m1 p, P, A
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
8 S3 q6 y- y' fbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.1 u4 R1 X/ S/ U- e" O# N) Q; @4 m9 O
2 O% l) ~0 l# K! ?& G1 `1 f( tSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
' T# n- m) }1 l {" k9 e0 iyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ; V6 P% M' h/ H# r) |7 {" L
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% B, J8 [1 F$ ~+ e* V* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many . T K- o. w1 f, D: [- I
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 B& t* |! |7 L9 x. ]seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you - t' @1 d, j! B3 D1 L
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.8 h( g9 W) M1 x; j8 T
$ y! L2 M' n$ w; ~% A8 x& s& V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
% `/ o) N' [1 P) Kthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 p5 e/ a2 x0 L7 R' m! H+ ^ j( Y- F8 z! hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# _9 f/ ]" T7 D( Y+ Vhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* E9 t; \( g+ {* P5 E- W* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & c0 T& ?- R& {- b7 ?
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 c! Y# P2 W! P* Lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ! {1 z$ m- \1 ], P$ I: t
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you * d1 U3 d/ P2 R8 {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 w$ t: J; Z8 ~5 [5 S& p3 J: @what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) K) u2 X: `! V6 F5 @" j
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 H$ D9 _ P7 T( ^* }9 [- O& Y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * ?1 k! I+ f0 `9 d; X
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 8 G" |2 N7 o% L+ ]9 @
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 2 r+ }) l% P- O9 O% D
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
& m/ S! z( y+ nexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 d1 ?1 h$ A3 q# T9 @# G8 G
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
2 c9 L2 f% V8 y2 `* n2 T! ~have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ q+ L- L1 B! R
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
1 v1 b: f/ L% P2 E0 H; t- T! Z/ ^Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& L1 R) k% p0 o+ \0 m4 r7 Odie 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 ( Y+ z) M8 U8 i8 o- f1 i" B
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 o" ^3 w6 z6 H- Tprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
% v& V t9 s! g5 b; {your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 6 s; N5 d: S- I+ x# ~
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
, G+ y; G5 q. \( ibetter chance you have of securing the best deal.. y- n" e; i$ o, l2 r. r: p, p
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 t! g9 X8 `; ~) C3 Wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 4 l. ^! {* M l/ I: k
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) o" U. e) t# }4 d! [7 P
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
2 i0 D" w; Z, ^! A8 }% `6 g9 Nconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 {4 \: G. V y5 Y
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 0 m7 P* l% G u! S3 q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
2 N" j1 T) e3 m& ^, f+ e3 h& I. Wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but & L& o" @# v6 H
he’ll close. |
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