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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 8 z/ L; X' r. ^
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the & s1 T' Y4 j) y, l; I7 l" p
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 y: D% z/ N+ ~" ^the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , ^0 d/ \- T. e; r- e1 w
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
4 P; j7 L8 A: O, L& C7 {# fyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, I' J0 u4 ~9 `% o2 _1 Wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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# k6 R! m: ] z9 I* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
\: L6 q e$ S+ C9 Wproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 X! P# H/ I: B+ ~seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & ~2 Y& k$ w6 [- t* [" ^/ W! d+ K
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
, f. g* l* p# K; }, Gthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 `& V5 Z" `6 U6 o4 @/ s6 s- Q( |) }cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 [1 y% x; g( m% U7 mhaving a powerful psychological impact.& T( Z: M3 j3 ^- V% |6 v
, \: ]8 k. N. v; t3 [% p* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
/ X8 D* [4 O3 acompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" }/ h# a+ |8 b1 u, Q7 Sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 V1 {* V/ K8 _" Uthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 E7 l/ J1 R# l7 Q7 I. w0 J4 l9 nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 0 t- X1 N1 N- o7 E
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 i- D0 \: }3 m4 ]6 t6 [# U; x* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; G. M2 U0 G! X
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 8 t' S! \, H; \* a7 M
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ! O. X/ I0 F9 u" H
price.# e9 C" z( g2 D- s! G
$ o0 R& n, p' W* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 k3 i" T6 r1 X7 Z5 Z1 Gbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
9 ]5 j9 T& Q: A" W4 Q# Iexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 g$ _1 o& ?6 C9 Awork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 y6 p6 ^ Q8 p& c% x) ?+ o6 Rhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. r2 U) `. j$ q3 [& H$ ]( G( z- P. Ythe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. [# t6 @7 X' h
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ C7 Q. `% v4 X% c% I9 Y0 l
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 S {# z2 L' L% y+ f, J$ }
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
4 f2 N' [0 u6 L" g& Uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 c' S: G: [7 V( G
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into $ a# W: Z8 O. o, X6 X
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 J3 m/ @4 O+ j2 o( g! {
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! ?6 u0 ?8 \& c! `
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
4 t1 D! D7 z5 Y1 x0 Lproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! K: |( N0 o ?+ s$ F/ N8 O3 V
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " ?) {8 L% C! `" m: g
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just q! @" h1 q! J+ K' ^! Y3 w2 B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' }- _% F2 {) Y& \- V; Y1 m6 Jbuyers 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
! l7 q: O0 [$ ?1 @* F s" l& j! z7 Cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
) q3 A; x+ Q$ Dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 y3 u* c9 f& Q9 w, o9 }: ?7 qhe’ll close. |
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