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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 ]9 X/ {4 r! D8 U* h7 X
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 6 r) Q9 P5 n0 U1 B' u3 s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all # M8 p$ S+ W9 C' t3 m
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % r1 G! S8 l+ D5 q/ g& k: C
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& C% A) S/ [: r/ \( [0 S {. e" e
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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 ) b/ I- }$ l0 e/ {) Q% }
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! p9 z! j" v0 j9 g5 C1 H& S8 Tand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' E) |5 u& m: u7 L. v) W& a
5 N2 D6 ]5 \% t" L8 f& R* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
% F8 c. ]! T; Y$ U+ B4 j; G' Zproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # n/ l7 [, q. H
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ h8 c* P0 A; w3 c2 zget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 H! ^/ v) D. S! X& s/ [) r
* g* { H% ]1 j- i Y: U5 |" Y* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
$ H4 M( I0 z( ?4 h4 S) ]8 Ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! |! l' V2 j' v# D$ ?" C& H3 m
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; o+ h: I r0 V( f
having a powerful psychological impact.% f+ ~9 G$ f' i
# v: G% g; U2 m6 g! G* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- M" w' @8 G+ F. ~" k ]- Ocompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
c' N: Z- z5 b: w. i6 Vorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
; B" Z0 n5 P' N" @1 I5 {the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 Q' a3 _% }2 N# X, L) Vnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get " @( h0 n; u6 Y% M
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.* L9 Y+ B) {5 K) V
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another & P3 V: w3 Y0 j9 ]* G
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! }% `" M+ y, Y Cthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * [: \8 s i6 e4 x+ y
price.) k) A; A# R [1 y7 D4 ^
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five # p( d# ~2 w0 T9 u6 d7 A" {
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s $ ?- _4 t% X. c0 X: a
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! z. X: M- c9 X1 twork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . g1 [0 k1 ?! y" L9 k2 n/ e
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 V; x( [' F! z4 F+ M: T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " ^% T$ n% E2 b) V4 _ T3 T' {* T$ E
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 7 Z! I# ?5 f/ @
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: a! e6 e+ n, s1 n! P
p; p( ]+ K8 q$ _1 j+ d6 {; s* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 B" e7 z x: ~2 |: Z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ `" ]/ G* j M3 X& J( ~. jprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ w' k5 A& K5 y7 E( @, [9 ~your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! o0 H, z2 l8 q4 a" \+ F7 f1 Mmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 r) n' E% M/ _) kbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.' F a8 X( Q5 u6 s
/ a$ j6 o" Q0 Q, Z' i: K. E9 a* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
( o: x" s" n0 eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
% i' ?/ y/ \& P }+ I4 Mwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ F: u3 J3 w v2 l; Wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; S& h% b+ i5 [/ `- u6 v. nconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ' t) N2 k4 z+ ?: @
buyers in during the bubble years., |/ p4 ~. U; ~1 P( c
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* W/ ~& D( P1 Zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
0 M4 G1 ^7 }. [" _* @5 S0 mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * z* F R5 N! S6 ^. L4 B! M' n
he’ll close. |
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