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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, s3 O1 Q; n. r4 i! Sfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the & w0 q; g! k* T. Q/ O" h8 u
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 V+ _- m5 e+ k W1 D
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 2 y$ k) G' C0 K0 e
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 w7 p1 f, o9 ^
, H/ A/ d6 o" s0 l1 eSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
6 X% A! d* c7 Q) d5 ~you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / V3 Y! Y6 l7 ^, @
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)) Q; H3 P( p! S+ ?6 \& k& M" O% D
" Z% k0 u' e! B6 T: w7 [# w; I* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) \' c4 Y; U3 e; [4 J
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 L8 R3 }5 a! v( w7 Cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
# L( O B. ^/ }/ Hget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.% |) w5 }# g- D0 O+ R4 C3 z9 }
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( x6 X( _) ]7 l) q: b7 w- j% L
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) Z# H+ w Y7 d w% B. c$ k, Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. Z- {& u& v4 Y9 T ehaving a powerful psychological impact.3 U" t1 K- @# z. r
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 g# Y) b% u& g' K# a
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. B; o# f* o$ L- g0 x4 y$ Rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
( l( [6 y( Z2 T0 h) z3 @the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" {! c8 M9 f+ rnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( y* q7 j# C3 N- @' q, [
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.2 e8 s: i, M" h3 F5 Y
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
4 ]6 n% g5 e! C3 p* ^property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
, _' u5 e' q. Q2 kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that H/ `' N# e3 ]) b* u' b& \
price.
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( z5 _7 w$ g( G+ k8 R# F* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 M8 A1 m1 I5 s& B) K
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ @8 L: p- l2 Wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # E Q( _- M- H& ?5 X# T9 e+ @
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# g! s8 u3 B7 c# K# fhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' Y3 G0 |8 x7 I# H1 B# u9 p' T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. , a# X7 s) n: n% @* A
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 Y: h. U5 h8 [& E2 `4 I
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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# L x" H" q! `# Q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . L% D4 U3 D. G' Q v3 w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ) m. t! E5 Q, ^9 a1 A" N z
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ {1 l$ S4 b% B% ?0 M/ Q9 |your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 6 R& \$ s) P4 n# X3 ~1 N7 A/ G N
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
5 O, L0 o3 {5 I/ Q3 hbetter chance you have of securing the best deal., g5 k7 V! {2 p& `1 a
6 @2 H- x4 |- [( R1 R" M* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 p V5 }/ v* n
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 f1 e' N9 h3 x s
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , C4 ?# c N1 a9 B; ]' [- L
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 g& @3 e- P* y- Hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
{" x$ M3 O$ y8 u2 j- Fbuyers in during the bubble years.7 x; z* r6 |1 w- B, x2 m
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
6 ~: X" S6 t7 ? Ddie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 6 J! x1 Q) U: J3 _, B% e* z; w3 X
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
* F. E! I4 @1 G* T% ?% E# Hhe’ll close. |
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