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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a # J1 g2 L1 U# I, l
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " V( C4 [3 C3 M. u. M$ t% s% V+ V3 D
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ i6 D# d8 F1 G8 \+ K
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
( G" b$ G- [9 @begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* p" n/ _+ g7 V! ^9 F; Z$ t
8 W$ }. j6 E: e5 f0 o9 [+ R& aSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
' q7 w4 x: b5 D0 pyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / L+ z4 ]2 `; |
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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& z' {: r# v6 ~- k; ~* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
8 Q1 l+ ]# Y% e/ Yproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 a; n7 r M, k' Sseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
" p+ C. R- I9 qget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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; _) J# o: A- O$ K0 G' P* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
, n- ~- c% a. f, bthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 9 b6 w; d3 P3 Q" Z
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
/ ]& r% O/ C' Shaving a powerful psychological impact.# H+ N4 a9 `9 Z
& e4 w1 W$ L& D3 i* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is / d9 {2 {) X$ F( M
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: o0 R, d* \5 ~6 Z* _order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 `8 q: z2 M* q$ A6 O/ @: M# J7 [' l
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you / y$ [& K- e; K1 c6 @3 L. N R
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get % [' ]' j' W2 \: G$ O+ D
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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. p% H% m1 f+ X" Y* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ' z, N# H( B: B1 ~
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ' o' F+ e5 ^/ w3 O, _
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( c) x0 n' G. x* K
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ E9 z+ y) J( \+ A* Q8 obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
7 z' m, J$ J3 \* n) ~2 g- _expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 ~7 v- Z c& {5 W9 s2 Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 f ~6 a2 _- S) m( P/ _
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 {0 t. S: o9 A7 f2 {1 tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 o; y7 D$ d$ _Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
4 G0 u0 [5 H; K( D7 Ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.# e8 N" b6 z6 q0 Q& |0 J. ]
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ) y4 f3 R0 j+ p/ ]2 |" f
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # [, Q& |$ m, X' w" ?
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
/ \. k' p! G' r. Uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ n% y% X9 P% Lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
! k9 v- u9 o6 t1 M8 ubetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- m0 o: O+ j* F/ R6 A7 o' j+ g* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing - I: x( e3 Q! X! z
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 k7 g+ s3 z" y2 n3 \
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ; d* h6 @2 H4 M. H x
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
3 y7 a7 m% \- H, Mconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
! B. Z5 r& v1 w6 z' Kbuyers in during the bubble years.
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& m. h! w" K8 Q9 D# e. H* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' r7 \* }& R2 j0 b
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) @) l1 W8 l$ t+ z% h
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ g$ G3 Q' w0 u" ]- _7 S. Nhe’ll close. |
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