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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a " P- [+ n! ]9 V* r
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " L: Q! W' }! N1 M, M3 R" F, k5 J
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ; R. w) S2 M( _3 Q o$ w
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; z+ Y" a) z w1 {& rbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.5 c/ Q# |" c) }
* J7 h9 W+ T/ C% q+ iSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ' b0 p) N" @" n8 @9 |: M
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! w( B2 ~8 X0 W1 yand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) G9 H8 P* V4 M- n/ _) `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # N+ [8 e! b& R r$ I% l8 B5 \- g
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 x$ J( H0 T- q1 d- `& k" fget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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, k: j- A5 q' y& M: X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on p a8 S3 w' b G7 e* H
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + z* C/ F. a3 K- ?& w! f2 I
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( q- B% F. `' \4 \" W% U/ Whaving a powerful psychological impact.$ _* L/ v# S: I: ]
d4 l; {5 u* M9 ]- ?" L* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 P1 Q# b! _ `7 n# M" U( S
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
8 H( o* v$ I% w; ~# U' Iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! R/ w# q2 z7 Cthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you + H- O. ]# R: A
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 5 y# c+ e4 n: {4 s0 M9 [* M+ i
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " a# i1 i* h! d& o( g3 e% _
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; H- ~9 [$ P7 X3 g6 L
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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$ ^* ~/ W; y6 b3 J9 b' G* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 V2 D: O5 N9 H5 E1 A$ ^
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
5 ?) s% g2 U3 L) f! s. P8 mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of / n O( L2 z( O7 f
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 7 O$ q8 b+ f( k- c' F$ k! n4 i f/ j
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
4 `, f* A/ Z+ z, n8 e! x6 Uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( C0 S$ ^6 @ M: [5 ~. CSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 {% N7 n; m$ ?$ U0 v2 bdie 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
( u; [, p4 Z W- S! jyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ d$ c) [& g) h, T2 J# B* Sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: `: x0 ?2 W# D7 U8 O0 Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! ~/ |- j6 ^) I: R" u; ~: N3 Amore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 F' b9 {. ~" m9 I% s( J$ s8 T
better chance you have of securing the best deal.$ ~9 s9 d' a3 p6 x# h) N( ]6 F* Y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 2 X+ T4 X: @; x( D
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, V3 f0 j3 u# hwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
?; n* K1 m2 a& zto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 P0 O6 @' v9 P; Q- m& @" @# zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : o/ p1 V* G0 n! U) Z7 X" Q" O
buyers in during the bubble years.+ }7 r8 W$ r/ k- _/ T B6 N
/ z9 [% x5 ^3 ^3 h9 [* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 7 j1 H: x0 W6 G2 h- [5 j* r
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- M. h; V l: u. s/ W- q$ j3 xwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but + R: r0 x& Y! t
he’ll close. |
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