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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 5 Z2 r! K" d |3 ~+ O% q4 T1 H- [
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 V- c! t- r1 M6 j! l7 ?bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! i9 c' |* i# S0 q" a
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ M* R! Y1 \9 n" m4 ibegging 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
, o! U# Y7 H. F6 F, syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 v- s2 @8 I' d$ H1 d4 sand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)) i- t }2 G7 e: b3 L
" O+ c% T0 a5 W% p0 P* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
9 N# P- F8 c4 pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 x- H& p" e" l2 R4 s2 C4 N
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you $ V/ r0 U% a+ ~( l% X* F$ A
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
! d+ F8 ~% }8 c1 S& Q' o' Vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 z* u+ R( s3 e; [ scashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % | K, j& j% b ?7 G4 d. u
having a powerful psychological impact.8 M1 s6 z6 d. k! L
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& ^# E0 ^! v0 ^/ R) N# Ocompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in : a& r8 y) s( H" l9 [$ `, T! f
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 x1 j; I' u, R9 y- T- p" fthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, x! i# [0 b& D; {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 O$ m5 E6 M% e. O, \, R, V6 @what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.$ r0 d) C- ~$ S$ J, d) a( n T1 c
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " [( Q! I% h6 m5 t. @* I
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( u# i3 y6 S8 ^! x5 l" |
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
# N' K( D; W% h2 Yprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & t1 @, Q6 w! B: Y! R0 ~% a; n
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
c4 ?3 f, a7 ?. ]6 J8 ]expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
# {4 H# m1 C: ?work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 3 l$ `& y4 q# e0 t
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of # H' B6 |4 t b8 p% n& o' Y0 X
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
u/ c# ?- B# s; I- eSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
s8 z, I( b' Y0 I2 ~) k* i! D! w( a! `die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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) M+ P; T2 a0 |! A6 Z% U M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, i' v9 \' a6 |' N0 {% Q1 D' e5 tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ ^* X0 x2 f: _price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 b) ]; p( G: P& Z" p* F8 u" W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 F: u' d$ z, W0 ?" F Xmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
& v/ k4 q. [5 b- @0 W4 p; }* Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.( c& E) A a5 _* U# {6 X; v4 y
( A' c! l, N. @2 V* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 5 P* J& B, }& h) w- s& U
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
" `2 [9 k# a% t) n, Y" |will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do N+ M; Q8 u# \0 k+ i% ?6 q, h- r6 z: K
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # B5 N5 r E% Z$ D+ @5 Y7 }
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed + f& ? i4 ]' G) f" ]
buyers in during the bubble years.+ h7 K3 X8 G. I1 u
5 z$ p, |$ j$ G0 z7 ]* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& I5 {: o: F( z; |- g4 tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : c6 i/ r6 U0 S, P& k2 c4 Y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) k- w9 ~! H/ @6 B$ |5 \he’ll close. |
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