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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : f. Q+ L3 ]# ~( U
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the - r% J' f- z; U8 g
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 K" u1 z- y9 q, G
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! _0 H/ C# Z8 i% Qbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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7 L; V: Y- ~) h* h7 C+ s h1 p$ ZSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 8 d' }0 x1 G, A- |/ }$ E7 Z
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " `8 ]' j0 x* y& ~! n6 F
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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9 Y) z8 h$ V$ [* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
1 K5 v4 Y: U N) Qproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 1 {. { j% f5 Q- H$ M/ N
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % A5 H7 Z8 |: U4 T5 f
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' |6 O9 b2 V$ K |+ r" S
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
) }( s: Y5 x+ y' Tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 I8 ]) G) I9 M
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 R ~7 l! I- b5 I# A0 Y* Phaving a powerful psychological impact.7 ~9 ?0 H- A( O
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 5 D0 _; k# z+ X" q7 a
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 {5 o, w8 z) p! H$ u8 Torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! o( i3 H3 e/ Jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : O$ b1 W h8 d
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) V; K6 l2 f% N8 w) g2 |what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.! f4 a7 J/ ~2 x' G3 X7 [
, r1 D l1 ]" m* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
# v# h' }" {9 c% Jproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 W+ C+ I. U% E5 z( B2 ^that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that + _" x4 v! s+ _; C: M/ j& ^1 K: f
price./ z& ], T) W# W+ ~. R, f" }& B7 b
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 h3 P1 _. B! e8 P7 Q/ s- lbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) B8 |! R( h4 d2 C& \7 K/ Mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 K: p7 O% J/ D0 ework done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( n& p) q7 p+ q2 g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 \0 p. }- p( D( `0 Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. F" R( b" b2 L' g, \Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, U! W+ _# M0 S% {% x$ p# ?die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 d! o6 G- i& K, w. N8 c; B
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
5 J# h, g4 K6 @- d2 D$ } b; K( I; tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : h. I3 z- O: G4 r% F I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 W& q* J* X. C; r j0 y: A* vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . i, ~- [ @' Y2 h7 J# F3 Q: C
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ( Z& z5 |6 n& D
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ b) @' j# P" a& o9 m3 \, J/ Mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 3 m3 ~! g$ S m! q$ T& t; s
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( v- d: S! J% L% l2 v8 x i
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ) f: t+ g0 g% `" s& c6 \
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % y! D# @5 Z6 [
buyers in during the bubble years.
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" m, x- v! V- z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it & M" [( V( s% \$ i# ?5 M4 x
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# X, u& o6 Y9 D0 t2 \; G* twill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but . A' } H6 X' ^9 c2 p1 l$ p" ^
he’ll close. |
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