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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a # J {+ L8 N1 K) u5 j2 f1 J
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 n( W. k' u$ Q( L1 o" Zbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - z# U5 X( i8 r' s! h* m& }
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and / o& s0 O+ e+ _6 j0 }, z# r
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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4 _& z% E$ r4 X2 f6 J4 R8 NSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if . }- C* N* |$ Y
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
4 v2 \- a# D+ X9 ^and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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. R0 l- c# S) v* A* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
" p/ t* S( K9 T* j. ~# {properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken $ \! u* A9 E$ M! h
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
: Q+ W& ?9 k3 i: ?! i" V, z$ o( Lget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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7 q1 C; u$ ^, j6 j7 M, {* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # L$ b$ b3 l2 R4 A# D
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 Q" D @% W5 Q! s$ a* Ecashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - Q" ]1 G5 s& A$ A. z, ^) g7 N$ j
having a powerful psychological impact.2 R6 \$ A/ Y6 V3 ?- z4 ^
^9 V3 @& s& `/ r% l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* ?" V( M$ O5 s+ q% M1 Dcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in + `0 s' S; U1 c
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
; F/ L3 y$ `- s% Pthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you # @2 x& L1 q9 a# t2 e; _, u0 O( E
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : o" Q9 g3 o+ g1 ~# F
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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5 y# Y2 s- i9 z5 R" n4 P7 |* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another * n7 {1 X# k) [' L
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / ~. c. I( H3 Y' S! o9 W
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' @( C8 x' i6 {6 y: ~3 [price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 t. d9 p) w" S: ] H. c5 Qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
9 i( }) p: Y8 ^' A5 mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 9 K& B, z( |7 F" g8 y: x4 Z
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' @3 Y+ C9 c6 ^* q2 d3 J) R/ Z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
/ Y h+ h; h3 J, o4 ?the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / \0 H- o8 T6 X2 ^( q6 A8 \
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- ^8 t9 |2 T) v( m( u4 j, Ndie 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 - Z- J2 V. P6 s: y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' ]% ~ I) y/ O$ `% d4 jprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 r. X T% V' z
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
' p7 x) k- C z. P# p; [7 v# Nmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the . c% j) G2 v" v& R7 _+ e7 H
better chance you have of securing the best deal.5 y6 j6 @, }7 g- b$ g0 P6 a6 x9 n
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 1 T/ t- Y, ?2 J# Y) M# }8 B6 ?. T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 Y! z3 y* m& M: G2 m+ U5 Z- T: S
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# }/ ~, z/ ]# O! Q( _ kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
3 L O/ e; R- T% t/ @/ oconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ F W. y6 k: @5 s( Y! ]9 {- `2 _buyers in during the bubble years.
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# O3 `+ ?$ o$ J" M* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it " R5 {3 ]# v8 j0 Z [0 g( t* C* H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 W/ ~# @8 ~2 u" @: c+ f( [
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / A7 q0 v- g- p. Q7 }# ]
he’ll close. |
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