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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a - z( W- k' A' r( e
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the : B7 M7 a( G3 s" B
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, v. H! z" P# H' ythe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: m7 n& X% I- _/ V- {3 O; [begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% k' n2 j. n& }
% u. \2 U( @3 R; L2 m# w% qSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if & W0 t/ a' E. o6 {* N1 x
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ x/ m! e! K: j. q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.): F* L5 ^% i& [
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, l) H' k: g6 q3 n" h# N( Lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
H1 C0 Q) R& L2 k. X8 `+ Qseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % U/ [0 P! G- m1 u
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ p. f; a: H# F/ p8 v
) e, M2 [ N8 p* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 6 k. ?: y. m+ L$ J* V) M
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ j* u; \8 d; tcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % L& c R" p" ~9 C- v6 o- ~
having a powerful psychological impact.: o6 q) j/ [2 b( O( [( d! n' X
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( I: X, C* I8 d& u% z/ ?5 }completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% A; g( H8 Z* t6 h$ oorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
. ]6 j8 m- p% {' hthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ! C) c' l) b1 _* `; e. M. m6 v
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 M1 v3 e5 Y( G: c7 F$ k* [# B) Z) qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.* T" B# f" P+ B- R8 r
7 r. [! V, ?7 b K6 [) L0 Y* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
- D4 C9 @. G* W# {$ E, V0 jproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
2 e; ~1 [# _3 S: hthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( ]7 t& ^- ]9 p. O' E) Dprice.
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Y/ z g: |1 E# j" Y( O* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five # p$ E# E. C: v& u0 |9 U
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 K& Z2 A: B! @5 K- C0 l7 o0 j
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 z) }6 t# C7 L: E2 A% Dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, g& K2 L- g5 W, c* ?have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 [. e0 m# ~) }1 }
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 E1 s$ y2 k! s: aSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 C8 \6 f5 \" q% [7 s+ S2 p
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* f- A- c. T" [0 |! J0 K5 K6 Y
* G# _* v z2 I* q& u- i6 X* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have q9 Z+ }4 t; o* I1 l6 a
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; P' A& S* C5 g9 C1 iprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 @- B9 N7 r- a5 n" L% ^
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 2 S% S9 D: ]# y) o
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / n0 m2 N; V" s1 R
better chance you have of securing the best deal.3 a1 Z- |) @4 k- S8 s+ [
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
6 ]; l, F9 N! |& T" s: P7 gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That * e% p5 [ n0 r- w N" T' s0 V
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 }2 b6 t+ @/ h# I W& j* Z8 p" n! o! @to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. ~+ B& K! v+ Q! gconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 H% X6 r0 k: N- ^) c' D
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% O: t4 O" {2 t" B0 a/ ydie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 6 ]$ h9 h- K( a( @
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
7 ~' I! M2 ~: R2 j) e" z/ Qhe’ll close. |
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