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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 3 k2 H/ M- @; S9 A
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the x+ r& F, }* w. ~5 m l
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
( V( E) ]) o! V: tthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ) \- I# u7 L' G5 Z3 h0 \+ {9 S8 ?
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part. ?0 z% k: R4 j- F+ {+ V+ G
4 ?) n$ \7 k, _$ J9 u! CSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 3 e1 m7 B! ^, `& w+ c
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ' A; |, f. m* g" N
and 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 1 u# c* g% y0 W \
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 U! E" m/ T. K. Oseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ c3 I+ W; N2 Oget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* ]2 ^- m# E) ~& a3 b* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
6 h0 M K6 d! w3 ythe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 r7 o( U; ~. P4 i1 u. ocashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) D0 f5 P; T! k, v- f( Ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' J9 _3 S0 P) z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in $ i$ n$ X' _% B7 m( D' t% y( N
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : \5 T3 M3 g- k& ~% t& W/ d7 C
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ) b0 P* x Y' k: H2 }# S; n+ O
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
7 R5 K* ^9 ]# V% [what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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1 J9 N# w' ]4 A) l, A D# c* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another : F$ ~% ^& S) g% L! ]! c5 G- q
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 x& X" I6 @) p: W. k6 A
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
# ]6 q; ~# \# B6 p9 rprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
$ _ b0 {$ I9 `( E, Z: d7 Ybusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: _$ ]1 H8 L" Q9 @# @) p* ~expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of " G* ~0 m+ c1 \+ D
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
2 c9 }; G6 K" r7 y0 ^ k. k/ lhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 @8 f: N. y$ i7 G# Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' [- s u& A; K, WSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ x! `1 U3 W8 P! t" {' K% [die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- h. A1 T) @$ R% X8 {6 A& Z6 I
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
+ K$ I7 F2 r) Y# Ryour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' b' Q+ W1 Y- F& q# u0 gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' n' h; X" K8 Z. Q5 z* d; ?# w
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 R2 Q! a- D! e# N
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
q' E! T& I' ubetter 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
. @7 l x! V/ Eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + ?% |/ _$ n, X2 Z" p2 `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 0 H- N# H/ O( i
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just + K I% z( s4 [
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # }' {) a) @- n) J5 Y
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 1 `+ c& T' h5 _& G* A+ t
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 q& T, H$ Z, o6 Q9 `
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% @2 J" l' k" ^. `5 Nhe’ll close. |
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