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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
1 i: _0 e2 z+ Jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the % L' m9 P$ J/ Z7 ]% }2 _
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 5 ^# v( i: m3 A( J! b
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 8 b; ^7 {& W6 O! y
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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8 f3 v1 Y# f: n' B3 C) TSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
; S, |+ n/ g8 V6 fyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ! i% B$ I: O! X3 ?; \
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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1 }0 G6 [* \( Z8 u E5 ^* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
4 ]; C1 q c% C" G% Cproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 P* V, R/ q, `" eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
- J8 D% [3 W9 N$ q5 Q4 z$ cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.; E5 A2 k- h; {! ]9 Z: G, F# J- |
3 T: e6 C7 a( S7 J9 k( n9 |* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
. `+ b! p1 _8 J& cthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 ~- g5 I' e4 X) U9 u, kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
9 V6 \! I/ S8 ]8 V! ~having a powerful psychological impact.& ^$ A/ x4 G9 I, S. A
5 \3 C8 ?. `( w! p, E- ?* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. P( k- }/ [6 `- jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* _" h- J3 Z8 e& _order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on & O+ t. }# g8 f
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you - N3 g6 {, j1 @9 }7 {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + z; `" n! c# @
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 H3 [0 `, J; n, R& F
: `+ N; u7 g8 ^, ~* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 u/ |6 N2 B ?' w: m
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; T2 f' y& q* `& h4 x* [- [
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 z1 ?- f; Y! K# K
price.8 W# t; R1 ~/ X$ L! S9 ~0 S
$ I7 F1 C+ u: t% d* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 ^8 m& X: V1 ^0 S# Y& `/ d1 w# e) zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( F M9 M* A5 }9 t) k) ~# D# b' a4 V2 S
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. n& [" i7 @- C) U/ T4 _( rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / o+ B* w6 D4 Q Z; D) |, T h
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% J7 \) R' w) G$ [# a- X- J& Jthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 5 s! A$ Q. e' T5 r% L
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 C) w2 n) q, l& O; Cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 J+ J0 t) s7 j9 G; B
7 P" L: S Q6 L* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 8 ?, A: Y/ y m" y4 T+ d
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: }) B' P0 ]# S. u N4 _$ r7 Y8 ]price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
D8 L1 H0 E7 M2 H+ l: o$ ^your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
9 v r6 l) @: G& wmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
# v, A e! x: @* ]6 p+ T/ ?better chance you have of securing the best deal.; F( a" m# c1 Y0 g# \
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 z0 A+ m1 Z! v3 V
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 Z0 s" [" e8 D5 l
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ y( L7 ^0 a. m" O5 Dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # O' m2 j" s& h5 c
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
4 C$ F) s0 J, M( ~$ v" W! I$ c; Ebuyers in during the bubble years.
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$ d* a; s5 W2 u G" E* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% Q5 _' q6 F1 ^; Q$ Ndie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
( A: k8 X5 w* @7 }1 t' nwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but + D8 S* D2 L2 \5 F
he’ll close. |
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