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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ; n1 l5 x7 X3 T; g3 p
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
3 ]; Z, a( `! x5 H8 pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
9 r$ j5 }. R# z9 j5 Nthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 2 t( |- w* H/ }$ G
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.) R0 `; w, `5 n# E: F$ y# C' t
' `0 j% l2 F! I4 |1 v( A8 pSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
4 Q! Q( w0 H+ r& `you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
: `" a0 m% r( o8 rand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)2 Q" t. P3 B' f( `
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
7 W' M# I. d, Y s: Z7 Kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ) A7 V! F5 d0 ~
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ a1 K6 Z; `& K& W6 E- ?% rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 y5 D# G; i; _2 Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! L& @* H7 U: w# f3 \
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 3 a/ F9 g, e% P) ?( J7 u
having a powerful psychological impact.. G8 t* {2 x9 S* r5 [& [
& y+ J; N v& A) k u* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
7 H9 d. ]2 ]/ T: p8 W; vcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 ?5 |' i; L4 y# W3 X6 }" ]: d2 lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 e5 P* H! e2 R* x1 i$ e+ B1 y
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 Z+ g) V% y9 Q( ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( S" p0 r7 h9 \! `0 }* mwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
" L8 L: p: l* x3 kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! m, g d# S2 rthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- \2 [2 }. Q4 a* V4 Hprice.# i% q- C [- X& W! p
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
; o6 [" f; F( _5 z! K3 qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - f* @: D( ?/ @
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 `9 L$ s, a, S: h0 y$ uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* x, K2 q" Z) D2 ?. A" {have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ v( X, s" j( _, G4 cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! |+ _3 A2 a, n
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 J, B% ]. r1 y2 T; K6 s/ N* cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture." X$ w! h2 J* H
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
/ @0 f% N, w9 z$ g2 r2 c$ l6 G: K6 Zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ) ~. q4 n2 f4 \: c) x0 X/ j6 u0 f
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into E9 x; @& d/ l8 [
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( T& x1 s% ?! {& p- M6 Smore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
5 F2 e+ }% Y. y1 r8 P" Lbetter 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 2 o# x3 g) y) g0 [& N! f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. v. }, L, f4 `8 z7 M& b5 Wwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 L4 Y9 Q b G: N3 d9 R# ?! @to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ( n) ^0 |) `- \! a
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 6 H8 A) _5 S* r8 U: G
buyers in during the bubble years." o: z, w. c! D) H% W( n
, K3 D1 Y2 p$ s- H5 i W* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
3 M# f" ^7 E) a/ z8 d% c4 R( Sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 ?8 I4 k$ A3 ?( j/ ] X- hwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 j l' o! s7 w2 d4 g* Bhe’ll close. |
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