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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ; U& L: Q0 T, L+ j9 U$ b
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 0 ]& ]$ l. f9 R
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " p* b( y% z* x" g4 d! k* g
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and " D2 N* i& T9 l3 V
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ( e3 E" n5 }* B- @5 H: L* v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- v$ V4 K6 x! [, Y! _and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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( l1 D- @# {- w0 C* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : c; X. u6 M1 R. `; H; ]$ S5 s
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
4 w$ z( ] @2 o& N( sseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! l, i. _/ p! s
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. [$ X5 Z4 T1 B" Z
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 Z7 s$ P/ v6 O+ I
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 E p0 q8 l% S; h4 E
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ! o W; K7 \- {2 G1 o3 ^
having a powerful psychological impact.
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. @2 p# ^+ z4 O [5 W+ h! a$ v* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
, c" M. w( n4 K; Z/ hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 i, s. M3 d. ]. c' Q: Sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
, x# S5 i% W/ T: Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ l* D% D N7 E& ?
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ G3 K5 C$ K6 i& w$ ^9 c% |
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' z$ _6 l8 Y# n+ x" o- h8 m+ F- ^; B
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 I4 U- x5 y% {6 r8 |0 Z9 c
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % D3 F/ S7 P0 e9 ^
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 u* p0 L9 B5 W5 yprice. U' C5 M0 b3 `8 x- `5 Q
0 L6 y- o3 s; b$ H/ t: j: d* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 Q' h8 `& V L5 a1 @business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! F$ D0 X x/ }, h% o+ O
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 E2 o y9 h9 u1 k1 |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : u; H" x4 v* ~' w* _
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, c2 N$ e& A5 D8 S9 U' }* Ithe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
6 _% [# l( F' o6 S( L8 M' a( _Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % j2 x6 H2 E7 c2 E- L) t
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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$ _; W |. \& O! r* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& [$ n6 R! f- {# ^% J5 h4 pyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 U' w$ x: v6 Q, q% u/ L3 Y) W9 B
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into . Q( T# p6 B7 ]0 ^ d
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 W5 y, I+ m6 D: _9 q. K' z$ cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
Z1 }, K s; H, T: Wbetter 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
8 `2 f1 P6 `+ j& ?. O4 Yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That . T3 y4 c, ^( m( Z! r7 Y+ e
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ y4 X$ ^7 O' m; P1 C0 kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
j$ w6 x4 N! g! F0 Q: sconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 {+ w+ c2 G, N; l6 c$ v( P
buyers in during the bubble years.( q H' \& s5 l8 L+ `: |5 E; E0 P
4 d3 F. K) [1 k0 n z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : H; \# A* H/ y' G
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 _0 Y( \' D/ B( Uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! i1 {# E* M' G# W0 Q8 X
he’ll close. |
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