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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ! a2 f+ A3 _6 p2 ?- B! ]0 r3 g
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 F; f( s2 O" H" ibottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' J1 `9 w" o. v1 gthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and " _$ {0 N; k1 d8 S4 s8 a
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 ( ?4 y, y$ A/ g7 p3 ?$ {; w0 u# f
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
4 O1 h, M- l- ~' Mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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6 H3 q w3 T! q* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( e* T& U4 V, x. s$ c
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
& S/ M, j$ p1 Y/ zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 R3 K2 D$ Y# I, B" f% pget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.1 K) O7 C- ^' L9 {% {3 l0 \
! p c/ O* T2 S* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
* O* d8 ~6 v! T+ w3 L; ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( k+ H" Y1 _" Bcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while & G Q2 f6 b/ B5 R1 M
having a powerful psychological impact.7 L8 U. c* G- M! o
0 W1 p* u! V) T7 F+ k. z5 s. g* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
! c; k! j; ^( [' h4 Y* Jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
7 Z5 \ J- ]- _: R) w6 gorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 [& E& G9 t( ?# G9 K$ n
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; T5 [, W. s& e' dnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get * l# _0 @# x: j
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) m" G. i# _% C3 ~1 v* G5 ?
& W( b0 h5 O3 l4 w: ]1 n* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 U) q$ ]5 i8 h; }3 sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( q4 U+ G8 \9 T# `7 J, x
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that # W5 A$ g0 ~ n
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' X& G: [, G% E% ubusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - l& d0 {% x& W n6 @) y. Q
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' Z* Y% t) P" ?0 Gwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- S! d. a: o; Q1 Phave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, o# g2 I; a2 ]# J: ~the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. # h4 O! Y; S: W8 y, M! Z
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will + E% H/ `6 ?! e5 T9 q" }& d& i: ]
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, m1 x% ~# h% P9 M g( T+ a0 iyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" T: N. T5 l2 J sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ v: m6 }3 X0 z h1 u1 eyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & N, S+ V6 o! G/ {
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 M1 r7 k/ v8 d/ m. b5 m
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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" ?* v3 N3 B; L$ k5 p* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; B% A$ x2 g; {& { F8 Mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
$ n# D+ Q( `+ B. P3 t9 cwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% @; P( e$ i/ j& }* x6 u. r0 Rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just + Q& K9 X' B" |# Q
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 6 ]- x* t2 Z. J& f- w; H" C3 _
buyers in during the bubble years.; w7 u" }6 b& `& i
) M, t$ H. M* X) s) F/ |, x: S* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 B9 M$ U7 G8 S+ O
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# ~( t* }# T7 j' Rwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 8 ^" I) s1 n/ x' c
he’ll close. |
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