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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a , o+ B! r4 [: A' ?4 |( }- Z
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& [$ ~$ {3 ?# A( k4 H1 |9 y @4 N, vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
8 l* Z1 @+ r0 [) ]7 [6 t7 W. ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
) c# _) x& Z; u0 k& ebegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.' h9 b P& a, m; e/ m
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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
' c1 c$ o3 U; G2 r$ Xyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 M' y+ ^6 j @+ O: g
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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' K! I) s% O( B& U; P0 a6 V8 C* h* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 0 x# N& R6 I& O l+ W
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! _- L/ c. v8 e+ ^6 m/ o( E3 x! vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; e+ O8 R1 J. }get 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
! i5 O: {9 h1 }: kthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not & x, |. V0 u; Q9 h2 N# k" H2 A+ H
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 P* j3 X; s, e: S/ Q9 v- I3 N( _having a powerful psychological impact.
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+ Y9 f/ D5 m2 s- g% X1 `* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) e( y' M! ~' r& z5 S' z" ?
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
, g q! E: T5 U% Vorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # w* r7 m; o1 K/ R; A: h+ i. p
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 j0 J" B+ e+ ~' G6 y7 Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 R- R% n1 b$ w2 g! T0 o! Pwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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6 ? s& ]2 P8 ~9 S* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another : E4 L+ n' ?$ a
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 a5 C& I6 t! t2 Z& P# |! dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , S2 Q* b( t$ b) K+ ]7 I. b% p
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 Q! e/ O5 `9 }0 L7 L
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
& o* c, z: v5 o! R2 g; y& ?6 ~expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 L' J$ E; b6 Z3 h% j
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
8 }# O9 A/ O* Z3 ~+ G+ a% Bhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 1 R* M8 Y# z( p" a' ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
% S2 P) E, ]0 FSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ p: L9 |% o5 S% Y" }& K; sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* G* e; N6 s) K) j
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 8 j0 t7 C/ k( U6 C7 u7 G7 f0 }
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 9 L% u) U% K5 w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( f" g2 Z) o% ?* q9 C+ N, ^
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * U' ^& r5 U$ A( s/ F- t/ U4 I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , p( D$ A' q' K2 f. I
better chance you have of securing the best deal. ^# I M! u" u) q) V
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
% O2 R. C# X: mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 9 H' i: N# d p+ m( M
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
0 c5 }0 a# h6 |5 @) Q* \to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 7 A$ e+ i8 F' m/ y- m; y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * B/ l3 g1 i9 O4 e R. L# t! Y
buyers in during the bubble years.
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+ [. Z" j' N7 w' u# x* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
' K5 u+ \- C, h5 z/ \! X3 cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! A; M {3 Y" J3 s6 ~) z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ) \- }3 {% g% b! Y
he’ll close. |
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