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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 7 X4 D- X0 I/ Z. V
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
" k; ?" z6 q) a& a7 p# W2 k* p! Sbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) _) u6 ~* F7 t& N
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" A2 q2 y& s5 z% A+ A+ z! m5 m7 q h) Mbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ z7 p A3 r! u: }
1 @) y! ~+ N" B/ E6 J5 mSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
1 h! U1 o$ h. K$ Q' o0 D( |you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
$ h D3 n0 s8 F+ ~: p* Wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 b: v7 R) |* \ l. N! t
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 S4 G s, z$ F! Aseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you . ~' d+ j# D, G' `" F8 E
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 L2 ^. ]: z0 z8 \/ g! q
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" w# F7 r/ f- c3 Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
# |8 w' H# U) ucashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
9 u& P4 M6 `7 Z0 o( l' Ihaving a powerful psychological impact.3 F' i6 y% d5 b7 A# o8 d* A( |
. r7 w4 Y- y' k+ O/ I9 j. h* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 5 o, C* E5 ?$ X, R% I, x; O% R& [2 f
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % \% r( q* r" W6 a# O* q( h% O
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 4 v( R" K; a9 r8 S" M3 t) Q G
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 K: F/ \8 u" p2 A8 r3 H
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( T8 g9 u( r3 K6 f
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. u7 L! s2 q4 T) ?$ a; F5 V" [
& T) @6 R% U& Z: }0 I/ q8 c. r* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another * E7 B9 J A) |& Y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. N/ l- P2 P( P* l7 f. O$ Nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* o$ x- L1 B$ f5 ^0 ?- @price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 5 Z9 m3 L9 H g) m0 z4 W0 X5 T
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: z0 z! z0 R" L9 lexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" H/ ?+ a4 C- mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 0 V1 W1 o$ x7 X: }4 B* I% h2 a, Z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 ]4 c4 h. ~" M( P0 [3 _- c. V! ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
g( [$ N/ s7 B4 R2 K/ A& P" {Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& G4 o# }. X3 D% ]. Y- U* Kdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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# S; @% k) x" O+ V! b1 s7 ^9 x: g* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ; j/ z( E5 U' }- |/ e' D. Y. _: X% D
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 n6 f/ }' k0 ~7 t
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into . ~+ ~7 Z% m5 m k
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
' G6 F3 x, K+ ?: b2 w+ imore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 Z% m, Q" s; x5 f& p- U! Vbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.# O' O/ \0 d0 H3 {$ @0 y0 u
: F. [" @$ L5 K7 \1 O* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& w% n$ P" x g% q& Nproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
& y" ?# M b6 f2 K6 {; owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 v, Z9 a, q' b; Q
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just " B& O9 f0 N0 w5 r& o* m
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 _$ l! v, m( V: R6 c/ h) U
buyers in during the bubble years.: o, \+ r5 d* v4 U: O
. B C5 {) Z0 E- j1 z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
4 B) a) S; O4 D& ]* M* O, tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
( ^' z% X2 C, G7 O4 {( uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
w8 i h2 l6 H" `7 N/ N9 r! V. Fhe’ll close. |
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