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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a " \5 Z* J5 P: W- V, g9 V
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. e. l. b, H/ |$ G9 Q5 S% |; i; hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! M+ Z/ }: i$ h t4 q9 M
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
) @. F- }: m1 Rbegging 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
. M4 E' r' Q" s: oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
2 N8 ^7 g4 X1 n3 U; Q2 b# Y7 |and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). ~2 d* Z+ W# Q2 ?( I$ h
. g/ v( s/ I& E* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many * H0 B# o7 C7 s9 m5 f1 B
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
2 Z* p+ ?( Z, p- _seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you , C; I/ `2 i4 U! d5 }
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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+ P: O% T0 V) M& T4 z5 K# Q* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % Z5 z* c3 b# C- J8 @2 G3 J
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
" y- h1 \) \8 p/ w# B4 E; rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* C9 z7 B/ ~" Q# }+ ahaving a powerful psychological impact.# G' |. K+ D+ I6 U: O6 Z; U% A' r# ^
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: }" W4 d) @/ _# ~: Kcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
+ O. w2 }/ A$ |3 d* Oorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 V9 V9 {1 N( j9 Hthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( o- ^/ q- z# Z0 D% k. x. _1 Qnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( u, o' [0 W# _* o7 k7 Wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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1 K$ V# y0 V. Y5 u* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
: @' o" i8 o- x- z" }; G$ Fproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; S9 j5 y3 l* V7 i4 O# Y& zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
/ H' ?: i, [ B1 k3 mprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five / O# @+ K. o7 d$ I9 S
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! b8 I& K; {; {$ r9 aexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 g# p7 g; C3 ywork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 1 O( e5 D5 \9 y @0 R# E/ t
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 q0 E+ q+ L6 q, xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. . W& k! L# k$ }3 C: C$ G3 C! e+ Y
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ A6 V( B7 T5 w9 p4 ~: Qdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* m$ k# Z. ~3 L _
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
* |2 T. T4 e1 a. u4 j6 r& ?3 yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; `. S/ u% j& }* u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 1 }" A X- [& b+ f1 o. P2 `( ]+ q
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 4 R1 Q4 E- }+ w9 o, s
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the & ~+ L" f3 S+ P: [2 P
better chance you have of securing the best deal.7 L Y* f$ j' L1 q, y6 f i
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& l0 Y' X- {) q3 D2 Sproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; x; Y' U; i4 Y( m# B
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 8 g P0 Z' Q4 X7 i
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just & ^- H6 a3 h; b9 @& v6 M
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 m& p+ \6 Q6 e
buyers in during the bubble years.0 W2 [2 y, J$ q M1 c. M
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
a1 R3 ~9 m. {7 c- m, Z! {- R3 Odie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
( h& T- V/ l( k2 U- bwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! h& o. y& S1 E/ t+ F0 K7 k4 p' dhe’ll close. |
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