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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 V- J; d! j& J
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the / c1 m) i6 c* C8 v2 y- U
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# {1 K1 g& U4 p8 X7 Y9 athe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ) E# T* {% F" H! M, l/ a
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& r* F8 W# u. Z0 Z$ e$ c" ^
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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
" J I6 P2 u8 u3 E/ B- i1 Wyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # Y, {, K. V; a
and 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 % ^- k3 [0 h/ R( u) A
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " b5 H6 x0 k% s
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 U/ E, d2 {! W5 Mget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' t& Z3 c% d. X4 w
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
B7 E2 q0 x/ ^3 ~% e7 cthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
* n+ q7 `7 L' P' X, ycashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 O2 v; W/ d! C" I
having a powerful psychological impact.1 O9 K' B. d$ z
. i! \% O2 M/ o* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# K' z0 `, j, d, }, z' Z$ _% p2 Tcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
1 a& r8 J. Q1 r( ]3 lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
& j4 m- o( E) @. othe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; I( C7 U4 h; q3 \2 V6 Lnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 7 C- ]) x$ w% q+ D
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. H& ~4 x3 q/ L' R2 H' S
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ( U) O' j8 w4 [6 j, K( }5 W. q
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; b. e& G( P. P) W8 c
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 o( }2 Z- c* q Z; U' W
price./ U$ F8 C* s+ F) H% [/ i
) V; y+ G: l2 d W7 {4 y0 x* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
. C4 q. T7 V$ Y0 z" i& V& O% ]7 Z* dbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 a# Z0 A+ p, t- S4 r* l+ E
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
, o! s3 Z4 N& Y$ s: X. A. H% ]# qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
) S2 R" B* R9 v; ^1 O7 N$ ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. H9 i1 i2 h) R5 |1 othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
, y$ L% S& c8 T+ }4 BSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 L2 f: Z6 T4 ?" ^
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.9 I% z2 t# ^5 R1 Z1 i
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
% t. W4 `. ~8 Fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ |0 I" F6 Q w$ P5 G0 L7 Xprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
h3 L- C: d* e; Uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The # U" }# r* L$ U9 \. Z4 Q+ n
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
$ M! r& `6 G9 x5 n# V% c1 Sbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.7 r( b7 I8 a3 N: R
~3 m) X( \; T# H* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. i/ |% S" f) h, bproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 K9 E/ v$ |! Z( o( {
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; p$ s8 f/ @8 X7 a% `to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 Z9 A/ R5 ?! r) l- B9 b2 d/ T" zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 8 O0 T; v. B* T3 P5 E" ], |
buyers in during the bubble years.4 j F3 E+ M, G
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ P) P! _& [/ idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 2 o& K+ j( |3 G$ f+ C5 J) a
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 g- v* h3 X5 s/ f0 g/ S2 O) `
he’ll close. |
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