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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 5 _& X! \% ?/ q! z
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 3 Z. B( T( {6 n; o$ M/ d
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) R# u" B( l d+ tthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, Q- s' z* N% n. ebegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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8 \+ N# e# v- ZSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if : R% ?' c4 S5 i6 Y+ j2 h- K
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / H ?, f2 S) F ]# L
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* `: W# n' ]9 s T7 {: M1 {* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many % L$ c4 q4 s% s4 F5 h" |: _5 v' n
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . G( U( Y4 e4 a3 O' k9 T0 q4 l3 j
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' }& @; m% v& E7 ~/ X3 iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 w2 B& y4 P% ^9 F# ^5 ]/ O
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
' B' n/ m; j! o, [% D$ ~* Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- A. r9 }6 ?% G; o7 Tcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 X9 ]& d- V' d2 a. V4 w( Jhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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0 m9 H9 o( q( y6 c* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 8 K7 S7 {$ y. b) ?% r+ w( k( r+ L
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
+ A3 q4 m+ C2 r jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
Z; p& L; G% F% S; i5 Wthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ a$ m4 Q6 ^0 W& Hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + m- e: v/ n# G" i4 f$ O
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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& T8 f3 s' H3 r& g6 u% x4 X; O* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - h g0 t5 x5 E1 b! U
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
, L w4 R I, y$ J) H, C8 X8 \that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
; j. H6 r# O/ w# v N% Dprice.
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, Q9 V; J1 {4 U& p$ `" {2 a* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
y3 P, u5 X0 S$ J' u( B, W( Hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" e) [. c: `1 _- k G) T( j4 Yexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! y' P1 U" f8 z% F$ q1 [work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " C" d; x% h/ f% R3 ]. C, k2 t$ m
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of \. z4 M v1 w1 S# g
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' j4 K! P% T: O# ]) C+ i0 pSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ! M0 ?! K# n) m0 @: d
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 " F: s l( r' U0 v2 D- y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; Y. {* u' ^! W# k2 ~( `, [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' j9 L% H3 z' [5 ?: s* r
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The " v! x5 N( Q* H s- U
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 ]8 o1 J: ?: D6 x9 t
better chance you have of securing the best deal.4 ~/ F0 v) Q0 x' \! T8 M
e# G! o3 N6 j& o+ `9 L9 f7 K; v* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" a! ?# E* F4 P5 O& Mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That u% O i- n1 Q; E& W3 d3 p+ P6 U: G
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ; q- t* `) h8 \- o* w6 @, E
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 I+ v8 ^* I) B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % D6 w$ e4 I+ S5 R
buyers in during the bubble years.
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$ |$ T# Z9 K7 p- ?* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 q' [$ J9 ^# w+ Y
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 G8 @/ r: k$ T
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 b( d" p: q) z8 g8 F% the’ll close. |
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