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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 {! a* w2 s! b, T4 y, O
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& g& }! r& K' s5 H; \* z8 m2 j$ A+ b8 vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 8 F e* C# ]7 h8 ^; l2 b
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
4 }$ u# D7 a! X2 O& F4 s1 `begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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& d9 x8 [& a5 Y) F- k" O. V( R. }- {So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
. l0 |; j' t2 b( Z6 uyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" S/ i0 K2 @4 K/ Q- k B, dand 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 / ^. z( H8 Q/ j+ G% z- N3 j
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ) H) z+ S( O& P+ r6 w
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % ` F s U4 \, f, O
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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( y7 o" o7 j" M; ?* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
! D& I C0 l+ E' \! ?/ G7 Sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- I' y' w7 x! I3 R- ycashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ v* L) K5 R; }$ r% rhaving a powerful psychological impact.& E$ a# p$ ] h! N! `$ e7 O8 R8 l
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 t7 Y4 d7 [2 x1 ?6 ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in v1 E7 G; c9 m' P$ E u
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on & f0 @& c- B% P5 m' m6 O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ U- |. {% Y/ F. u! D/ c5 Q/ M" _* q$ Z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 6 Q& ` v; G/ c' S
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 g1 a$ q5 E4 x# p/ ?0 ~: d3 k: H* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another % b0 Y1 Z) X4 s
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
1 e( Z/ ?+ Q/ R2 W3 y& ]that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that " M q2 v0 H) s4 F- {, f9 Y. M
price." e: F9 m! T6 t: \$ K. C( i
* l c P2 \) G- t, }/ C* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
, t% _! l0 f" y: Z- Ybusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / V) x1 r' e% `& g0 D! O* a9 K
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; A& c( l; G1 r8 J
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- U& [- R# l1 O! c Q) O! |have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 F) T7 E+ `( Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " R! |. A1 k; i {* u1 C
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will # M1 z6 Q( l( `/ U0 y1 A1 m8 i
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.8 g/ A* T* k( _* u: U+ s- W9 o; ~
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; z5 |) e1 m9 q% M5 xyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the % V+ o, q: g1 R/ n
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
, p1 ~4 b7 P- @) _% Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" Y" h3 I. T: f: A4 @' h- Hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 2 [' z$ _" X7 M% z! x/ |
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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/ o0 h4 C. E- ]. l n% N$ d* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
* A# i4 w1 c$ u) o) V6 j9 mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 T! |1 p# l7 h6 [3 h6 Pwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
|- @8 _' t- Q7 ~0 Kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 9 S( r+ v* u- {& q0 C
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 Q. \8 C1 d u' L( L0 `, k
buyers in during the bubble years./ X* L4 a9 D! P$ ]- l) x! U6 }
! `1 C$ l5 z" v' v' t, I5 j* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
1 s% ~' p/ j1 b! R5 S' r* Tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" U! U2 }* v, _( Z, q/ e! uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
# O! \' S1 z0 a: W. Whe’ll close. |
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