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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : {7 T6 D4 [, H& L0 r1 ]
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
, k: `$ |, u* k$ h( X( mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 x6 X, }5 I1 f9 @( Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
& v; ?* c2 G) J1 @: m- x4 N0 ibegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.! v/ _* E& [- N, O1 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 4 u# T9 \3 e3 r
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 V& a3 x- |% r8 e3 Y* E
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 + ~# J5 K: @9 [
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
6 r2 f. z* k- S* ~5 S" s" f$ J) N" Aseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; ~. U8 s; D8 A/ f! e- V. S+ hget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 D7 @8 n( K5 {
" p( T3 X3 w- Q/ k, E* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; Z, A( X8 B% F1 a& j" e# c2 ~% g
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- u2 y7 r8 s' |! V+ K7 ~cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - `' {( L+ ]! q- M4 q! A
having a powerful psychological impact.$ X1 o# Z3 \* c; Q0 N& G/ Z
: l# i5 N4 `: B* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
$ {' N2 k! T4 o& Z7 Scompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in & u/ ~$ _: c+ a5 E8 o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ; y$ u1 o, b. u# [8 d! H6 q, S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 7 I8 Q5 l2 d0 _* I: T
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ P: f! y% h& D, D
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price./ V" N8 D8 E2 ^
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 ~; ~( C o/ J/ H8 N
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ) q8 i6 ^; U$ K& _
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . \- ]/ J3 c% O
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
. v3 R D) F7 N& P# ?, Vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 4 }, M$ R. v) S4 J9 z+ A6 \4 _
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of $ F! c4 c }; p% a
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
/ b8 p4 ?1 @ Qhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of " W) l1 u! k- U3 \
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
# C$ V1 W7 U8 v/ uSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 7 J+ q' `6 x& U
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.) P- _ m5 }3 C4 C" Y+ h; D* T5 J3 N
; b- O0 Q( r0 I" M+ D* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
% X9 p8 j* D' x( m6 myour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
2 j4 Q6 y; h* }) Xprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
/ e% \& r& S0 j# H% c; E. ?your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: r: r) y5 q+ X/ i3 }! zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the # j% ]$ x; m3 K5 `% I e( @. v: i
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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4 c0 M9 h% g$ D/ ]' k* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " G2 |0 k4 b1 J7 O. y$ t, L
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
) B7 S* @ f( n8 X6 }% gwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 n% F% p0 B ]- yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! [! g& @% T8 l* |. Nconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ |& R$ s1 T& ^( Q) }3 qbuyers in during the bubble years. j3 |4 c) n0 t6 ?' i7 A3 R
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 6 W: e) J& [( r: C/ G; s- d {
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! V8 G. O- h3 G) g
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
1 |. u( @: e2 c9 d& O) R! Khe’ll close. |
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