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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 5 D h0 g! L/ J. e
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the . G/ B. y! h+ g8 ^) Y
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 9 }3 s( V2 W' D0 D4 h! \% V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + v' b7 W5 ^) j, b
begging 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 * k! T0 Y! c5 y' @- n
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ; M+ l3 |6 H6 H5 n- i/ r
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
3 f) i2 a' U3 [1 e& V- C- Rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( T/ @6 I a5 L2 h: E/ v
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 4 d5 C& P* P( H6 D0 d. E) a
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ O0 R6 m" k1 @8 C! g
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on - F' e& A! i9 N; v
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
1 b. ~; N* s- e6 E1 rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 R4 J6 N* P. H( x) R
having a powerful psychological impact.1 v: H: Z* U8 x* K' |
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 d2 N1 @+ X$ fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" p" R0 E% {, F0 Korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ( C( z2 `3 z! N/ b5 g& ]
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " g9 w0 W! {% d# C
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
* X& `" x6 ]1 w, q9 d. N2 qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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t* r3 ^- v8 N2 L L6 Z" t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) @2 ]# U2 V7 }- Kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 u' ?! d1 }9 R
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 w7 n. J& i3 T, g. ~price.: O3 S- M* E h* Z9 D( Q/ `
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 o1 h3 Q! B6 ~- ^business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
7 ~8 K* v) c- ^+ ^- l& Oexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 3 T& |4 u* Q I* A5 U9 e7 ^
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ l3 c6 _# N% S k# L3 phave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. @+ _( z' G3 U6 _( [& q" lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 Y+ L; c8 Q! g4 A [; t0 kSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will + ~+ ]9 d2 d0 B" f5 h
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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" ]% ~9 j2 P! y" |+ F0 z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
4 r4 p: ]& p/ J7 v$ g% ~4 \your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
7 j9 _/ u. A/ J* q% Qprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 a5 } u" V o
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 g9 g9 [7 ?# o3 H2 \4 n
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! u4 b r3 f) C5 O
better chance you have of securing the best deal.( H! \% R* m& p/ {6 E
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 N3 ^/ E: Z$ y, N$ d0 A) {
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! V- ~1 f6 P6 Y; u7 S; k& G
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do + x8 M) g0 Q6 h, q
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 k9 e2 S- H* O! X9 k
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 j! E" z) U/ ]( i/ S& Ubuyers in during the bubble years.( s7 C) o. x" w: B' r- t6 z5 i
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ( L: @; K1 G# p* D( `* A
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
) y0 R( T r& V* _ Ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 ^3 M" M9 O1 U! O: K: z
he’ll close. |
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