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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
; Z% G+ B0 [1 k" ?falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ; V! ?. l: D1 v- E
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& B% m* D9 ~( h% V7 m |2 Q( l) ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 3 D# c; N, L' S
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 " x e' H1 P7 H3 k/ T
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, Y" C( }* D; ^* r3 f) pand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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7 s2 b. Z% H( Z0 A% k9 Z5 K* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + P: u, a v3 A0 a9 [/ Z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! z' s! ]( ?& f; Z1 M z* |seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you # H V6 `% U6 }# `1 M7 {
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 b8 W" K {8 {- k4 y B+ P8 V
1 e8 m* M# O1 @' k+ z! Q7 i8 T* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- R4 f% _! U% w2 k% j4 i O! P0 O9 z* Pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 7 A' w4 T: U8 n: d3 J7 K. X
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ' | u+ w. A) A( X: r
having a powerful psychological impact.. m: W8 z2 z$ C
8 ^. ~8 Q* |4 ]$ S5 V K* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' s6 @* Z: L6 O' y; m2 w
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: P( A. g$ i6 ^2 corder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 ~) l$ i; q- n* h
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
5 |' |7 g. ~1 gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get B5 n7 H( o4 B2 Q% M' j2 L
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " K& V; V7 Q Z4 a
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 U1 `* g6 @ F# R' K
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ! _/ v. l- h3 A6 R j, m
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . { C# g7 c2 N8 l) O1 ]; L4 _( P. X- \
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 p+ [3 C& H( H8 G+ S
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
1 k5 ?% i% U( Y, F6 Vwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
3 y# T; \) L3 O4 c7 x, X( zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , @% g# A; G" y
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. - B# m3 ?0 P8 K6 i6 R- O# R
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 p7 q. d$ Y0 D# b' X& {$ {( b
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
5 \, N9 F- q; y# \1 d uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 s. ]7 q" K. Q9 f# Eprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
6 L" E1 W9 c. C( oyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The [) V* }7 `7 ^+ ?5 L' \! |
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: S T! c# c8 q/ V% ~+ @better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
% \8 _7 y H7 C( J2 dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' K6 l" L, K* Y* w7 Dwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" ^0 J- ~8 l2 D1 ]8 h5 d5 e! Bto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 6 ]" G+ m! P3 A
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ y9 R3 L' [$ {* \buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) R0 }' s5 ]4 X0 v3 z3 Sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
& I# S2 ?" F0 ^; ^! Vwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but + R. a; J! c, l% t7 I' ]: B
he’ll close. |
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