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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ! O$ R( x3 `* |
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( M1 u& y3 p2 W( \) G
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- d6 v% r0 ]1 E2 ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
4 o2 m7 R6 M9 J7 o" ~+ Wbegging 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
k2 I5 v6 l) Ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) s$ l( M3 A7 E' @1 u1 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
6 N( n& @8 {1 I. o% iproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' @7 S( {. ^1 k+ L* z$ V+ l5 y4 l
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 6 l, q: ]* H% }& Y8 i" t3 P6 B/ h; J
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # r: r" i- b0 Y& c; Y" B. y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ) U2 f3 y' N8 e8 F
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# \/ }) K2 \. h' ]8 {; a* Yhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* ~8 p! G/ E( N" f/ j+ t0 L* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) y2 z7 G4 L( @, k/ Icompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' D6 i! e+ y( ^9 a1 K* t
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
( d9 y$ k/ x4 | a% f) gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % K% [/ f, K m% p& x, c
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / k/ T* ?% v I: r5 g( [) [3 n
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 l5 E; L" |( P* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
! m/ V/ i5 n E# vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
% H! e E5 j) R( u: L; Kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & Q5 X i( E: ~
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 6 Y, P, l2 }! g1 L8 Q- W) E; [- |
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 g% I9 h2 H o/ U8 G' Y0 texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of $ @& T ]: c+ q- L @
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / z- O" X) X: w) O( D) [9 O
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 a- O+ X& b' p; A' G e( f3 G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( K+ m t/ l! M/ S: x' JSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, E* k4 K ?& i- F) j7 U7 b5 z4 L: ndie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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- u( M) I! s2 L) |" [1 y0 j$ |* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 A; S: B+ r, Z: I2 `
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( e5 |, Z0 ], Y- `price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 L) Q, G5 _9 h+ @. r0 pyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) N% ^2 a5 t5 d0 ]
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 c7 v, V6 A9 A( Jbetter chance you have of securing the best deal., J# Q! P* R0 p! I
# p5 O0 }$ j3 e3 h* X8 h* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, O% e( ]: Z0 ]- I! {5 k6 jproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 ]6 |: j1 s- w, e2 C- }will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
C/ x% H% U. S- s7 B# Ito save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
6 P- [ c2 v$ ]* K: d# C) P2 G- ]consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
- C9 M- q, E" h% e6 Vbuyers 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 8 y1 C( R9 H8 Z9 k V [6 A
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( [4 f! ^3 \" }9 d5 `( W4 Y% G
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 F: q4 Z5 n5 w+ k: }1 ^ N2 ]he’ll close. |
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