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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 6 K) ]! a$ i# v/ f( R2 H2 d! f; V2 G
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " F$ P/ c' p& |2 |( H7 {
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) _/ [. q+ v$ P
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and " v% v) ^0 B; L1 H
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ n# A# A/ y5 C* @8 v) j: h
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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
$ i% F- d) J7 j' P, oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" ]/ F8 h% K* m8 V) h# ]) band stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)9 K/ J+ {" q! s( J7 b
& w/ m9 w# A5 y9 i m+ A7 D2 W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ V* N) j6 H/ d( X; i/ K5 L
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
: U! @# Z+ B# N& t1 P3 v5 n7 Zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % p; t! }, |0 r* \2 @! l
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.4 c. {: O/ @" u* j* O
, @, I: V7 C9 S* H4 K* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # ]1 \: ]1 J3 z$ V2 V D
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 D7 h* M& J# V2 X$ G1 L2 T: Vcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
' B" u& x9 m& O$ d' ?! @having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
$ A' U" n) ?: ~! ] d. E& ecompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 C& y$ o |; j4 L' g" g0 Aorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on + F6 x0 R. w I- E/ _
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. U: D# I ^+ A- P2 S. h, L9 A& Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; s3 R" N# }6 d* f% \ U
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 K6 p/ D' Z9 M: \+ ~" O" a% C2 H1 t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another N1 l! w) m3 e
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
c H8 N* ^6 V& a/ zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that + \! k' E3 R# P) F) _0 O4 w8 Z8 C
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . Q9 I& m4 s8 {, a9 |- y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, d0 Q3 A; Q d7 q+ H$ U3 nexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # V6 y: T0 F7 r% F) o
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
2 U i0 Y# B, i% H" Q2 nhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; C9 m& c5 @+ l# o: L
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 y8 V2 G* D: P9 j' ?. s' ?Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 f* r% a0 n W2 a+ ~& ~0 R% a" Sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.4 _) N/ e! X2 c2 ]# J1 \! G
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 4 C7 b: w" G* X8 Z( M
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 D; F) E9 x9 y, e( Y" Nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 ~3 g* A, g) G7 _) `% b; qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) z; L& G5 D5 v
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! |; w2 a! V0 L7 R9 u5 ]2 ^6 a
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
9 x1 q: m/ |7 ?( z8 Q3 Hproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 9 J# s. w( C: j8 z* k) r2 W
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 J) F" c* l2 z! Dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! m! S# ]8 g' s1 M2 Cconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' o6 M' e M/ z& |) w, M# O( Q( fbuyers in during the bubble years.$ j; F3 r& g: v
# N+ S+ l% |' b& a6 s+ X3 S* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& c* s2 d0 U3 O( H- N9 Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! ~6 I7 p+ t3 G/ M' A1 e4 ^
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; y% I1 R" v8 H0 ^3 H4 `
he’ll close. |
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