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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 6 t5 L2 @1 s# N' @% F5 G' a
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ' C! G: Q( R0 G& ]) ~2 N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
! T; k! t' C! {) X2 @& g. {the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - o1 `" v- h6 g
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.- Y' J/ r3 S6 c+ D! G
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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
$ j5 A6 e0 x2 k# P6 G' y; Oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ' a5 v0 l" U2 @. v
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
8 c$ B; o! [. O9 l2 Pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
0 i& h* a1 K/ h& Gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ L2 m9 ^; [/ I* |6 E$ j6 Wget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 M' v+ K2 {8 ?9 x
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on r0 M8 {9 p7 ]4 P
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ `* d" w( D6 f$ @) v! f Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 `8 w; U. H0 F$ n+ {5 nhaving a powerful psychological impact.. k. d6 z) M6 z* e2 j
( W; ]5 [7 Y' W7 l" t- f* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; |: m! E$ J( W' V
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in . f4 F( f( \! L
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : g. S9 |) b6 X, }) u
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 `2 E: [0 _3 {9 Z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) D: Y& o' h6 Q5 Q$ E
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 4 X1 p8 S8 D9 a& p8 b" C4 v! ]
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know # h! R' X- d2 H& N
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 Z* E/ b5 y& q
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% ^) D$ j( O8 ?3 _business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ Y1 Z5 O1 x& H1 eexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 }3 A" R1 }: G+ ]work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ) d4 i i( x- `3 I
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 M9 Y0 |# h7 Y& F0 _! x+ X3 _the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ( e) d/ l/ B, A" D% K9 j1 w
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ E% l: N' i }: Z( D/ J- |
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.# @# j' a5 g6 x- S
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have : z; N- _! d/ o5 ?
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
% O5 q8 B- G5 Yprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
" ^/ H# m) n& l/ K" R3 vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( c+ N1 Z) y8 H2 Y3 j" vmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 K8 h2 v% w: w( n& H1 F3 Jbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.6 x) v, j6 t" k u( e
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. D# O8 X% b0 e, ]properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 D7 v: m; U0 E, g9 M. qwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 V6 R# t1 W1 I, ^# J1 g: o! [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. j" [ _% Q% J& Vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 `5 O$ x2 z7 I6 R
buyers in during the bubble years.3 A5 U* `' i, e# d
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' D# } H* g6 J
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 D: T. i/ P( A- i5 p6 y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; g$ C* I% @% a0 `7 j3 T8 }he’ll close. |
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