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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ! e% y% U7 [* n; C C
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the % ^* u; k: ]. P6 N% V% r" S R
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
: B- {& z+ \$ x3 `" Mthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 c0 T$ Q$ m, A# Gbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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" e H$ c1 J4 A: l" b. {. i- [9 r& Y ASo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if : H, c' a& Z! t$ u3 n* |
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
7 ?4 `' K& ~( v. S/ wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)7 B h4 j# B- g& ~
$ d- r E% g% ?0 D+ L- _$ X* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + o0 f" n7 n w2 s$ Q7 H* J
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - Z; w( M4 Y9 c$ r5 g7 }0 s
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " d- z/ V* u! e
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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7 f: L' A+ B4 k2 `/ `; j$ K1 O* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on + ~8 E5 X4 l: W$ l- v% E( ]8 y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
9 G4 P' Y# p) j3 K5 K4 Wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ E4 U4 {$ Z$ F4 G3 }1 w0 `having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) C/ ~3 q& D' R/ y1 H# Z) k' _& {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; Q5 i+ W! N( K" ]4 }0 Jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
8 y& P5 X' @9 f# {# ]7 O" f* v/ Fthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; k8 Z8 Q+ u+ W3 w+ |* ~never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & U7 b% c0 K4 t6 o, ]9 e/ s
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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% k0 J3 ~' c* X+ I7 I! y+ J) H) l* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, P4 ?3 P+ T! c- y6 W& ?property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. X. s: N( u% V: }. _% Wthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
, V' O+ h+ J" xprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - j/ c' m) N3 r$ s3 O' W' I) P& S5 S
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 P. r' H* w1 ]+ R- t8 R! x* i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 E6 F- [2 K c& ~& K
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " W. E6 b; u$ B9 i: D
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ B' V% s0 h! O! Gthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. % C( j& E7 l) U) K. N K
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, y: Y% B @1 j3 `) ]- V0 `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 % z- P- d/ m( t* l. s+ r
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 C: |7 |6 D7 z; }8 P1 qprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into + D" T+ A: e- u' E S! U, p }( c
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The # i. K) ]" a& G% m; f, }& V1 s% [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 Q! M5 |9 n4 l# i4 N- N
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
. g A) g/ Z- n* W1 M3 d& w$ oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
W! B# V; h+ y* Qwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( ]( a9 A- H' g8 o1 L. F" nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! S* r. N$ R( S
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
9 E8 P3 ^5 i8 o) R( X. g8 Q6 u6 ubuyers 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 3 t* ]) P% S& e8 F2 @) S
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
) s7 w9 @, n" `will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! |1 }3 H8 |) w {
he’ll close. |
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