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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : ]( J& R2 r9 _! F) v
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + U1 ~1 X7 r6 F3 u- m) k
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
7 ^0 C. g; ]3 P0 m! C, }the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
4 Y/ _( T2 T! e5 f7 v C3 ?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 7 J: m- k* W0 y* R+ w! F2 z" W: ^
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* Q- X! N1 [9 G; o- ~* Kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)+ T8 _! s; d( X: L) [! M
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 9 ~- J) H& r8 }8 H
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! n; o. R6 A3 j* l i
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : o. W$ \, e9 P
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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8 H' [) g# v* U/ N9 n! d* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 3 K% n/ P; m7 n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
4 ~9 X8 w& M% x4 M7 e" Xcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 }' }$ F c: r+ F! [having a powerful psychological impact.. D2 u+ g; X; w: O3 o2 o% k
7 ~; v1 f3 x1 A* f* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is % \, ~* @, e/ c9 y. h8 n; q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' O5 |7 U5 @% R, horder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
1 B' f) n, m& I( M; O+ v) Hthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
3 ]% {- O* J. u( X$ U; ~! i7 t* Ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ! [$ r1 z" O% k, a
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' z/ O% I( m8 l7 S |7 Y. C3 S* t% M1 e
8 H. Z' X7 p. J& O p- I* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 2 _1 T) X, O8 J& F; o# } @
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
# {& c: i& }2 }+ i9 L/ Vthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( i! N( b3 N5 T0 g0 N! a' n8 }
price.
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! h: i' j( M0 M7 g+ H) \* e* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: \) V: }8 b% G. K8 |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
. h* C. e& u# R$ \! Texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of W- d, Y6 S8 N2 \' u+ J1 o
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
3 V% E; L- O/ v+ y" w6 Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ) x& x0 V" e. T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
! O$ `7 r+ [# W7 x7 w' JSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will - i1 y& S1 t1 b8 X4 r- h) s0 O
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
) c. L1 R& _% S( |* M# Vyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
1 N) _% x0 ?8 {+ gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 ~9 i3 C4 X m# C
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" l( u8 x/ x4 Umore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
) A' q; j& I/ r8 B; L& Lbetter 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
7 m/ F' Y. g9 I# @, g( c# l8 |properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, f1 a! U8 j7 I% G/ r. wwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . p% b: M6 p$ f0 h9 g: }5 K
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 V2 ]1 T0 ]- E* J+ M vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 0 L& _7 \) A9 F# b& ~
buyers in during the bubble years.7 d; B4 i- h8 T! U+ ^5 G8 _
, }6 v# [% O/ N9 T* [, T! V8 P+ U. C* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / H* f; |% g- `: v- e9 ]2 L
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you " i# d( }! o$ B: A& D# ^' ~
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
# r+ l0 w: N" T2 ahe’ll close. |
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