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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ! x% S* x8 W) k5 P9 H9 s& B
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 x- V: Y0 P1 ?! Wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
( @% v4 \' x4 T( }the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' c, Y% y, n9 s, h
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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: H8 O9 Z" U, A: V: U; QSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
1 K; w7 z* J( y9 J) Pyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
X6 G& `! o; o S) a; m8 B. vand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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" v0 S( b6 T3 T) e, M- f" @* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
: @7 z/ Z( [. |; C2 Gproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 3 R4 N* ` R% Q9 b7 D9 y
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 R! f; [! T! F+ r8 u' ~% |0 Wget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.7 M2 `* S3 M! ]9 G5 v
- \. \" l4 r4 Q" o) U* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 g8 ]4 t$ a1 K/ k) C# Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
4 X( e' L9 Q3 w' c W4 wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
/ @' y; L7 F2 ^. j( X8 S; Hhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& ?8 W0 ?$ p% F+ }% }& Ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 4 o2 L o, ]2 C( f+ J! o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 S- t3 N' d$ D
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# N0 y- c* z" e- ^* `never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 q0 L; H9 Y& O, mwhat 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
- r$ ?0 O& p$ r( P$ U4 Z/ mproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
+ |& j, N3 j9 }% E! @& \ W* ?that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' k7 R, w! l. a" q$ M4 }price.* @# ]0 L' T. d5 I, k
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - e- E) n0 _( f. a8 O: z% T d
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 ~9 j' z% i/ u: H( t( @) v2 K( Gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; U7 y+ j/ E w2 ?; M( ^
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ a/ e8 U: x1 Q9 M+ _ Z; {% }have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
: c$ m ^4 b+ a& S8 g" gthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 V6 _2 X7 n3 h/ w$ D& E3 aSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ Z( P& G% S) m+ A2 M5 A( c4 Vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' G( B3 m8 M$ Y) m1 N( j
% f2 z" V$ _* G$ g8 P4 z, _) h* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, p& q z8 F* b* @: H" Fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + C! m9 ?: ? G8 J U2 r3 U
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ; w$ J5 B( W$ \) l7 A
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 v( z4 f J1 V) C% Pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 2 |5 A9 n. t! [& q' X( ?& O
better chance you have of securing the best deal.! S% @8 H, ]* T" M6 y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 u1 O. O6 ~' P+ ^& @
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 F' l6 ]9 s: u. v) [will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 j9 \8 `* w- M/ i/ z4 H, Vto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) r+ G* z, S) O& R! z, j* o0 u) yconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ {3 R3 @3 i% R0 Y0 j. p# T# mbuyers 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
" a. E5 m/ a- C/ Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 r: H- f# ?+ V# {* ]
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
C0 \8 u: v9 u- rhe’ll close. |
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