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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a . t, B+ P0 X8 o4 v( k
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 z% r( h9 Z! }) j5 obottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 0 a& P; P% U/ H1 C4 t6 H0 O3 H
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
3 S$ N; e2 `" O( M' C; wbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part. M/ T/ l! }+ V1 C5 _1 M) t" k& U+ e) p
- l3 ?, Y/ p' O% L- R$ |# JSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 7 J3 l# u; E' C) M
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ' |. d- S: W: W ], }
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) ?* u% b. \2 N' u% I6 D8 \' W
& U+ @9 W" c1 O" Y+ X$ ~! @( Q* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
9 u, M7 |; F, ]+ v9 O; Dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
& i7 [9 c4 m: R) [# ^seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : M5 `$ V& r3 B* l. F% h1 T9 r) y
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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4 l, o1 W" x: ^* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on q% A) T5 X' }$ l; S! x
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % t0 p, o/ j: K: Z2 y
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
8 D( b: A1 Y0 _; q7 c/ F" Q$ _having a powerful psychological impact.4 m3 `# C0 [2 J6 x
4 @6 C: `7 I3 Z s5 l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 0 o4 w/ Y+ p _. q2 Z) t% B# N$ o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in & n* C/ f2 E& `
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ; y% z; X# y) ^ [
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 S$ b- @& N* D3 x0 C0 \3 |never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 Q0 w( o* T6 i3 ?what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.: G! `7 m" H5 V; Q1 L5 }
9 C$ }! U8 ^( z' j* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 @7 q4 D# J: {* g' A( x8 ]
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
7 Q. o; n U: J2 j. ~* i: k7 F' H! Ithat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( r5 w3 x# O. d" p4 lprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ {- G0 V6 [$ @' ?$ F+ f Tbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s : S/ @: {( i, [, l$ \( j# w. l
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
, J0 m$ E$ u# S, B3 c9 \* r* hwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* n& p# w* Y4 P) W# Q3 h mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
& ~+ H8 |2 X C, Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. F2 J; {# I' q# G7 |/ m0 E! ~Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 j: x- A$ I% X
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ V$ I& y- W' [& ~ M
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ) ]8 f. I8 _3 t2 R
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # [8 W) A8 ?- b1 Q4 B
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 R" |- M4 O; L/ M
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
b% y* U9 M- G" q) }, a' T1 ?3 Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- M2 \5 t2 p3 J1 A" p( B6 cbetter 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
4 E% b2 I( p! |% qproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ R) [4 _# T( O$ ?$ T/ }3 G* U. _will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 8 u/ a6 i- X& x/ h" [0 D. R- y- I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * O. T& B; J% ]1 S9 L! D& t
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
x h/ c2 `6 A& 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
( P$ L4 E& C7 {+ k% I V' W. Hdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you / v- [' O! a9 z5 Q# A, j
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( b ^* E. }3 H0 Z4 N! e8 ?
he’ll close. |
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