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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 8 `8 J! z8 ?0 R+ o8 I# R
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
; S! ^# j* k' v( Rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + k9 r. X+ O: ]7 T- t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# x( F1 [( ~6 V) pbegging 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
* t' A2 [- t3 yyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this - X4 p9 N# x, a8 M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)# p4 h" i/ Y. E H9 H& D2 E
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many / S3 |8 o2 |* J) C" C2 W
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
4 Q0 ]! m% S1 |& m; i% X: @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you * }; `7 Q' E% R$ C" `1 H
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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. v! T9 C) X( {6 c% f2 K; g$ Z* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
+ @5 W7 N0 L. \) y; a5 b3 ^the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 4 d, |5 \( v" h; S
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 3 H0 N4 `' R) g3 S/ y
having a powerful psychological impact.0 _1 E; K5 p- {3 C! C
6 D' ], J2 m: f) k* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
5 y3 ^: W2 }% v6 ?/ ocompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ( `. Y) u8 C s1 Z' T
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! O0 U; Q7 m/ C; Q) j+ m1 U, Ithe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you / l& `/ W/ e5 C
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ O8 z( \; u; n& ewhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 c; P) H0 x- N0 Y6 r* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 0 m0 R8 ~6 d' q* C k4 V i
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
7 ~% [6 {7 o0 S* F9 M$ e' Hthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ! g0 W8 l$ o8 O. ?/ }4 H
price.! I6 H9 v* |' _& X X
8 Y' a& ]! g) R- l# \$ o* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' g, j9 z2 T- V0 c. f7 s' ?* mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 o6 U8 }( e: U( y% y4 O9 `$ y8 A
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . g2 H' d- H6 j& _$ l3 u+ ]
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / A B% O' e) b* h8 B/ U5 a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ( t2 { }# I/ o2 c+ b+ T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 n% |* o2 W9 e9 a
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 S% y! o) j8 {- }* {die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture. I9 n' L; h/ x, S! G
. u, A% B- E5 F- C- E' b) p0 O* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 ^. R4 M' U _5 Y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # x3 e$ q' e5 M1 V
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
2 K+ o0 |2 _' w9 T+ Kyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% Q* b v- J# N9 g u# Qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ( |' c0 u( _" ^; F' m6 Y* X8 d
better chance you have of securing the best deal.! v1 U/ X% U& y3 ]$ q! T+ H0 y
1 A" d6 w o. K; _* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! p# |3 O+ M( k( O8 I
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , F2 T% f. f1 E6 e/ Y
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * R4 s/ N5 s; p
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; r5 f! e3 U2 k4 Z1 Z3 D! y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
! ]* ]; y6 Y- U8 j! i6 C8 b& {buyers in during the bubble years.7 V$ J% N y' X- Q, K- k; |# K
& x# _' D+ E# p5 U) ~+ V* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& s% d- J$ I6 }7 u3 K0 [' _die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; u% r U" C! x5 O2 twill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ?( c5 J# I2 z* U2 E# ~
he’ll close. |
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