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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a / F$ m5 Z: J( N, Q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , k6 ]4 V( v4 C6 X$ b2 \2 X* `) g
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
1 D" w% A9 b! y1 b5 Z4 e$ A) ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - |, x8 N4 y, b! r3 ~7 w
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
2 r6 ` q) y7 |, }8 d! M" byou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
: z; q" c1 [- {! H, N7 Fand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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5 L9 U9 G' {' r$ M& O+ E8 m* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
- i+ s5 n" i+ P3 W8 Q5 vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken / [* h& y, p& n. c' W v4 z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you * c( j' `+ I ]6 u; v- h
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 `* ~2 O' R* B8 o
. w- _ n7 u" A9 W* T5 f* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on , c! G# m" M/ n: {. h+ f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) n3 | }6 d- u" h% }/ k# [cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while , a3 d. O! T/ S. i
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , S# v- H% H7 r& v' s
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in / C0 k8 C' o; U
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) R9 C) N; Y* m1 i. v4 }& f5 P
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 4 G6 I$ l- A- y
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: z' i9 L. {, [& d6 x6 X! qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; ?/ m8 @3 R0 o+ Y% n0 A0 u. l4 r
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # _- B1 \0 G' f& X
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * d! y1 E. V9 r( Z$ B ~4 E6 T4 q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 I. k; z, \8 ]' K+ V
price.
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1 I5 n/ _, L' ]1 \0 A7 [" a }7 C* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five # f: F. I% a7 e/ |9 `2 P
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 L: F5 c2 c1 f. _# I" ^1 [4 ^+ K; s, i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
1 f8 d* X+ l( Nwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you # c, I% m/ D$ r {& G4 |, ]/ E
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 F9 {' w% d; l: n+ w! J& m1 u
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 _4 S: D% m0 [# @3 OSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will & e8 l$ q, _/ E# R9 e/ L
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ E) p2 S* O8 k* h
$ C% U7 G$ u9 e1 O" y0 q& m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have : {7 W! C1 z9 c2 g) J' Y- d1 O
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the U8 [# T# H. M3 J; m$ S# l
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 0 r. T# G" J) n* k# Z7 e. L% \3 T
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
9 G' n3 Y' {8 [% hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ) d+ A: y2 G7 c- \
better chance you have of securing the best deal.& {: D' _+ A9 G' y: P
! ~! q, w' D# F7 v+ {& t* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ; J- H, T4 A# m+ }
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , `& v% C3 H* D1 R P& t
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! d7 c# @- c0 F1 E: L8 qto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
- F) m ^7 z) O& E0 h7 Y, H, ~consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ; ]$ A8 m9 W* _
buyers in during the bubble years.0 ^; `! P$ @* `; O! W" r! Q. p' Z8 a0 X
( ^+ l% U: E5 }5 z9 x* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ F5 n/ g4 @1 x; ~& cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! D! j! n8 f- r
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
7 _2 e" m0 U" j1 l4 _% `6 p @% Ihe’ll close. |
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