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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a / \% X, c7 v* C1 h3 h
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
3 ~( ~0 e' w J( j! h6 Z$ [bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( D& v$ k$ a7 E5 Q7 q/ }# L+ a6 s
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
/ k% _2 `* ] G4 M2 Dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.1 B1 i$ t1 m& \& o+ U. B* K5 b
$ D+ ]4 x) D5 \! pSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
# x5 f, F: R/ syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ) S9 b2 L+ j) A! S( |5 z5 s( ]$ u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
6 d. M, ~% |2 wproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
: M. p* y% d8 G3 bseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 9 q9 f3 ~3 B# j+ [6 n
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.5 Y' u+ H. G# b, E: i
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 8 e. } |0 G7 e; X' _+ [3 c
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
" q; _: I, |# Scashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 N4 E/ X, M# ?3 O$ I( R5 lhaving a powerful psychological impact./ \0 O$ i! s/ f$ M/ W0 y. [' `
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is H! n2 ]( k/ F8 H9 z: u
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* F- U g( ?+ Horder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
* E" x8 k5 e& E0 q7 b6 dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 i+ \' l: V8 o5 J5 S* K6 W% T' enever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
% m. I# {7 G( ~. nwhat 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 : W! q2 o; a$ @& P3 z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* S5 V' i1 L: g. M$ W% Athat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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0 O- B' r4 Z/ R7 R* B) D& Q3 N+ z8 Z* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ( E1 z. n" G9 C1 h& E+ k( |# `4 S
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) b, X" D6 t. ]5 p8 uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ! A0 [- @0 Q* @ b+ s* E
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you G: P+ H- d0 p2 Y( Q: X
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
1 [1 I9 @- C* `# w+ X9 Lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 v5 n! N8 w* D- p' vSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 y- T0 E' ~, Rdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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! g6 n0 k! V8 p& T$ | @* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 6 Y" j! F7 S3 O
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the & S: S# x g" g& } N- _- s, p- L
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 h# q7 }0 o9 n5 n; d9 X
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 g. @* o2 Y5 Y# B
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - C( q r6 I s S' W8 a* y+ V4 ]
better 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
\0 Q5 C# ^3 ?properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
% M) H$ w0 H2 Q0 Mwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 x4 {* M% b; g0 ?* j
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 G ^8 s7 U5 M( _6 ?$ @
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
1 {: T2 `& T c$ n" Qbuyers in during the bubble years., w* J4 ]# Q* A/ s0 ], R
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) A" `: q5 I% p2 n& F- \die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you + d2 e+ u" y% E" h$ {4 T
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 1 }# B |3 A0 X. e
he’ll close. |
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