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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a m6 `7 |0 E* f
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the $ S! e, M7 z, ]8 o( q1 J
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 _2 \8 N G( K' Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 r- p0 E" M- I8 c
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% T9 W( i! O, m
; ^" @. r1 b9 g3 X* ^+ O! K6 S6 L7 ^So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 1 T- E1 m' _7 d0 d) O) [' M% e J
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
# B0 {9 N2 W4 G* \1 Mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)" Q. D, A! j k) R
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) `8 o. d+ N+ O# G$ C8 }properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( P4 o- N3 U8 n
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ K5 S7 i9 y$ eget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 W: H y9 z9 @3 ?+ N
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
& r+ v2 q* [7 h" g6 E9 X+ N$ gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( q" \. `3 G& o" w' ]having a powerful psychological impact.
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; ?. t l( ~4 o0 l- v' u7 |* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: ^" v( c+ s* e. U% c0 H1 Acompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % d+ `8 t b. ]- d
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on $ y# O) }9 V. [* D. n3 t+ u
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. r9 ]; V5 O1 vnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 9 {! |2 [6 }- C6 U( s6 Y- m
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& t% j: `, b- D& H
^, y( P" L7 \" U% Q5 v* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ f0 Q, W* N$ qproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know m" F# T1 A& H& `# d
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that " J& V% D# Q* I' |7 ]- Y
price.7 t, N" |& a' Z
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five / d; m, `4 l L
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / I# ?. I+ S" f
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
?: D$ H4 o4 _6 D3 kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: e# T' m" F1 z; y }! Mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ r4 p# Q% T& [, S/ d4 l, b0 Athe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' M n" M- [4 l1 b$ z2 F `Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; |' q- Y2 n udie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- r5 J1 |/ D ?! I% F7 J, t
" k* b- _2 J B, `2 m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 8 _! z! h& b9 J4 O
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( C+ Z/ A. L/ {% B4 X1 t8 hprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' j, K' w- {7 Wyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) }4 V6 i7 n L( D& }
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " ^6 a7 {. R: B- e. m
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
3 Y+ t% _+ h+ V* Yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
7 L6 E3 C5 h/ W! O& [will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 a4 P' N! \: j" h* F% Cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
2 h2 q- p( _6 d7 \) Z# bconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 Y' G5 h4 r% @0 H/ W9 m6 Ybuyers in during the bubble years.
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6 Y' A- R, ~4 M: \* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 1 E* k9 Y0 S0 N
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 3 e/ z" e7 N& F
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' ?" V$ B2 s) a( i* _! S& Y. Y3 Ohe’ll close. |
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