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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, t0 h7 H' y: k% B2 ^falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
3 X- W; s6 I. ?( R% i, lbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
4 A6 ~( E0 X+ j& B) zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
4 I6 T- N0 e1 I2 y: ubegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.' s v+ d0 a" x: \/ A1 w
- W1 I" W- P' W4 k7 cSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
, k: n8 g" P* tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 u6 Q9 p% e+ h" g; v6 {3 a5 ]
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 / n) ?7 ?3 |1 b& e. b- c
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ; Z) N+ H) F2 q! ]* w1 ]- O3 j) J
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 _6 ?( u# f8 ^% [" r9 C0 b7 x8 G
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 @1 ?% N# T/ B6 z+ z; s3 H6 V1 ?7 M* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
. }" t( I* q/ t' l" ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) V! D9 |( E2 ]' S$ l) E0 V2 Qcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % W: E! K7 a! l. R! y& K' J. K) Z w
having a powerful psychological impact.9 ~8 _& x- @% g( T& O
2 ~+ ~2 k9 c2 i% o* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* l( N, k- F3 U7 A3 ?completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in $ P9 m' } B2 E8 K8 P* o8 }0 |0 `
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
. ^7 G( M9 v3 l- |3 {0 N/ u6 `the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you / d ^ K, L# n1 k' R- u R
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 q% y @2 }- b' {5 X& u1 _; K" zwhat 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 ) n# r' v0 K, u8 A, s6 C8 j# U
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! B' c6 H7 O& a# p: c2 o" pthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 R+ p6 s9 Q' J( B f1 X& ?
price.2 A( Z% [! }9 x G
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' C: O5 P+ r% r2 mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + {" b/ y. F8 n6 J: F$ o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . C! P& x) L+ `! h* P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 m- I8 n) @% U4 e9 p4 H; ihave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
) \- b" y5 }3 u: {% e1 Qthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) O8 w% x& z" U. QSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; U# Y u# b7 A. S0 Bdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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( C* S: B5 I0 V9 g6 v6 Z0 ~9 ~* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have / N- V5 @/ Z9 |/ g3 ]
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 | g& \* q4 y2 O% y0 [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) Q0 ]) o; l/ S+ syour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) w$ N) O9 P' ^4 v* c% C
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the Q" \( o+ g! ~+ @6 D
better chance you have of securing the best deal.% _+ \2 I" m# l* k
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
- M! Y0 |) U, B2 Nproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 \' a& E, C5 }) l+ ^ H
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 1 @1 e* O* Z6 |3 Y! F( o' E8 w& b" W
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 [4 ?9 C! c: {& M; J# zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
* {+ Y# V) ?9 g- R) c6 ]buyers in during the bubble years.' S: }( x) v7 T) E( o% ]9 ~
" t9 A0 W; b3 w4 r9 W( x/ v* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it , h3 }3 {7 C4 _7 ?
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you " h3 ?. E4 u) H, K+ t5 f; L
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- E j6 }+ f# [( \3 _" ^! nhe’ll close. |
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