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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a v$ D3 H. m/ D# G! k
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the $ b& [# u% M: x5 Z# r( V2 Z0 {* H
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 g+ ?2 t) N0 j: n: |6 |
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 n5 I: A' O, R+ B7 F1 cbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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, h( v1 h- q2 e: U, mSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
8 K& Q: b: S0 k) G0 h8 _) \$ C3 W+ myou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* B7 n) Y( m9 F" Yand 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
' s2 @# {- Q) D0 yproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 \0 s. h3 p- I* B3 ?8 oseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& r9 V0 c! q3 ~0 D8 Iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! G: T6 h2 m9 l) f X2 ~& C% ^4 [
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
( @8 Q; D% Q* a/ g lthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 4 A- c) R9 Y2 ^( R* \9 c) B! a2 z
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ! ^; O% _% ]* D$ m3 A0 Z" \: ~
having a powerful psychological impact.8 z0 @3 t+ V4 h9 ]) U" I
& W" i+ N Z3 U! a5 A* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 V" j" _7 `5 d# G9 g6 \: E
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " w9 i4 L9 v/ {8 M
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 8 q) e3 Z |- z
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 f0 c4 p4 V3 @4 v0 z, L# t$ fnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) A9 A/ C' C, |! [" {7 J
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 A) y/ \, _1 |4 F+ C; i
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, _& S- q- o% S& ?: oproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' X4 a, `9 V+ K) Z% H2 V# L: a. G% zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; z* V* L6 m$ Q5 R
price.4 Q) g; F* P; A/ g; [
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 ]) Y$ G0 O. ]9 W2 m: f0 }" @" t
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
6 N. ~2 s4 U0 Sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ' c! f4 d8 _+ f7 ]+ } f( y
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, B1 C( S! a7 A4 Thave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! r! o# z' n2 t) b$ ^. y
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
1 b, d5 v4 G H" g# A) r. {Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : t- Y6 Z" W8 Q+ L* _' E+ ^
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 Y. o* O6 D- C* q& g, V' V$ [! ?
* }9 z/ f7 X( s, i9 Y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have * Z6 u2 J7 A" P3 E! }
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 H$ | C# y& s* Y
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
C- c! V, `5 P$ hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 u% w. h1 O! o! W) d# Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 H8 _" j, m7 @5 c0 C9 hbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.& o4 A# L3 ^# z z! ?
5 o1 x2 {( o( o* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 n, c4 y3 Q1 f$ [5 j
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / O5 |9 u( a# [- n- o
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / S1 e9 Q! a7 t- c$ J1 r
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ p. L2 |# d' }5 b) z& C* Hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ; [2 X% O, F* ~) }% A$ I1 @0 O
buyers in during the bubble years.8 V7 @% w b) k3 a/ Q9 q) F+ C$ E! s
/ B% R& ]" \) t p) k* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
- \* c& I! T% {8 D2 a; j/ z$ o- }die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ P+ E) h% \; hwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% K+ x X4 K2 t' p& e. w. f j7 Ghe’ll close. |
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