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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
; J a+ e H3 W- P3 z$ I+ Z) Kfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 U A+ W5 g) S. Bbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 t' \, T' W" Y! k$ m' Y; G! ?% o' a
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" D I9 I) P* t2 ?; b$ mbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ Q1 c+ U) p) O2 l3 D) `! n5 ]0 m
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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 , }% S/ o! Y4 z; {; J
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
5 b# X" X: @* B$ q6 G/ N3 Qand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)0 B+ ^% y6 e$ @7 N8 J, s
- V5 q. C+ J1 |7 D) }* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
4 H1 U8 q4 o& ?0 p$ Xproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
2 f: s5 c/ r$ V$ z* e3 hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ S# m( _* I1 b; K0 dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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: a/ a" X S* [0 P* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 o% X& i, W: Y w- Q9 m
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
, N$ p" G. f; D. O' y9 j" Scashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 t8 W" ~. Q; i1 N# O% y3 H5 ehaving a powerful psychological impact.
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0 h8 ^: ~. a# ^+ l7 V6 U* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is : ^' R/ e9 C/ ^4 ^
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
9 N7 y1 F8 {+ M/ y0 C( j! Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : }* {1 x* j- b. M( `/ h2 \
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 {( ^6 d7 J# S8 T# Y, [/ ^) wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ' ]3 E9 L! T7 n
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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; [1 ]( b- V9 v* p" L& H- u5 H0 t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 V7 S3 O5 I" _% J( J* M9 u$ d
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 6 s8 A# Y( ?; F# b8 B* Y2 z) T" z' ]
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ) i: s1 h A2 e( Z2 z: I
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
( D( C$ f$ o; b6 d0 E* S, E$ lbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + @9 {5 U' H5 [" }: y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. [3 m8 ?( O7 M! C4 Owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 d: T3 R u" j9 q! qhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of & Q: w5 x3 v- ]1 x. l/ w
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 9 F2 d; C9 q2 y8 I- @
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 E9 j- E- ]6 E( w: x1 ~) B
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
. z. s; J2 u4 Syour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; @2 V2 {5 a. s" N0 Y. P0 m
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 T$ |+ [+ `( W. N1 e# T5 D
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & s1 a. P9 w7 `( v
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
, j( h3 C1 D$ z* a& F; Dbetter 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 1 ?& V6 H5 X# o$ o; z
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 ~# @# ?' A$ v$ K
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ {" B3 u: f- w, Tto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) X' v: a- b/ f8 o+ }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 g. z( J! S* g: I
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 L# @ E' l9 T) { Z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 e* d3 h2 {; k
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 }8 q6 E3 n+ q1 C7 h, I
he’ll close. |
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