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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : O, M1 t5 y/ c) B7 k1 X0 P' ]
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 Q+ [7 E7 f+ k+ y# t' obottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - w9 M5 t- F N7 @
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" |% k0 k8 D3 c* i1 Sbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% U. S5 F; \* M! j7 S
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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 : q# {- r: c# Y/ z3 ?
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this & {' }7 E" ?- k" ?: R" q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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, q' ?8 ^ \8 v1 K: @* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
" A/ \1 e6 S8 p3 u" }. J* w) uproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ \2 y j# a# z+ E; |. Lseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
8 W2 m$ d( A/ i9 \. uget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ F" d' {7 ~% L% K) I0 c
5 g' `# ^" Y& M4 \0 ~+ E4 W* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- I( [7 h+ W/ V$ @$ h. E$ b+ d8 y, fthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 o: N; z5 N6 V, ]" ]cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% c5 `9 O, B, {5 ^; C" Zhaving a powerful psychological impact.6 A- {; l5 c w ]. x
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) E+ s5 V3 a. ?/ Dcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' g, G; R9 W! J C
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
+ b) z: h3 O- P2 x* ?9 ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% D3 f# P# b; N( ], {( B9 Snever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 7 i4 R( r. u. l
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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8 a2 r" w- j( W0 b2 y* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 y8 J: X, k2 W+ R* p
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know : u. [3 L {( i; k8 l g
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
" R9 T4 W2 W" {! ]price.
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, ^' d# b0 P# |9 Z: R0 ~* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ) P& X2 c: X7 d. s' }+ I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) I8 D. j4 \5 H; Rexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of : A: r& t8 A0 |; K8 J7 A
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " g y e3 k6 I4 F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of " N' v3 k; i7 {
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 4 a6 ^- p: s# m# f$ b6 v
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. n; A9 N0 b* c- o O# c, R; u rdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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" T) [6 z" {8 z& M7 r+ X# e& V1 K* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have * p- ]" c) T4 D& u5 _
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * s1 S- \4 X& x- p
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 W! q! C2 E7 f/ v- b) H; zyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 4 L4 ^+ x" b1 [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the % ^8 ?( C# K& Z/ w7 n2 y6 K' t: }
better chance you have of securing the best deal." ]: X: _1 F: y$ r
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 p$ l) C- e) w0 Jproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 6 f! w+ @6 _+ Z$ r. `/ ~8 n: `4 q
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' N- w0 z# Y7 D) H
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 _+ E, A6 x$ C8 ?# K
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 8 p0 w. [; d( @- S x
buyers in during the bubble years.& c$ l; c; G, T' G" |
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ l- g, x" m+ ` \3 T# ?. adie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
) \ K# k5 p1 ^/ x3 A. @& v5 Swill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
( i" Q9 E, A4 h+ T: k+ Uhe’ll close. |
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