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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 V" d( b6 a8 u& Q% b7 a
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + E- }% _7 s+ K G% T1 a% T$ R
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! Q4 `, `- K6 t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
9 ~" I' c( Y! n( M' G. Y4 _' L( hbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part., S5 C H+ V! \( J5 C$ n
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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 / x7 e" f# p E6 m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
5 `# u$ t1 [4 u9 P. mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). C& m% ^1 J7 C
/ p+ W+ { L+ ~9 T* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 5 X T1 {) D2 C& G5 z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # v/ H9 v6 d: j- K: c7 [& t
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 4 o4 f" G1 r: k# a7 J- V' m
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.: S6 c5 a& Z0 d9 y) S* w1 W
* j2 L1 U% P8 S. P z3 V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- H6 O4 s7 [. n- Ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
" Z! r) _) S! Kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 L7 _; u- q( s. k) g! @, Uhaving a powerful psychological impact./ L) E" b1 u% N
, |4 j4 j5 E( W- Y. I& P7 ]* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- q4 Q* K% e+ ]0 p4 [completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
7 a" B: c' `6 W* y6 x+ [/ Iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
9 T* W6 q$ h6 ^' O' ^the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 4 x. l+ @' ^" E
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 w8 Y1 X2 g n" C7 z8 R0 xwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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$ _$ Q* ]9 a; I6 }3 L8 a* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 O2 f2 ]# X* p' Q: l1 i6 S8 ?* }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 m; N' {1 ]- C4 O2 t s0 @that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
" T, P( E4 R5 H* Nprice.& Z6 k; i0 l- |5 W$ }% K2 k
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
8 I+ }; k# L$ y! I2 P( m' cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 |0 s: M/ ~8 B8 ?- m0 l2 oexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of - Z8 c% j- n( X; x' S( m8 I0 o0 q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / H2 a4 f) A# A1 C, a0 R ~' d+ F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 6 K& H- c2 A% k! g: E0 U d
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / ]( A1 L1 z/ t+ K: f* e5 \% C
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 N+ k1 _+ `, q Z& M ]
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.( \6 d' j# q/ |, }
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
% v$ I! w/ X! Y/ E4 {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: _: y0 E1 z) f, V* g, }# [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 w, n' m+ i$ x& b/ B# r7 yyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
5 N2 Y. y& ^: E5 @% _; Umore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
! R8 G [7 O! t0 Rbetter 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 $ S7 u2 W3 C. O8 j( p* c- r
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' }/ ^5 U$ ~1 O& K% I2 [; @will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 u. E9 T, n! }- k% lto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 W0 X* N, \4 F2 [6 q0 Y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 A( w" c. A" v; X4 \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 6 f/ g# f4 `1 w- H& m! E
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 H8 o7 F5 P& a, ~/ _8 Q" p
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ ~4 [6 w; M$ n) U' khe’ll close. |
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