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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ U3 r) D4 Q* n6 c. [falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " i$ v6 {4 v+ i8 c0 ]6 D
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- v' a0 R+ ~! l _# Q3 Xthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and & O: A9 A+ G% w; E
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.# I+ T1 w. }! |, Z& |3 w8 ]; q' D
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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 7 M4 f4 H T5 g r% s2 }( Q
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 ~. |7 J- P6 U3 Z6 m P
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" @1 A" P G" m3 {! Xproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 7 P$ z! N2 w- E4 h1 o' ^* b
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
/ t8 R. u8 h ?' T4 Z: K& _6 g. bget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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P" Q8 b: B: B: a4 j* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on / D# q( {# U5 \ T6 ]0 z
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! N; Z$ i3 B# I5 X) \! kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 `( s) Y7 s* X# n) X8 A; R4 P1 ]
having a powerful psychological impact.: i, `. U) ?; \2 D
% q# V( g2 P- K$ j6 b7 h! [! t* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
1 h. _1 S; ]& S; U, I2 I- jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% E) a* T% V; D( o; j7 ]order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # ?" D7 t% M1 [) |
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ F j3 w3 g. {+ W
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get * Q O+ @# V3 W; D
what 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 9 t- o& q% ]" \& @$ |
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ s1 ^7 s/ G. ^3 n' R, bthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* G. m* J# F, d8 i3 ]' @price." }3 ~/ L) ~$ Y# p2 x7 Q# z, Q
4 q5 f& K5 K! j4 ^* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
8 n4 N( ]7 i# Hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! C% `, r7 f8 y8 j5 R& ?, Texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 D- M# C5 u' t
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ ~4 Q- r, w; d1 b; _have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
1 M! k4 ]" X3 \: I8 Athe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " ?$ h, w! M% `! j, F: v
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 X5 N5 o O3 a1 I; G
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.. f; s# X2 D3 q l
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& i5 c. `4 m6 h3 {/ j2 pyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
6 }3 x* Y; s; l% iprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 i0 ~4 `: r4 _& G P1 K" ]your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The - b/ [5 O! g; L/ f( r' B
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: H1 ]( |) y/ V Sbetter 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
9 U" F/ W6 w, N% O7 R7 E+ s0 lproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 f- c0 i _1 M8 V) w1 i: n9 s; lwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# K; S0 ~, C' T" Y2 E4 uto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ K/ j3 G# U0 F# Y8 k. n; A9 econsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ q9 ?0 l( h$ c6 F& ?" a# M p. Z- f
buyers in during the bubble years.2 ?* H$ j* T8 i
r; u0 o9 i: P* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 D/ f/ K( R4 X0 \% L
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 |- Z" |- C2 @0 e3 cwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but % d* c1 T8 x" t$ v* O
he’ll close. |
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