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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 7 d9 j5 D! w1 e: j3 f
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 j6 _! A2 c5 T- |4 kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
" p* L7 W1 z4 Z# Y1 S! rthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % f& I( w. C! B4 N( R! a8 S4 z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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 % z; b5 }4 L) V8 ?* G' G
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this - g9 l. i+ O3 ^5 h0 A2 ]
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). W# V0 ~0 X8 ?* g1 _+ b9 _
" _8 e& w9 ^' B* S" p* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
' Z9 ~; H# `& ?! t( V' m, Kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : v9 a6 a: k8 x2 [- S- G, \! g
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ z% E# } C) S3 I4 b( p" Dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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2 Z; s: a5 ?$ ~# F* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 6 X7 l, g; k9 E* _* j+ Q% c; u5 h
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
H W: N6 h% {' \( X; \: n/ @4 ]! zcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 L3 Q! t& ~ rhaving a powerful psychological impact.1 E+ k% A1 n i) y
. W# m9 e8 R. B4 V* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( J- U T3 G4 H' i: `completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- ?4 }7 O% Y+ u- `. x- @order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on & }) O& C: ~7 |7 e9 G( S! h
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you . y' p# ^" {7 o* d8 G+ J
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 y% G1 o& K2 z. p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# Z* ]! r% a% p! O& E( W( K$ G" |
1 h6 }3 @6 P1 Z. @) E$ ]% g* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ( f5 j" Y4 c2 t* g
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
5 ?2 B4 v" e! S2 d/ Q' {/ N2 Pthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( L6 a% t R8 d' D: x
price.
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! ] G9 o$ m m* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
$ k/ N% E% X9 [! ^* g+ mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# b' L1 Z2 F( z/ q4 ~: Kexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" ?% ~/ z" f3 Y: Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * l( N+ r4 r1 |
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ F8 m3 B* _0 s. H; a( g5 W: A7 S
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. & t) k8 I- W( R) K, t4 a& w q# S
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ( s5 I4 T* p' J& y$ T* Z0 v
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: G4 _2 ~3 H0 @" `/ ]
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 s& D$ U, U$ T2 b, B0 B0 n3 nyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; A2 @# H% K$ I* p# \4 S7 G/ `
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 7 |2 U# R% f% r, Y7 L+ b
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 i- [7 ]4 ?$ T i3 j% i: G* G; Rmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
* G7 d* e5 {1 Cbetter 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
8 [- c4 s# V d4 p q% Eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. \" w; \! _& o5 b0 D' owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ t8 Y1 i) }" T0 ~* k* J5 tto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . q, |& E1 J. _9 B0 [
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ; ]9 u9 O5 G& |$ B2 q
buyers in during the bubble years.
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2 A* Y& [% A8 f" H* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ K. h& A7 M; v0 \, G! H1 ]* E% fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# s m5 Q8 D# s, E [, s, F5 S9 r Bwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 K9 O2 h; \: K% x
he’ll close. |
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