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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
1 a" ?) T" X( {4 U0 Ufalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the / ~' j: _: n: V4 m& d+ V" o
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 h8 x6 g+ N1 _6 J- N9 u7 C
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , e1 K. O% R$ e/ { i1 e: s
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 - V% k9 N* E% `) z" @) d( f
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , A" S$ F$ t2 N7 o( ?
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% ^: {; `$ Z* Q. F
: n# A6 ?9 h% Z! w( Z; x7 n* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many E( L, ~1 `) m) _* A" U
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! u; k0 ?3 } o2 P7 |seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 x+ E0 f1 ?5 L# F6 l. B5 y+ Jget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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0 x$ _, {* R1 Z! U* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
3 \1 R1 r6 i- |the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ R) c' {5 ~$ e% B- t# p2 @4 ycashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
" P/ c1 k }$ Z3 ]8 [# ahaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 L% v& G* q4 e4 Y4 Z/ E2 j
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ) I; H. y0 g( ?7 ?
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on - K. \( z0 V% d
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 9 J7 a$ T8 b# x5 R" X8 u
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + ^- y. [1 B) p# s5 h+ z1 o
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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7 o6 l. L, i; C$ M& l1 S: T* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! ?. v/ y0 R* N- L* {2 |
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' i5 `9 C _0 X6 `) g1 K8 Bthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : n8 T7 @. Z, b' a6 ?8 R* {3 C
price.6 `% p$ C' ]% Z& v( e' v
; y3 q! ^# j5 e6 R+ z* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
) Q0 ?9 A+ V- L/ n0 f' Z6 Fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 O9 l* G$ l; w a% T
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
1 j) d7 A, z( m" e2 `6 _5 ?work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
! K) |# o0 `5 ?% H) L" z1 Yhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% F; R5 v5 Y1 c0 z; G" |the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
* T! u, A2 g! m- a- X) \- n: tSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % k ~+ @* Z! |. T! u8 W6 ~1 a
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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2 o1 ] P3 h7 U$ e, |. g* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
+ j( h( Y: v: j$ j3 Fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ^' g' ~% B k
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( {4 X5 w. i9 X M ^your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" Z# ?: ?4 m$ a7 pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 Q; u3 F! _% h( t. ?1 |1 \, Y1 y. abetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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) f5 [$ d8 F* V& r" V* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 0 }7 X( B z# V. Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
$ g8 D& I. C/ j$ e% ^will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 |3 k+ P# c; ?, ?9 M( nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ K, R2 `; _% R, r. E- N. K
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
% W! R, O. S5 `buyers in during the bubble years.7 ]( y+ R+ b4 e" A# n, v2 S
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it % K- b9 Y( q8 G3 C! x* k( h
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
5 i! n' v" b, ?1 [! e; L5 h( Nwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 \! b' \( ~: V* d" p# Mhe’ll close. |
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