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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : x! G! |% J% ~# u* I
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
6 N9 B9 q% w4 pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 q( ~' |; q0 _$ R6 O" P7 r$ |
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 3 v( Z; L! o' F0 W2 K) ~) p
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ C: x5 m _" `! i0 U& d& _) P t4 J
8 i9 D$ K" m) o: KSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
) t# }: x2 P2 J5 A+ dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : X' s5 h* R7 u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 ^4 n& K6 [( O% ^6 N# |
0 b S' X% _. @0 z5 L* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 7 {$ S7 e8 S7 |
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
D- m0 h/ e$ ?4 useriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 7 K0 Y% H4 y6 i& Z
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.4 V8 U( t7 Z0 l
0 n; R: p8 N6 t6 C i6 A7 g. ?* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
% E5 p" U5 u6 I* y, n. y/ Bthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: a, l2 z0 i' _8 K) Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% v. j% p, ~8 ], Ghaving a powerful psychological impact.
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! D9 Y, z* l# H5 l6 J9 w& `* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& M2 z# R4 _0 Y/ vcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- s7 c* K1 Y' I1 z6 e) G3 E4 v5 korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
& Q" y" M" }+ k& x0 Jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
' Y. O" x/ [/ _* J- {5 R2 W9 x- znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / T2 e- }6 g* O- E3 Q+ @& b: V0 Q
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 8 k. f" }# a, }, w6 \
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know & t) ]7 }( ]: O
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 3 ?! [' C& R8 i, u9 ?/ ?' U
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & a7 u4 |$ t% r6 @
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 j) T; i' \( L1 Y7 P6 Kexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of " u& j5 A' d- e3 D: k4 i& c
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - `7 o6 M( ]; Q" X0 S$ a! u
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, f- B0 b7 i4 u+ g$ m; \! Wthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! w% v5 M& Q% I% t
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 V0 S9 B! L$ W* h, B, ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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2 h" u, ~* _) \1 a1 e* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 N$ ~4 t/ V0 V- s" [3 Vyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the / N5 A2 r# v% M2 J. `3 B
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
; A- f" m$ t# c3 N% k1 J, uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& {4 P4 k% a. ^, ?9 V; z# ?more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ i% w( H: ?9 v4 V% xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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6 J& f* n9 I- l* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
7 y* X* a* j7 D0 N, X7 L% wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
" r# E" o6 d2 z- ?* y5 \will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; z# Y+ S' M f, L) w# eto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just & d4 K) X5 V! \
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
) j" F4 L( t) B7 m4 M. x. W8 ebuyers in during the bubble years. ]% i, C; B4 Q+ \" k1 q; x
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it \9 }" @( m1 f, n. R! G
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 K8 R+ K! {1 v
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; }1 z6 W6 o1 p4 n5 O. t& C+ {% M( xhe’ll close. |
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