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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 5 W1 z! X! o% p# @
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the # v7 C3 O# q2 s, a8 Z
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, z* L5 v) `$ ?; T. T7 q Sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 R( v; x, `& l) Hbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% \# [/ s4 a3 {( x$ S
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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
! e" y" [! ?: t7 ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) ^ z/ B/ Z- }and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% t1 O+ t. L+ b/ u( \& F* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( d) {: V- V7 m. |, r- T5 q! v
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 L4 J$ c1 R+ Q1 m% ]$ W) k2 T
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 7 u! ?- T2 f, m- a" Z
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! _ W6 l1 Q5 z) E- g
% I* p1 M, T+ G! s$ i6 F( R* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; l. L# H9 P' d0 h6 X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
$ C) W( }" K4 a4 Wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - T5 e; Y: ~7 y, G0 a' I* B: A
having a powerful psychological impact.
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8 G! @4 ]. q0 G+ j; i/ z" O+ C$ o* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is - R9 D# A* X% d; U/ H) A
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" p. g6 l8 |* r6 V6 t. Yorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 e& \5 i; h9 V4 ^. Q; _3 Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; r0 [, E; t' I" vnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
* n; `9 C7 D+ n$ V0 lwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 A/ T* ~2 n9 X2 \' ^& ]* J
: }1 [% K4 F# f4 ~* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ' U( L- v! t& v( z( X7 D a& B
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
- I8 Z' B5 X- o' x3 b3 D8 N) ]that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 A6 D, a! N" X3 V
price.5 h6 ]. N8 v" s2 N6 q* F5 u) t% I8 k
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
( U- p9 ^- v6 @8 N$ z* ~" Vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- ^% L( `- @5 \6 [ yexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' t! t1 O3 {! }+ l- ^work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
. Y" Q! f/ v# Z8 i& uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 m" B |' L" M1 E2 u& Mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
+ D, U4 |- K! zSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
( F! T% C( Z% udie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 g$ n5 c1 n5 J+ W2 E" \
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& j9 l) }( [: v/ r5 p, Syour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' V- F- N" s2 v: R0 D0 Jprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into . F0 \1 S# Z( Q5 q1 A& O
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 V' `/ m$ C6 v) L6 r \
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 \) y* |1 m& G" L
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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0 }1 t4 I6 j% Y9 k' Z$ z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ( u, T: d6 T6 J0 d% f' `9 m M, K
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 q/ {- y+ I0 w2 q) zwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 Y; k: `$ y3 J) r& yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
6 f+ L# m/ A) p& Wconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, B; I3 G$ ^$ p2 x3 j F/ _0 j7 |buyers in during the bubble years.
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, g7 d; M! u5 @( t" p* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) k- p$ w* |1 I( j- D8 |1 {die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 J, [7 Y2 R6 U$ r1 K0 Uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
. C. b2 o! K6 ^8 q6 d6 yhe’ll close. |
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