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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, S. {& `2 w: t0 q f( rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 C! P- D% }6 w% x' W! H6 J6 wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* q; E. v8 r# N: V$ Kthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; U$ L [, U: t# |" vbegging 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 ( u, x, f" K2 S, S/ ?2 |
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 @$ n8 |+ c- L ^+ e
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 : g+ j8 r: H( a- O+ X; v' m
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
. ]) c* f$ z: t& B3 }seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : D4 y# \5 o& b( k1 J7 t+ R- J
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 f9 v, Q0 D8 {7 P
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on + y, O: U) B7 Q5 |/ Q
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; ]" s& n/ D- g3 l, q
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. P4 o8 x2 E: M% I0 j1 f& Ehaving a powerful psychological impact.
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2 @+ c& {6 ~# ^: U$ l3 Z8 {* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
0 B# S8 W+ K7 v0 Hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 o7 o4 @9 N" n+ i/ L3 y4 Sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on - {+ @3 ]1 }; m9 p4 o" v
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
3 q. q) Z% r5 ?( ~; _" H. N& e- enever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get # C4 H. ^8 w1 q4 ^ H) p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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4 _5 J8 w* d4 a9 u$ A/ O* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; Q; `; @1 D" f6 s) J" x# `/ y) f$ \
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 x8 i4 g; d6 C* H, Y7 J7 J- z
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : _0 T% o4 [. K! d+ h$ W
price.
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2 l& N2 V4 r. c0 U% O1 V6 \* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' ]: g2 x9 r6 f% t2 ?) B& k# t
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s # L! D1 K+ a4 h9 W- N
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 3 h0 w* W1 f4 E! R" j+ }. R
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
/ D( _; y* t* V4 `8 S2 w- |% [+ {have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 o9 [* X2 z6 e; v2 U. d; g g# uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 2 c! Y3 }% T9 ]+ {2 T6 A# ^- k
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 Z. K% ~- N0 S
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, {8 X5 ]2 f2 byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ' v7 I$ R! ?# s) {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 g$ I `. N oyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( @" r s0 i3 _, dmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: P" p$ D9 O; z0 _6 sbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.7 v5 [6 s4 M- s3 X" v
% f& u% X0 f: d+ @7 m l* y' _* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 V- h8 p1 E, z) g/ k/ K4 f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That " C, }, I0 B+ v! | x8 m
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / U$ q7 u$ b# ]# k/ ]/ g' R
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just / W# M2 O" W7 ^
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ t7 x+ f% q9 h4 Obuyers in during the bubble years.3 b" w, g' I6 K& ]
6 d4 V, z; ?2 }* \* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, L/ ~" V9 z7 u6 Fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 Q2 k: ~3 N0 C q- l6 t8 u4 f% ~7 @
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but " t- T/ h3 H4 e
he’ll close. |
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