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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a # ?2 p% d5 u8 S
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 h. e6 p, a. X& D& I5 C# `/ d
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- D" z* X! k. x/ f/ h N8 X5 bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 7 M' p* B2 |, l- x' U. _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* Z$ k4 l- k6 E( z6 M
/ B, m5 S$ A. r( S# CSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 6 l, U4 i: C }
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
& _' Q9 L% \4 e" l& w/ [2 Iand 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
% C# ?: J, q+ n+ |- U* bproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 T# z- B( Z- J4 Z( L+ _# vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 g+ K" V& I+ d0 N( X1 ?! v
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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; G; I! o- ^9 n, ]* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ! b9 K( \/ i3 U! b" I$ Y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' D; r' W4 ` `5 L1 A/ _
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while , q( j( S$ o! C' B
having a powerful psychological impact.7 r/ g* A" j/ ~9 c
2 `$ e$ j& k* c9 r* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# e! Z3 D2 a/ p# e. }completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- _2 p: _0 U8 |8 E" ^. |4 xorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" a' ]* e9 S+ \3 qthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ! f( g. a# p' L+ ~# ~3 Z/ a9 Q% ~' E
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get . z/ X& Q0 D: R" |: X
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
' x2 X8 h' l: q* l7 u. _ m8 xproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
) i, w0 V+ A5 B1 F. ^8 pthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 Y" V5 }% X+ @3 M2 ~& r1 U. Pprice.7 i2 y; ]- a- c5 f2 W: u( Z0 ]
, f/ Q) Z% `; q; Q j* K* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' w! o% n- M6 D, V( x" [
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, p2 H0 K4 ` U4 B4 ~9 fexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
+ A0 n$ @2 ?2 s. iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
% x+ a) V( t9 E* b V: g+ x* Thave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * D" ]6 Z1 _ A
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 p& {; ?" w* zSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 4 _% b6 ? w$ w
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 ^" C( x- N2 a9 S' S oyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 D$ c9 b/ }% k1 `" u) b6 [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 9 w6 Y5 I% R$ \" t
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The / u% J& D' R! D M0 P
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
) c8 q* h7 G% N' Fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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. T; \! ^+ O9 L% K/ q# Y2 O* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing . ^) W2 W; K; y8 j0 Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
& Q, s4 {* w) Ywill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ @" t* \' y+ X x5 K0 P6 sto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 4 X: M9 M, L5 E4 S3 p* f
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 f8 Q, n% C0 o7 I! B; p, T' V2 Cbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 0 J! C: ]9 ^1 k4 N5 c4 ]- M
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you . A6 v% Q$ D' Q% \" Z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: B; t+ L* u0 }. ]; P9 x1 H. @9 Xhe’ll close. |
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