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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ' N% v/ ]# n$ r
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the / b) w2 V' T- U) y& W" q; u, z
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all . u X% M6 i2 J3 F5 [
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # g; b8 x7 H- O @! J
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ a/ C+ I5 S0 g* u& Y5 m! r
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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
! U6 y- z1 U# v- ` f4 Syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # c% |; J; F# N
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 K1 Z) n3 {% ~/ N
& V! j7 k: R) \- F; J0 Q. \5 F* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) d3 K$ l; ~5 l! y/ kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken + Z8 ~; i& e. q% s1 E1 i9 N! b/ k
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 H9 R" H' i' g7 `* }3 zget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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V5 R* k; }$ ]% y6 m u* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on - Z. W" U+ l, W8 q6 ^
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' I7 F$ a; |8 B3 \8 i7 o# z$ q! scashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
+ K' j' o W' d" b9 v6 z9 _, Ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% M. x& W, d9 |- b& L4 j) {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
4 z- ^) ?: _9 Q0 A( n. Dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 4 x) q, x% s8 ~. q) E: g5 K, {9 ]
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 9 N' \! c+ j- A9 \. p; o* l: |
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 6 w2 u; p5 X) E0 S( B( Y+ ]/ q" u% V
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 ' a8 }& `8 J: ^' p6 F. d
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
d' s2 w! O" q; t: u! p6 o8 fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
: g) w8 `- ~0 R9 yprice.+ W5 L* s) ]& B$ u
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 N0 E# H+ F+ cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- }$ g i) ]% F( ^1 bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
* h0 F$ M6 D- ?5 Fwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( s# u* c; q# V% _
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 d$ y m4 d, Cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 C) k) ?. p7 K7 O* jSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
' V) A& l0 ~' a" l$ W3 t d- wdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 _; ]% Y' H( Y- h
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
$ O( U$ @& J- A3 w! Tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# v3 ?( N) [" u3 k- m3 U6 Nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 D% M/ {0 C6 ]4 D t7 q5 R
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* b/ {1 j# J' O$ O0 Q6 A2 cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 g2 d6 `3 ?; A3 @! A& E3 Nbetter chance you have of securing the best deal., l& l$ k9 l% M, W! e7 O
# `( ]8 \4 L z/ H. e7 o) ]* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
2 \3 k! v! K2 c; bproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
* U7 V# z _+ z$ n) q7 Jwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! O0 Z% j$ ?! j: Z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ z2 E1 b7 d( U: q
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 _+ x# R |) C, r, `3 P, O
buyers in during the bubble years.
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( `( C6 @' c6 }, K* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) o: g6 a( t" D6 P
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 f2 M6 v6 x: t2 W; [+ l
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 5 S( N [4 m2 H1 t
he’ll close. |
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