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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : r6 g$ |! ^: w- X$ b
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& h8 U8 c8 B0 @1 O, f5 Y9 R3 V& t5 ubottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
4 E) X! B( \2 E# |2 x- O' {" Sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 U( }" U2 r! g5 L1 Dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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7 G* @& k# Q* |/ YSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
; i- }; D, |& L. a" e$ H) Tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + l) Z( o7 T$ s7 n/ @, Y8 [! \
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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7 p o3 A s6 ]" ?' V$ D* h2 Z, L* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many * }& {2 d& o, G2 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- B4 C$ ] J4 Qseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 6 O, L& ?3 d2 |2 R
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# v' ]' n/ U( e, W7 H8 D$ K; j9 ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 k2 B5 H7 ]& P0 qcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 B5 u0 X/ i5 w
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
! X: K: \1 S* D' K. f |8 [completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ f3 P4 ]' f8 E3 aorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
c3 M$ J2 X9 }2 u# wthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ) s: S- A2 l: g1 |( m" b1 a
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 g: y) V9 T( R9 nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.9 D& M0 p+ U1 Q
7 Z' j' M% A' {- G5 z: y& F* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ' g4 d3 z) D1 I
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( O2 r( R# M/ |* h( c/ A8 R
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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; `7 Q& B. J+ p; h+ v* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & \* c1 ]9 i3 w1 V, l% X& X P3 @
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s & D u) U9 K" G" ~ q: c
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
* K3 J# j/ F9 y0 z/ {* Kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 z( ^& A9 q: M' l$ }have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ( n' | y/ A! n9 @) K6 ~
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( d) v% K/ q& d# U' J8 CSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 ]6 c: {& h. w: c8 N! Q
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.3 o* {& B* D$ T2 m. n
/ P7 l$ }; ]6 M* d3 W) O* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 O8 M* K6 m" g; byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( |: a% W$ k' ?. ?' X# }7 rprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ G( G* F3 c% G: K- [# s; l2 wyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 6 P J4 a6 I% A8 n( J
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
. A) Q3 c+ ?* q+ s" ?# Abetter chance you have of securing the best deal.& d3 p. C7 X* O7 w( a% A7 v
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & C ?/ J( t- X- Y/ r$ p) V
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
; R( L! d/ Q+ zwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( w$ _7 P3 M% f* c J9 a/ L% C6 rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . Y) e X& l7 D+ d$ F) [
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
* ^# d# M! Q4 e+ \' Pbuyers in during the bubble years.4 U" \8 H5 h6 r/ N) V7 G" S' X
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' q# m7 ?6 A' U0 Z3 [
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 D4 g5 G' V7 V6 V6 e R
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& F) P4 I# _/ {. K" Fhe’ll close. |
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