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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a $ @. W. h, A0 O0 H% r& Y
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 `" A* a2 S; M" t, Mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 W# b$ B9 t" V! Y2 i" d3 B9 v8 ]the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 5 ?# c+ s! d- p% L2 [9 \7 {/ c# X
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.. g% ^- m3 j& [+ ]
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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
, c# ~4 H D4 [7 J1 D' w% z- Jyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # N: d! \& l3 R. ~, a& v
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- ]2 O6 f$ M% {! y- r- [5 E
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
Y# @# m$ G. c4 O) Q/ ?4 Yproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( ?. w# C, K9 {, d
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! @& h" c1 W6 G
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 6 C. q$ e5 Z4 F" \$ s5 @
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. D D, Z, R2 z' \; O( scashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % R+ t# ^ s) e# f/ |; h0 G1 H, o
having a powerful psychological impact.- S$ \8 J, o* f, |
2 a q7 h- S) |; r# W* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . N# s, H' i8 o: B$ ^5 X- S2 @
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 M. M% ?+ i c3 Jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# A; u1 R$ V# @0 ]0 m$ K: athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! M2 _* D) ~6 Y: Pnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
! n7 Q/ ^8 Y! owhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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# l- K" n8 Q. c* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
( j3 r$ g+ f @" T- ~property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know - \5 q* `1 W- K
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that + W) M0 o% n% h. z' M& Z" v: p3 k
price.
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, k( i1 o2 ]6 X/ a2 g* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 U) g( G7 h' \+ G L: W& N8 t" Dbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; u" u0 f! I# m: ~9 n- W% P% s; jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
% u$ ^. n5 S* R; G# b" Twork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : h9 m* O3 H" F4 Z5 b
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, A' @! V1 p; ~! S7 mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. V) n* D h; jSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, I$ `. K. s/ I6 Rdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* S4 Q! g* ^& L3 g6 S" r* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
1 E1 K+ y: S! D0 d3 u( k Zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( r! H7 l+ x( M' {8 Hprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ; t. ~) ~# J8 S+ W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 C9 N$ E& \( R" ]& Cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 y/ J A: c0 D, Y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.- Y# k2 _: j3 A) }5 Z
/ d1 v. m6 ~# n7 |# l* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
r+ b$ N1 |. h) tproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : {- f" c% X0 n4 O& P2 W, O
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 8 E% r0 K: m7 d7 E P! X2 M
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . D9 a, i3 f1 _+ Z3 A1 p% B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 [) H( |2 v. wbuyers in during the bubble years.9 l# c B$ ]9 _3 o
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
5 x" g8 Y3 C. O' U+ T# t/ Ndie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
0 |, M+ }" [2 f1 C8 o: p$ Lwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ v# c( C" G4 l$ U; X0 E; lhe’ll close. |
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