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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
( i7 O+ I4 K' K. P( S; Y$ ]falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 a1 C; r! E' n/ n, j) W+ Vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all % T' \( R+ ]+ Y/ k' Z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- @- `& g: W7 N- t% J8 Ubegging 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
( T0 |2 w; ]; \9 S1 g' E( k5 d; ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
7 h" H1 W( H& ]and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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# O8 w3 a1 k6 o$ v* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) g) O2 Q7 a& R) z/ j% d: N$ k
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 ?: G' \. j1 V. o2 E7 Gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 9 o: x. E- o9 d7 V! S' o
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 c2 w6 X9 y* p* h4 E
G1 E. P( e! A# Z* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; ^( h6 Q" ?, o3 }
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + k! ^* b" Z0 i
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- Q' {! z. @: L9 R4 E3 ]having a powerful psychological impact.7 x2 P: R1 T; _) h# I! u& \/ t1 w. D
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . M C4 a) \& j/ i
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 W& a4 R7 q, S# \" p$ _% e
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
. g( B) C J5 z+ M! Ythe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 e: E- j- O7 \( u: ~. Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( p6 _! L$ g$ Z! m: |1 K |what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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" g4 R' M# R7 M6 W; g8 X, A* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , M3 h+ o ?' z4 k i* g
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 P8 e- T+ c( S0 r. V2 Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
9 C# H6 k. w7 B" Z) U# vprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 e4 m, x2 W6 A* b& fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ' v: Z2 J5 ~. M" R
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
6 U0 g+ ^0 }4 J% k6 mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
) W) J! O$ e( X4 Y+ N& l( t7 |have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 Z8 i! o( B B2 ~
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. , A( K( J* c% ~1 j. u6 t
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* ^: t2 `: ?& n8 Mdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 E$ G$ c% b% J2 o5 P/ S
3 G0 u2 w) }, G R( x' j* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # _+ z- D! K6 R
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
- G; y1 u/ S M' r h Y+ }9 r7 }price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. P: E3 o+ Z D3 g- Q1 Fyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* ^( X8 Y; Z6 h. L) Kmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: G& ?% f% Y& Y, _5 Y- abetter chance you have of securing the best deal.- J1 u# i8 s5 V6 G
, p$ q" [9 A& M% s& c W- ~5 Z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing $ M4 p6 @/ S* \6 k9 ]' a7 k
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 B. @( r! _ b" a, {1 j: [5 H. X$ Vwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
& h& i. ]" J3 [! c4 nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
: @( v( m3 p2 j3 l( c a6 Q: Rconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 {& I2 J4 h% D* K3 {buyers in during the bubble years., f5 k% D- C& V" k9 r5 M
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ |" \2 s( L& p2 |8 ?6 b2 Y% Q" jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you % e) c, p1 {; f m0 l/ E* @
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 4 l" F) x0 O9 `1 P
he’ll close. |
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