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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, M1 L6 _! f, e" ]8 tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 6 K: o( y( v, C% E
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ w$ ?( N5 O8 [/ B: ^- ?# g2 T# bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
3 S$ T2 u& M2 a5 Cbegging 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
6 z# l# [6 z0 B* [: v+ `you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ' O3 B# _- G+ J2 Q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* n1 H3 O- M/ k' r
7 L& N$ b; `* p* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 ]# ?% l+ i6 f# f, G+ P- aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- z2 _1 p" u* I) z- Kseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 `4 p: @5 @+ l( ~2 C
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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) I9 q5 W; _) p, X) Q8 l. l$ J* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
2 K& M f. y5 S( U# _% S7 Ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % R- H0 K2 g1 R2 C5 C0 e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " u9 s$ e+ u% |, {, G- @
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
y% s; i' K5 h8 ]' t- U3 L" Icompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
3 y7 Q* y% L Vorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ ^- Z9 P/ u2 i* i8 i" ~the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 9 H+ O; O( a" d, _7 T! ^
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get y4 X* w7 H n* H0 j" [
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) w( _: p _: u) Z( H9 d- O
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
6 d$ S$ E' N! L) Xproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: D: ?9 T, v- x; c* Othat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( P+ z2 \& k; \. v$ z" k! y# vprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 2 A5 H9 T1 P# K5 J$ ~3 }) s7 d- n
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
% v! f7 W I0 M# I1 |expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" n0 ?( _8 m, [% S; Z9 V7 A3 Swork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; X" `0 q p+ P/ K# i
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 W* G" X7 g3 _- [: P: \
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) }; V3 }4 }3 [; l/ J( O$ o- B9 o; rSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* p% A- v' Y9 f" ?, J- ?die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' W* J- [7 h6 e% f
( X" P' Z7 W' ?. c: I, e* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 H! D) h2 s" B D# T
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 V' G: l: S* b" i: {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into : R* j$ _+ `5 W- @: b
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 [# J7 f: u8 M6 v3 h; T* g( @, Mmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the J, B( ~" p- E
better chance you have of securing the best deal.: w" |& `' _7 Z. [
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" b# [/ P/ Q) T/ @properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' p2 X; x; F( W/ {3 C- I4 awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, o. O8 S$ L# o4 Oto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% e% P" I# I3 ~4 [- H/ J6 \consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ?/ x+ U4 s: Y! [
buyers in during the bubble years.) g# a, a4 U- C( q" U# u3 }: `
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
2 N/ |$ Q! u: u6 ]2 P& Ydie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 I9 l* n; E+ r6 H* [' a+ }will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
* o* U, S! Y; l5 u2 I$ khe’ll close. |
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