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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
4 b7 A$ d! G" mfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
i# H* f: Q4 Q6 \3 b) g, gbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 O& K5 t9 g% R8 cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
1 ]6 q2 o t! u. Ubegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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& F6 M5 M2 @- XSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
. ?; ^8 J1 f' t. l2 Kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* w0 l, r/ x4 L" I0 i1 } _and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many & Y1 d2 ^/ N. y' L4 q1 j2 Z1 _
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' E! \0 L" B% J% d5 J' d
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
, o3 L6 g* t7 E( W' a3 vget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with." i' C u% X* w% @, v' j& ~, ~; j
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
' N4 U0 P5 g9 \7 t6 P4 U+ Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 r* G. i; H0 pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; \: d5 |+ n$ _. u; |having a powerful psychological impact.# S t8 X ^+ m. Z" f! c
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 7 s- W" B/ `3 ]
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 H9 N% m K8 l* T0 n4 P7 y9 Qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 d" S" Z0 \$ P* Uthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 k3 X" a% c5 r7 f5 j' _' enever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get # s- P, n( l* L# V
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.+ ~7 n+ e6 d% J% @; W) R
2 q: ?: R% f: C7 T* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 q+ _" W& H' t$ V0 \& k% y& p+ W
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 _* E& m- e+ z- X, e) ?& N3 fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 ^+ |( t+ j+ U+ T( D% r
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ B/ D$ R2 L' K; t7 v3 {business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / B5 W" B7 N' K+ i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
- Y6 B& m( j8 iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' ]8 H6 g1 X7 n( Y- L& X/ n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ y8 G2 s* t( athe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) I, t5 J$ [% x6 E6 E: y. \Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 v Q5 M- m1 X/ @9 hdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.% O$ [" ^' _5 Z9 Y
`1 j! v& Z& u2 D0 Z |5 g& |7 e) ~* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have : L- g, i. ?8 y3 z; ?$ o
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 _( A6 ?% A/ ]+ V+ c: B; G9 }price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 L" v# i2 ]6 [0 ^7 O) a
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 j3 T3 Q( g3 M* k. L( \- I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
. @( \8 @. w% n: Q) z: ` `' @: Y9 [better chance you have of securing the best deal.0 O/ D% C6 s8 T5 o
, x3 C; o7 Y+ Y2 C' y9 ?
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 8 h/ Z" N+ X- X
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
% V% K+ `- B5 D6 dwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / N+ p! f0 ]$ N: F5 W" m" b
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
, B% A) U# m6 hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
" i' B+ [2 C4 Nbuyers in during the bubble years.
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$ w" J' D, B ^- O/ {* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
9 `) O4 d% ~( C8 t# T( b5 w* K( sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 l& @$ I. _( q, u+ z D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 ]- L+ s- p3 Z6 D* k* ehe’ll close. |
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