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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
0 a& T( v# `$ L2 l! R$ ]; kfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( u" w; F" s. K1 i7 B6 R: S- E& f) Tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all / [. R6 [' d; i X
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: Q& A( U+ N# Q3 L' | rbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.3 M6 ?4 e8 ^( O
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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
: H. V; V' ? W, z& Xyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . ^! L2 D8 X* k8 Z
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 ~- @& V5 v3 k
# K& m+ h. m* q( H$ q* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
p: f9 ?6 N2 y& G5 C& B) F/ ]properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : i v6 h( p# }4 f* g
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 P5 T1 }# [" ^' y0 p x4 fget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.# l+ |2 t' m, r. e: B
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " T& {* F4 s6 @+ |
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 4 R: c+ R( m' B. J
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while . x% v% |' w- k5 h3 O9 _6 S
having a powerful psychological impact.+ T; U% B8 x9 D3 g0 m( D) p
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- A/ _. B7 Q3 j1 zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
4 p4 F8 L9 b2 F, yorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 [1 o. x. `( Q* X4 ^
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 N, Q) ?# Y' j3 F8 n8 R% ~ xnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , N# h# h! D/ q* ~
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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' w7 f# g/ a# F* I( g1 f* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 e5 g2 s6 N% g [+ f& u7 Nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * a# k2 \( M( @8 `2 _# V) K) w
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& H! G9 ?0 M2 K% Oprice.' N) v O e' ]6 S7 I
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! L2 J3 i$ g' V; b0 H! D: mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# Q# S+ l" {: e( Sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . Q) y2 a3 y9 A
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 K; U. j. Z$ `% p) H4 Lhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 S7 d% o$ I8 N. X/ Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 c+ Q6 ]4 N& A/ \3 e1 iSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will . M1 m) s5 o% R. q$ a# L8 A. t0 @
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.4 O; H3 b& g# c. Y$ v
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
( M. u8 G$ d7 ?8 G+ e) T% Iyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
% ?( a. t% ~) _: i7 _price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 V2 N$ p% N6 Z' ]- m
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 5 J4 ]/ m; |3 w% D' Y3 V& N- \5 Y
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
9 q2 U( X% r# L8 u: [ hbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- p1 B* k- h6 {& B* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" r3 X t- B3 j9 r2 e4 J1 uproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , g! V0 q" E) |7 d
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ O7 A% d" b0 f# V; yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! Q* L; {/ E% Z$ Y. K1 x$ Bconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 a4 M; s% u0 N6 j
buyers in during the bubble years.: j) T9 P/ g& U& p" e" X$ u
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; f8 u, j/ y! n
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
5 n# [' k$ o. P/ c2 l" Twill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! k D( B6 H* V1 Z* y
he’ll close. |
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