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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
m# x3 F4 W* T. Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
: Z4 j0 C8 Z" Pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& v3 B) [) ` j( I2 E1 Fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ; ]/ [# H& y x1 x2 a( L
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.5 E" b' ^2 M2 S% ~, V9 ]
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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- k7 }$ {8 U: {4 G
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , ^' o. {! ? s7 C* m# V. N! e
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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1 b+ q; {% B$ v3 e* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
* x& y" U S& uproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 5 F9 @) N! `& ^, A; p' x. h
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & U4 Z$ z |. a0 x3 m, Z, f9 _
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 O$ _: C: x8 ?( g/ O
8 Z$ I: T" O6 m* X9 [* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 Z+ b) Q) |" r! r* G% s0 H
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 s6 C' R6 E$ U7 k/ A5 j8 Y ecashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
7 f7 K% A3 x8 K! Bhaving a powerful psychological impact.9 i1 P8 T: i" t0 A
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
1 d2 x$ H' w4 C, }9 Y* Kcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
7 H8 k7 S3 { \- S c L* u- aorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
1 X2 \' ?6 S% B jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
5 V4 v4 x5 h/ {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 M0 o+ o' X8 w7 O2 Wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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& Q0 v3 O# M; m# o* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; g3 r. C6 b e
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 X( f7 ]: d) n- W
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 O6 s: j) T O8 I$ Y
price.- h' ?$ S. H8 s/ M( {8 ~
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 2 a- r; ^' b/ J: V
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s , f# R3 j5 d; Q2 \
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
4 h" Z+ t) M1 W3 ? kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" t+ ~9 ]! i t8 U0 D9 C/ Zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
: e; z0 ?% b+ Z$ ^4 R# o3 N* B8 ^the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. # O& X9 W& A: a, F
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
! _& `- y( R, o# g6 t% n6 A6 j8 ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ B( h2 B( c& C: `3 U" y
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 A9 \- o1 u* kyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 2 ]2 u8 U, H5 T$ u0 Y
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 g# l/ \9 u8 C# \; oyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' L, j! [% B6 ^8 L
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" W. K; K3 p$ W* ybetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 6 ]: f$ _( x/ O# r, s) i9 w) g
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
8 N! ^) y( G% E0 Uwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
. D, I: `: S4 b. tto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
" Q- M7 w; g5 \) N! t$ Y1 |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ; l, k: Q) Z2 l( G; q
buyers in during the bubble years.1 ?( q. f, t8 }- m/ M4 v
1 g( {6 w) n4 k; y% W( \( g9 ~* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 2 O& R9 g* f* W; q- Z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you / s) S7 x/ R3 U( H# ?
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but # `7 B$ A' y1 Q* u0 w$ F/ U1 t
he’ll close. |
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