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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
& n2 z; e9 ?% e3 k% z$ tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! T3 W0 _, ~; U9 U2 h
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + @1 ~4 W# b: q/ e& V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + `- Q3 Z# X" ]+ v! M' ^
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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' U- E( E2 T2 bSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
- G% M7 q5 V1 |0 L& I( eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % _+ w$ Q [, c' e* u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)" b f2 P& _5 A$ C% q ~
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# i, B# ]% }- r$ v' `properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
, Q9 D9 `- b! N; s6 V& N. M) ^seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & H# R* R4 W+ \3 Z: b8 `9 Z
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on . ? }! S9 ~( y |/ i, P, A. X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
8 V+ z1 d+ E$ b. I" zcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
5 }: S2 w' h1 Y Y1 |having a powerful psychological impact.
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% j1 I B6 P, R% O9 F6 i$ a* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 v. ]" _9 R. w- P9 a
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in + [# D; T" ~! y* o3 B
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # G# j8 l( v) s# E
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
5 D" x# m- e, z' W# ^" gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) O5 v. x. O$ g9 owhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 r1 |6 ~) M' B6 S! m4 |& l
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, ~; s6 e( L* G3 S: ]( W! Cproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 [2 n& O* Q* ?. j" L+ }that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
! e' `- c6 p/ y7 H$ B5 ?price.3 ~4 x$ v$ N# W& h
) {* O4 U: c- k% G/ w) g5 l8 k* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ K4 L s& e) u1 X3 L9 r( ?business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 y- @7 E: {! G1 R& m" [% c6 M& ?
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 [# D0 L2 x$ d _6 ^
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , j+ e/ N( C* n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; |. ~0 d! Q V
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. Z3 Y( I/ u4 v5 t- g" KSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; I9 T% O& O. |0 [" {die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
- \' J% `$ a- u+ xyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; F; z$ y) v( j0 `
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 3 Y5 G$ @5 T: E# `2 l+ v
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The $ W) e/ A" w K+ b0 O9 E$ @& B
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 O F+ u, z" e( n( a- N) [
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- I+ V3 B! M9 ?" h* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
2 j8 l6 @& w- C- pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + z) `3 k* w8 |0 f. V3 `% m$ Y* `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% s: l# U, o( @% cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , D$ s& s8 ~: `! ]- b" L
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' a% C( |7 K4 V0 C% D* r5 D4 L4 J2 ?buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* P8 E. g& c* j+ c; S' Vdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: C5 L; r+ E! W6 Y' [' h0 n) Jwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 J, P+ Z- v* N* g1 |he’ll close. |
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