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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
& q$ c) m; I* [% n# hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ Q( h: ]5 s9 k j. vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
7 A% B; w5 e3 P! C, Bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% C& V: {- W, I* v) X0 }begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.1 ~% T5 V! ?- b( r9 o
) h; A% N1 y M1 V3 b, iSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
' g2 z! U: ^+ ~+ q$ Yyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # T3 d, b% c, ]$ i" O5 E1 y. q0 w
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)& O$ V6 i- r g
" p# y" k, b1 ]* c9 r* d7 w) L* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
: y7 Z( [6 ^5 M# M/ e C+ S5 v. w2 p6 uproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken & Q( @9 V" R1 ~( [4 ]8 U3 K4 ^
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you % B' N$ D. `' p9 m+ r
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
- Q/ ]/ e& H- pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not . w8 H& V9 e9 o2 g/ ^
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - E. G3 Z! ~ n j
having a powerful psychological impact.
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; k& s- ]* ?1 q5 e! ~* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
+ i+ i( r$ c9 o+ S( |6 U3 Icompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
& E5 T6 Y2 v) e/ y4 Z! v& B2 Torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ! h' T, S6 u/ l+ s
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
1 J |1 y9 A% R! k2 v' R# inever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ A! t# g* r+ k; uwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) s5 q Q ~' l {, ^- F) j+ I7 W
) M v) g! d- T* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
4 x3 p9 p- O' b! aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' U F, i; r7 D; X; X0 |% ~that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 Q' \* G, q/ e& `- t6 G2 X
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 z) m# n- Q/ g$ z0 l
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # C/ t L; `* i) c* S0 O7 j
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 U( o( y( l; h) ?1 b' ^& Shave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . u7 f# q+ J! h6 {+ X5 ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 z, t) t. X, E i, E* {4 @
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
0 y4 q2 f7 z4 W7 {# [) Y/ u! `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
$ i( E9 F5 g& e. q$ o8 nyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the " y4 d2 K* C+ G" i" J7 I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 @* p7 B q, _" k& W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The - r+ a; W5 a1 i* M
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- D7 a) d0 }/ P! ibetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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; S. N1 @: X2 y% p* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 M8 P" o& ?6 Q. O# U$ t- k0 l
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
) v9 {8 `+ [6 M1 Fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do M: I$ c* d5 n$ a
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ f/ C! @4 q$ ~0 `! Rconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : ^; W4 y& D/ M# i5 B9 U
buyers in during the bubble years.
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% h4 i1 { {- e4 d1 R! Y/ O* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ! ~" H) q" e; p; B+ D% O
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; V4 t3 n& g, {) ?4 T4 C# Q2 V
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' ^; q/ R) e0 s$ V6 Lhe’ll close. |
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