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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
: u6 R3 p3 ]0 Yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 G: c0 B% S9 ^; T# M& ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " \7 W6 p4 f7 Y+ m/ r
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : r0 q7 A" G4 v4 a; s4 a
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., `: O6 ]' R0 t" x* R$ x8 ~8 k
. |: {- U4 _: S! |0 K9 W% rSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
: N& f/ X- G6 h% i5 g! @4 C! Eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* x7 z+ W A: I' I0 uand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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" \* [% x& x$ T2 ]+ j* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) `/ F' D& m( y/ `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken & b9 `6 M. D& u: q! Z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
" T6 U$ b$ U6 j" `( V4 Kget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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N g2 g) @$ t* x0 J5 }5 p7 F. ~2 G* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on . X+ T' K! G5 X; J. f0 @) c
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- I+ B" m' `: W) A+ ~# s5 Hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 P) c* ?; I: G V7 r4 |3 P; i5 R: I
having a powerful psychological impact.* Z$ I, f. s) Q1 L q8 N
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
R5 Y$ ~( F$ Y$ s i# N" p. {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 k7 j4 p- X9 yorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 h, u: T1 a2 n. }! C
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & \1 T, b' l& O# ^- l
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
. i1 C% A/ _8 ]; T) D) A( A9 uwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
3 ]0 q! M$ W( @/ H4 M1 M( e2 hproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / [+ V: ^* V" k( _1 ]# q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that - ^7 {% ]# c$ {8 C
price.
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0 J& S* n |$ `1 t" L: A/ G* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: d% e. ^- r3 L; s8 Y4 }business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" u8 x+ v- }( w+ mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
4 W3 V" S) u( x, s( owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
1 E1 V: O$ x- K) w6 a3 w$ b0 P' f& Whave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
^5 c0 J! t7 {- V& L/ ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 I } t2 ]7 [" u" hSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ' |0 c0 ~/ J# ] H
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 }& u1 T! x& Z
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % B5 N2 G' s* P3 ~1 k0 F. G
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
7 N( J( z- l/ V' sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' }4 _* } \: W7 K0 Ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: g) K2 P% y$ s z4 \3 N: d& zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
9 @* ~1 X7 `/ j6 Qbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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0 g8 x0 A4 q: F" Q( g* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ) M' f D9 ]9 B: j+ [+ j, \& q$ n
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 z% u, ~( ^1 |* \4 l7 A5 t
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
' t3 p: m8 j- M% M# }8 c7 K _% |to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
1 m7 [& ~ y% W6 \% L7 Zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
. J2 e+ D# R9 ebuyers in during the bubble years.3 o; _( v3 E4 X9 s" [7 c
1 @. e. C/ y9 G9 x* Z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; n2 A) u" a. _& |8 G% r0 t7 u
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
+ V$ T S/ b! h8 `/ B( }7 `! Fwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but . F! L; i7 i! S3 g5 G% v
he’ll close. |
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