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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
# w3 m# P. |+ h" Cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* H9 e0 T9 z( \! Vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( X; H/ Y* }+ {* k6 d( U6 i% N
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 1 S7 n; g6 c0 R) ]. d
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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5 f9 w0 Q& H: r/ M/ ~) ySo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 F+ v* U+ W! m5 ?0 Nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 R3 M) z* x/ a0 a4 K# p1 B: u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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& t4 p5 g6 m) ?9 n* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 7 A: E% Q0 X) S0 ^5 T4 r& Q0 ?- f
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' D) g- L& } _seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! p, }7 o& W1 `1 ^
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 # U( i7 ^1 P5 n4 {2 q: J) n( O$ m! X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + C" f; i/ {9 Z2 C' K
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 Y5 A3 F- _+ k1 b/ k
having a powerful psychological impact.2 G- U- b+ o% c6 Z$ m, N
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 l* p+ o0 H% P7 F
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in , \1 ~6 Q/ h( }, J1 X8 W
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : y5 J4 S" D) n. ^" N" h# O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% h2 t& Q* \9 D0 T4 T3 y# ~never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
L2 @# Y( I/ Wwhat 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
2 \) j5 s& _+ M0 sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; D/ V2 V- v# x1 V/ M! \that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) `9 ]. D( Q2 B" uprice.8 W R0 ^, l+ Q5 z' o+ _
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
, t e$ D% G4 K) U/ d4 W3 Cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 n8 S2 X9 Y' ~, ]5 @7 U5 B- k
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 G8 Q( J5 j1 `9 e% [
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you & r5 L) R) H* }' p2 ?& ^
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 I: a$ Y' B1 z1 m) b1 i8 w Lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
h5 N i# B# i& i' I9 ?Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
6 H- a( S" X7 O8 N) G/ M0 jdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 @ j, v7 I# m) n
4 K6 J# n; o* O9 x" M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
# o9 |9 D+ N( u; L7 hyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 V5 J& d( w% e ~price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 6 B2 q; o9 O1 K% m! M& U
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The $ R# n G9 A, Q/ Z* j: z
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
! Z# X; p) F! i& Fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.! `& D5 r$ t1 J2 K% q' y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing - H1 y! k5 _+ z4 I# i2 x
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ C% s( d% J3 ^6 }, ]0 Y! B! z) Vwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do & i2 K( D; W8 S2 f% L6 c, I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
9 X R! E, A9 i2 Q0 Y( b9 iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed & |' c: g" J" v' t8 l% L
buyers in during the bubble years.5 s. f6 W. s$ @5 C6 Z) a
9 I1 A9 X/ R) {: a* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
" {/ ^/ y" b" ?7 Y5 P: P }: Kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 2 D. J0 l) j( K3 A9 G; p
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but r) e6 L& A7 E: s5 n, z
he’ll close. |
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