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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ B/ G" {* Y$ q* ufalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! I; K, P- e9 G& s* {7 O
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all E: ]" i+ t3 X6 Q1 d
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
7 U; }; r, U1 Q" ]0 B+ ^6 fbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.3 V, r L" l/ e( k7 ]
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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
6 g8 ]" H+ Q9 lyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% P; d; [8 m0 q2 mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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9 v6 U* y5 O* W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many / m6 t O# a7 I! R# D1 B
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% O! Y1 `+ r% b8 H9 W: W5 {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 |: T: t$ U2 C) z) j
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
& T( }) C# g- y: e/ Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 D; C+ S9 H, N7 B% N0 S) hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# F) k2 K0 Y. \# v" _having a powerful psychological impact.5 U3 p) y r8 a8 b7 @$ L% t! b8 E0 n
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
d% D; ]# I9 Hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
8 s6 `/ j' P: |2 y2 qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) m+ g1 M; @" R' T4 ?
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
- T3 k# U3 c5 B/ }. } u0 @never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , x8 d. @, q* X+ @# V* C
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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! |4 P% F5 Z) h6 G8 |$ ]2 o. U) {* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, D7 u6 ^1 [0 j0 Aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( g! q8 S$ s1 z; f7 W5 Z1 F
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 I. C7 d% ?' O6 r$ e& ]: hprice.% m I- {9 q* c5 g7 ]1 i9 S9 L
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: l' t/ r8 A3 ~4 sbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; P, t8 l2 d* W) ]expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 U- }' b/ r3 h$ d+ ^- P- owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , k( }5 {1 ]& `
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
# w% A( z1 S% x. v( t( Othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. + P# n! h4 Q) e: [% j N( H
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 9 [) i' J1 n! ^5 ^1 a
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' n8 n+ V, L- i3 ^2 x5 T+ Q
1 l& w$ {" u3 Y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ; I/ S0 h' {0 e3 v) K
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
7 R; l; R+ V$ {3 x( ]# o, z2 mprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ B$ D6 Z6 S( l9 Ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
6 K1 y5 J, q7 Y8 ~7 t: f( Nmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 ?" ]2 `' l8 c, g! {
better chance you have of securing the best deal.0 w4 G( M9 Y; d* a+ s* V
: `. T+ G6 \! v* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 0 T! z$ n2 ?: x- R" u! V0 z
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
: t. J3 G2 |2 Y! m, P+ B2 ]* bwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
1 W8 q4 c6 s! z* [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 a0 R( l, u0 C) }. P8 vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 B, f5 U1 ~) o' o
buyers in during the bubble years.8 `8 B# v% d0 {7 f# @$ r! R& ~ b
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ! k! @- a+ G& q$ X
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' W/ j* a2 S+ ^$ W, Y O1 E
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ ?$ i4 {. z& b% ?# w" p, q; Y; ehe’ll close. |
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