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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
! m9 h$ c. D( E8 l$ ~falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! A1 v: B, C) h
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ n2 x d( I+ ^' Y* _4 g- Ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 [) J! w2 A1 F; V" q; R; U
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
. S5 M% j) h3 C& s: l2 A9 Ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this & @2 A% O! r0 t- @/ I
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 3 [* k2 L: Y6 e. U7 Z0 w
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken n2 c/ y0 X% D, e; S4 B1 w* `! x" L
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
* v8 p& r" ^1 eget 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 8 H) [; h; d7 _, ]! Q
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; W1 i" n9 M$ G; _6 a3 n* rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% v' @" j, e7 `: z" w7 t2 ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# e; m; {+ p' f3 ~completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; N, @* k7 G8 `+ U
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % d0 |5 ?7 W. K! [7 w
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( c" I* F$ I3 i8 mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 V' X- x8 X4 q# O! i4 o. X& Swhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 Y; n/ v* \- z" X
& i: c# Q% l) X. @* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ) w% Q1 n3 @8 {4 F
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( ?% Z, f) E1 f0 S
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 I1 v; m' S4 ?, ]4 k% {
price.: D- m7 z. N$ c+ {! a3 x* T2 M
9 z& [7 h3 ~+ B* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
. Q9 z) w9 u8 F: u2 Abusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 L z4 ]+ c' f) n3 Z1 L" Yexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ( z0 D7 [6 O5 O/ p
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you " x" c! F( D& k6 G8 v, A( r
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ g# Y+ @6 f8 Dthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. $ F# P* U2 d3 S
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 {2 ^: ^& p" M* m# I+ r; R
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.) \5 V0 a2 P/ }* n" u S% q8 T/ {1 f
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
! ?; u9 X+ @) T" Z, y3 Byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 0 \& ]3 w8 G p: k( _' W& A, o
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into * ~ R4 W" N5 ~% d, n
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* d+ y3 p4 p0 i& G! B1 |more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : E* t h6 Z9 s
better chance you have of securing the best deal. G* v% l& ]. b9 o( j3 }
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! P3 p+ H: P1 j3 E/ y2 a. ^& N) E# ^
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
* X( ~: c D2 C/ H+ z+ Ywill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 d) C8 h8 C! a0 V& Cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* F3 K6 s* \+ K( b/ q4 a1 }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 v4 R. j4 t \0 jbuyers 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
; ^0 A+ y1 X+ g2 A, P% @5 Vdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" x' s0 C( @3 v: c- ^+ ]/ Ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! s9 j0 y( i% {- ]7 b1 @ }he’ll close. |
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