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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
4 K$ x/ Q: o, v" T5 \falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 r; \3 M& k( P/ H( w4 K9 `) t; X/ {* Qbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' g3 S* A+ B. p2 a* `9 d- D( N$ Wthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, a$ ~6 h5 `- m! ^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
( @2 }) B% y% L" gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' u# M, E1 n4 V6 Iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)/ W4 L/ i" }8 R: v
( a) v0 r+ ^6 s: r* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) c$ l$ @6 {! ]6 `$ X6 F- U8 e5 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ) P, F- @1 @+ A9 V+ V* M3 Q# Z9 }
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you / l0 ?/ F6 h2 x3 A% C
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with./ R3 J U$ N4 \2 h
) {. ^0 n4 v3 { Y" O7 a6 Z* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 ]. m8 w; t7 X. [- J! qthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # I2 c3 R; k1 Z" D$ F5 K# b
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 0 I L3 J @5 ~9 y* K6 p6 V
having a powerful psychological impact.; e% x6 o1 C8 Q8 O; p$ u: D! M- d& ^4 V
9 y& q! D+ T# D$ U8 D* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 5 E+ o/ ~8 D' q8 C2 o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ N4 D4 o& j, v6 Border to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! r2 A; a6 H3 Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 b1 L$ C' ` c' W) C: E0 onever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : T! o) K4 P% y% \) x9 F8 Q
what 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 $ a/ P1 k: W2 y. J, Q
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
+ ~7 [8 E9 {6 r2 g1 W3 O- L; Lthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : L x% [% T& |8 u' `# T+ q+ b9 N4 u
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five @- J# y8 S: v) j3 m6 U9 r5 O0 A( M
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: Q) X2 [( R# K8 Mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ Q% h' U6 a4 @% m) ?work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / j1 e- d, w' z# S a2 G6 \, u9 K6 M
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of / z. I: @9 G5 W3 Q7 S7 o% L
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 {6 G' E* r) fSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : I5 T8 U6 G" x
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 ; Z1 v$ w) O: I& q
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" a* g m# v6 U/ }; O% z% Oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into , j. o- p8 N$ `" U2 t% o& X
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& A( ~8 m- }! imore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ) O% c0 a+ i( O. H. L
better chance you have of securing the best deal.5 t7 A+ s4 }4 K- M2 h
; `* y; F% R6 A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ' p; f8 ?% |) [) z( Y! f2 O% x
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
$ \# d9 ]- i$ fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 f# I2 P' [, W& S! c; C+ Y
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 X2 g& [4 G+ s/ o8 v4 `
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) J2 P) b- A' L- p6 A3 u3 S
buyers in during the bubble years.1 V7 o0 y$ k6 K# n1 Q8 y
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& h% ?' ?/ |/ _0 x: w5 \, Idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 q2 }# \6 B- }5 j) l! `
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 D! @% v& }5 W% c$ j% i0 _6 bhe’ll close. |
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