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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
7 h, L7 {* r0 M8 o' ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( i( I! O7 M& I T
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
0 V" J# G/ _/ R9 I5 {5 n4 M. a$ Ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' l% i! u: @" o3 W# 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 1 d* V; {- [. Q% A# r; ^
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, h& ]* z/ [: X6 P) h2 A; hand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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9 C# h3 U( u/ g& n* M/ D1 g: X; x* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
% L3 s- U( B: X0 Q. E! Oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( l6 P# M) Z* b2 gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 V2 |6 X7 C& `) Q( N% f1 y% sget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. X7 T* v; h; g8 X N7 F7 [( q
# r7 i& N8 O* b) x; E4 o* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& Q& h1 i8 G! ~, S, c6 [6 @1 Pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " G( U& E7 {* b: I
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 R. i/ p9 z+ k6 N
having a powerful psychological impact.* w- i/ Z' V7 U r0 s6 ?5 f* `! a, ^2 R
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! C8 r& B- c+ T9 [1 U7 a- }
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 7 Q* h2 m' G) [8 ^
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
- S9 f/ N8 W. E; ]the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % j. ~$ T6 S/ ]) R. I, V& Y3 \8 {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( p# [ t' C: `5 {, U' ]; Iwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# c4 J) Q8 B* T6 B8 i8 p+ i8 G( @
7 R1 `7 }& t7 P* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 6 C- I/ T! R, {" X$ H
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 o1 m) x+ s. Q: {' s
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , U. c1 S7 T* i1 K
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: e9 P; x& |/ N2 l2 k3 k0 t& W5 [business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
1 r7 l2 |* ^: bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 i" }- z: M' \* q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 F% ^* L" W; B0 \' I k5 O
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ y& o x5 ~$ Q" w# j8 Dthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 _3 V x# D% V' a3 C4 WSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* X, |: _: i& b5 Edie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture., ^+ H& C% I/ C6 F" z4 |7 ?
& s% H3 M: w) V2 S. }- p* l* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 z- x: B! h& P: _
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
+ [9 w4 K3 J' S. b8 o1 b2 [/ ?price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( q# C( d" h( g! ~4 C2 C# nyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; z3 Y& D: M6 \& z5 v3 Vmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 X! @3 P8 D* P6 S
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 0 Q" M1 ~5 T, k* @) t
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, V# Z' H$ E, {! _/ T$ fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 G+ x+ q8 m5 P; ~3 [% t
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
1 F; D; s, `' w" n X. J* u3 Rconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed " m: l( x+ W' O( s1 T/ B: v0 L' A
buyers in during the bubble years.
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. m. R! Y: Y! W- N, v, M* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it - E$ n2 @+ _% F0 F( ~
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you & |# P0 N3 F% b( Q
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ l" I* f6 T7 N' M- r& d# a9 Zhe’ll close. |
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