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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ |! o" w d) T1 g# s/ Wfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% x5 f1 a" o- g7 Rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + K5 B/ S4 Z- r& r: [) F* V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; w. c* u9 \- W- {3 cbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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% b- v0 y# _ z' y1 USo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if F" ?) i& b# q% m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 G" ?* G2 i! l( Q# y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) V% D5 `1 J+ v5 B: I
8 K( D% l" s" s# k" m* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 9 o4 Y6 H5 G& D" M
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! a ^; f Q6 V! M) ~
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : @8 v5 S) H( y, d9 D
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.9 O- S, R1 e$ b1 g( _# p3 O3 v
" M: Q9 v" z) E* [. @5 B* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on $ v1 z$ H9 H3 h q& L' K" m
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
" }) b8 j, O1 x; [* e- Ocashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
+ E" `5 P( C- [having a powerful psychological impact.& t ?' u( b/ l$ m
: ~) y3 @& k* Q# a4 A' J* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
Z! L) E! q& p0 q. Z( d+ Ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
& u& @: _9 h1 N- x1 s1 l$ @# L, dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) s' b) ?% B1 S: m( Z9 r& O$ O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
$ }, D2 }+ e3 W+ o8 B, t. ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ j+ N/ _8 r3 o' i. rwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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, G' Q( V' Z( J1 ]/ ^% k i* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
7 o% ^5 g' J1 Jproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 1 F4 D+ u/ ^6 P3 o) ]0 s. H2 r( {
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 J0 A8 J( J' ^& }' Q Uprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* b( i; x0 t {# O) Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# C1 V8 W8 S' m6 Y: Z0 Sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 p; r; {: f9 m/ a R- b$ W
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 r [3 z$ r6 v4 |3 r
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 i1 k2 }( l+ {% m+ N3 dthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' l: |8 ~( E P9 YSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. H) Z) I8 o7 A e: y; Q) L- ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.. V5 P7 g9 b: b* k/ j6 H
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
7 N1 f# v( E4 \$ V3 Uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ P! n3 V1 w1 h+ v! c9 n
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( f; Y+ r# m; z# ?3 j) m5 o% a! s
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
/ G# p: o( i, R; pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
% j# X0 ]9 \. N" I/ I( z& j& ?better chance you have of securing the best deal.. v; h9 T' @" U5 O5 x7 ~# V
# I+ J. T5 I& [: m/ [- ^* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& z7 l9 ^; i: z# ^/ v ~( e }properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ) ~& d( i9 Y% k
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 W6 o4 K. ^0 l1 v8 r; h& Fto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
3 M' j* C# j* o6 N* H$ f% D/ qconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : o; `- ?: n; |+ D
buyers in during the bubble years., f. D: F$ k( q: Q" k2 u( ~( R7 P3 k
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 3 \" v* `& r) w: F
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you & c% H5 ?2 [* ]0 Y' @
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 {8 H0 u9 f5 Qhe’ll close. |
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