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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
9 P( o5 ^3 h' h1 Y! z9 d5 G, Q- f6 dfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
) ^7 M! s( {, W2 u! hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) E: C8 y) K$ g0 ~) S# w% Q S
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! h5 s# i U1 T5 b& Pbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 ^" E6 t3 S: Y! n4 S
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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
9 \& j1 Y1 G2 |$ i2 u3 Wyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) q0 r5 W3 z3 f" E2 fand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)! f) q9 C4 x3 T# G% G1 b
3 `* _" h" t; r4 V4 _, Y* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
9 a! d7 Y$ N% |; p( }: G/ S1 Tproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; z9 K" `# J6 ?! ~seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
" o/ L. k9 X* {- p# z2 Y, kget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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h; Z6 g9 v8 B i% B- ^ m$ u: O* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 m0 \- o+ ]+ U
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not . f3 {( s# `' z! I* |
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: Y$ O7 h2 q0 S8 S; khaving a powerful psychological impact.
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2 O0 J- P# [6 t K+ ~, y* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 F" n: Y! h3 G: ] |# E: R
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # c" s7 b( I6 x# z9 @5 E
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" b) C$ T3 L* Wthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! Y4 a8 g) p0 X4 n$ anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; X2 ^0 _0 X; f4 p4 e- H
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.8 L" ^' t5 f( n- j* m* b
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
R" J; j# M" [0 bproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 Y* E: {; Z) r4 j/ i* o! ]that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 3 _/ I( i/ J& ]
price.. K* w1 h# o4 f2 B
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
) ]& S7 a1 s# Y9 Y) ]9 Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + r9 }8 j0 R% x# f5 H( t. d
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ c. C$ I: `. z% g5 owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 H/ R$ J2 Z* E8 |* k3 _, ~3 v' P# m# Ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 6 x3 `" L8 q Q7 [2 q9 p
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
+ [: Z/ I: j6 p& x8 v; Y8 ^3 A+ TSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
# c5 A) z' L) c% Adie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ a v1 B. M: N# R
! S) Z1 k! e2 W( K/ S. m+ M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 5 _6 X8 M2 i+ Z5 y: J
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 M8 t7 [5 E0 J0 {5 [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 K1 y8 R7 [" w% p5 d- w, W& \) I
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 N% V' Y2 F0 v4 h
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
8 K+ B. Y; @) g' Z% f% rbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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! r1 ]; x6 m- y; F- l8 _0 K0 w* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ( v$ z# u% G7 J: {. P& [
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! d- m* x# r3 o4 F' F9 E8 c( d
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
0 f3 o2 t, G. Eto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! |* S! I) k9 p5 y% X+ v5 T
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed r D$ [7 e9 E
buyers in during the bubble years.$ ?7 C( @: b# J) P7 z8 z& L
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ N) z6 m. V/ B; Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * F# B4 I8 H0 p1 A) U/ l, }
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ P U! ]- M6 B; F- [$ v" @he’ll close. |
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