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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
l4 @$ l9 d- q& Ufalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' Z" q1 t. O q6 _6 Pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all * x$ T0 K9 J+ o( T' d; E
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : z9 u9 a3 i6 B1 z5 n2 m- Q
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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2 w3 o/ j' n4 v# ~So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 0 o/ b0 k6 Y; s% ], I" ~3 @
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + T8 Z/ Z7 q3 U! ]8 t( ^) M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); [3 n: v( ^5 G2 O
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 L, G. W2 t8 \9 j# O
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 b& ?0 x1 a4 v+ M+ Bseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : r' j+ [) Z1 A$ m
get 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
i2 M- X6 \, r/ H6 Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % B% d6 n/ o* Q: k" C( T
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while : G6 C9 x( v" Y2 O$ W X
having a powerful psychological impact.) a. |5 s* s& o; j" g# R/ J8 c" C
. R1 v( H- t. T6 J* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
6 f* G% V( j M/ U6 a+ f: rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 s: ~& k8 [& a3 ]2 f, ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 ^, u4 |* }% v- [/ X* x
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 |6 J: E- F ]1 v2 i7 e$ Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 0 \5 r' U) f4 B* a9 N* b
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 _5 y( R( V2 O4 J8 q8 v- u; {" z/ q
2 j% ^. u5 G4 U4 o* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
- O: f" D" L3 h6 mproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
1 m+ N4 d. N! y- z% t5 Hthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 K; z/ c7 ?" cprice.+ S i0 ?! |4 Y( j
3 W+ v' I1 J2 O: G. K# ~* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
3 H" x2 U( y* }/ \/ z& Lbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s & g, a' ^- V+ M9 e
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of " }- S- v4 z* `: U0 `& y0 u2 z
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
3 U0 `* |4 m9 R- n+ j' Uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : p3 x2 u0 s# n8 _8 r7 q7 E
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. a" E# a6 Q0 tSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 i8 X1 B* P9 S ]
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 o: a& C; [8 D# N7 }1 G8 C
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 n; J7 b) a- m
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 Q% q% ?: J) ]0 P9 Y$ b# Wprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
! Y/ D( R! C. \# n! Myour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 ?/ I% h9 }, C: L" Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ( |$ P7 i9 ]7 k! W( R3 ]
better chance you have of securing the best deal.7 W& Z5 T( Q& f% R ?
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! M, v/ I- u: v0 e' K0 Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
- A# E K' h+ o& h$ x! J% x! u. h5 @9 Gwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) \5 w& V5 d- b# l% \0 v0 t0 V- Yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ g, F$ \4 Z3 b$ I( [/ H' f, L
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
9 `2 p" c+ g3 O$ C! Ybuyers in during the bubble years.
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1 M4 X9 O: O: s* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
' _! ^3 P; ?2 J5 A" K. Wdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # r) t* ]0 R# M; J
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 W; J& f5 z$ F! D5 z# C
he’ll close. |
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