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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
0 X5 l( }7 x; @falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
l. {3 i- S- z! H* Pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " I$ I) G2 u: k9 Q8 q) Z/ x
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" |* M0 A. Z- gbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ \" n2 D( v: e! B# t$ ?
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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
( I7 L- h0 U" s$ L% gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 2 u1 K8 e. j# }4 ~
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
( O r4 g$ i" dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 C& q3 U& H' k* y/ Bseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 m' F- G9 x2 G5 g. t
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ c9 x* ?: a. f% ~9 y# j0 g3 q# J2 D
7 P( O$ M( Y1 \* X7 j( C! A8 e* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" a. |1 H; Y- ?- j6 A+ Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
$ r( [" j+ |$ M% I1 D- qcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while $ i# Q! t, B5 J# C) P% T
having a powerful psychological impact.- o! f" b3 }6 B1 U) m
4 ^ r9 I& ~/ k5 {$ `* G) B- ~* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) ~* [7 C$ H2 k7 v: f5 Z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " q% B7 S+ X% `1 d+ A6 [
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) k. t. W& R' ]8 Q7 I8 @
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 V# |" m) X. v6 |# k) |never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get . S( z1 d% `+ m, l
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
5 b" `4 K( H' Nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know " n* X* A, G) X/ r- V% ?
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that # \: C) s2 U; l+ z2 S
price.0 s9 z- K( g& T- M) j, e
3 R0 G; t- u+ Q) V+ r) \) L1 d* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 n( I: u( v+ |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s * W' w/ }9 {" A
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % t0 ?( S3 B6 u0 d4 b ~! a/ c
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 7 p( s% M7 H! `! Z% ~
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 B! b$ h7 t* ?& t n' \* i
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& b% G1 g3 t. M. o) }Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- L# f) U, D \die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.9 w7 t5 J+ L% M1 w
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
$ w* k; F5 Z5 i3 j0 Yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 i+ t. O& {$ s9 T" Q B" c- V2 f+ W4 i4 @price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ^, X' w b Q& C- W) ^# d
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
' Z3 K+ I6 g7 l; j1 Rmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " l: v( O& D$ e
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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" \( J& o$ Q' S. ^3 Z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
* K/ w- `/ }% fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
1 [1 S2 h9 ?, t' C9 j. o2 }will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 i2 d) l# G0 S+ }to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 L8 ]+ Q! ] \5 ?$ e
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : @- o4 ]$ Y$ f1 g+ T/ ?3 F
buyers in during the bubble years.) C2 q8 B. `& A$ u& z4 V3 H- X2 ]$ f
+ h5 r0 K# \5 ~7 r7 ~* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
- p" b, D! E* Q6 W1 d7 \die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
2 z- H8 {3 L* dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- _+ i" T! z5 Q: v7 p) Ahe’ll close. |
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