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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
% L- z' s$ h( {/ Z! R' O3 `falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the D. W1 J+ t/ E }, z9 Q. r
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 Q7 d- z. I4 t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ E1 c& q; ?( l/ `% C) Q2 Q
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 C8 K* d @% N
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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
" L) v/ c M2 t X6 O1 Y7 Q+ cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 6 ], K" G) f4 t
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* a" i$ } k2 {7 l. U9 S2 l/ a2 p5 U* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
% ]" z6 C; T. X+ u, _properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
: h# r2 [0 G" f% ]- O! oseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 k3 S. V/ Y+ g" b o" rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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5 ^, o( |; j2 k# ^0 T j! j x; I* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
( `4 q+ E& p/ Y% r H) ?: N6 Vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! g8 _0 m* w' `
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 p& x/ J$ z8 \ e
having a powerful psychological impact., }4 R! K" C* A b
- s+ M5 a+ ^3 T6 V: r* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
5 j% N- O! z9 E! o$ Ecompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - `( a9 i6 P/ Q3 x! D% o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 e; K, y0 M. M5 F7 Kthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ k$ E( Y/ A2 b+ o9 anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 v: u! V/ m9 Z6 R- {what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.! m* y6 X9 J1 o: e) s4 g* b6 M
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ' c" D, N6 N% \7 K$ x
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! O4 s/ x5 a: j* ]! ^' e8 Nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * h1 H1 c; J' i* Q5 G% M/ g
price." w2 t) `! a% Z' x6 ?. e; W. P2 l
5 f/ ~+ I. [0 o; b3 }$ }* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 9 i& n+ o& p1 ]( V
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 2 l P- @' `9 Q; m! ?0 F; s
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
4 M$ g; U( J- `+ f# H5 Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : P- N- D& s' r) v; q" z/ Z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 8 \; y) n+ ?- o5 m9 F5 Z
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. . x+ \) ~, t+ J$ e
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
8 H8 E( @! X4 S( edie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* g" A) h- X% d+ n
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; w6 X; N, [4 Q4 [! \; zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 0 \. E6 l- [( w* g9 u. N
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' N) ?& T4 F& o
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; p |5 ^6 b1 p* G* smore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 0 U$ g5 C& j% U7 {; d& ?
better chance you have of securing the best deal.; k( P) Q3 v4 j2 H
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
- r- h3 b( Q% ]' f9 g( a' D5 Vproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ' M- O5 b+ i0 s4 U- `& x0 l* Z" m F
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do % p2 g' I$ n+ G5 L& s% Q8 a9 ^* _6 {9 r
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 m# ?0 N+ T' O/ P, sconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, P% T& d+ A5 }3 P I m$ U& n6 C# Nbuyers in during the bubble years.
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4 U L1 L* n& U2 `; F# | r) @) j+ Z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / d. _. ~8 ^1 j8 f% V& s
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) R- y& G: ^( e
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ w6 \8 c& ^: |2 Bhe’ll close. |
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