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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a + }- y8 a1 r% z; T
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
# a6 a7 ^8 L. V# u! x2 ^2 W; T$ g( nbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ; Q# M$ n) s* d$ _6 O
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , V4 j6 z# G+ [; D+ h
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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6 u# s# n5 ?( lSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ) b$ U& a$ p$ h/ W
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) d7 a1 d' v+ V: q' Pand 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
~9 b1 h7 [2 v& a( K3 Sproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 1 `$ h1 h& N \; Z+ q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! ]8 P/ ~# }! a2 N2 C. u3 T. W
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.7 q/ a# u- m: w# l
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 H) l# o& s0 q" h) y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. S; H) J( W( ]! m& w6 Zcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- W1 Z; ~( g- {* u3 I! shaving a powerful psychological impact.
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# m5 P$ p* z0 O* v, \2 V' Y; s1 ?* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is + a7 ?. m7 s# Z% U
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
+ Y$ m% H% r2 J9 I& i, q3 z( Lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 0 u/ x9 c F0 c* O1 Q9 M
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" w# P! I) g/ S' @( Z8 v+ \) ~never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get . Q* [. Q3 k: i, M* s8 |7 c, ]
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.. G# U4 ~ w& ?- I* Z. \; E! T
# K, p! i6 j9 V3 \' R" L7 E- R+ b* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
+ Z: \; } \0 J; f' z+ lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know + {/ @) Z4 q7 v0 [9 Q; A3 ~* u+ s
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
. i b* p; V8 v. X. dprice.! w1 a; w5 ?0 q6 V
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five + c, M: Z/ j! X: x- {& b- l
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 b* w" ]% ?1 `
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 A- M5 M" f/ Y- x# p$ V/ N7 bwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 9 T$ j6 T1 y$ R1 f
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
4 r' h1 A6 }" m' Bthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 i$ I! @6 J1 Q @) p
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) \( ^, m3 }% @% l# idie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.; {& {& H. }) S/ \
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 2 z; ~5 {/ K# v( t
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the / u# [' A" y2 j# u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
" }8 V; [' p& ~0 B/ B( Vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' }% \/ l$ N# |
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 |6 _6 h, M! t; U
better chance you have of securing the best deal.1 C( }5 W" `. V, O
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& [; o5 u8 K: v/ o2 Vproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
9 O! C& }* R& A9 b7 q4 Hwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 f* B9 j3 r1 y6 U# Y
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
$ W* {9 F S( }$ qconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' j+ U; L1 P1 [: U1 f* s1 Cbuyers in during the bubble years.
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- c' s4 c; ^/ h" a9 d8 E* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
6 Z ^6 }' p! D$ `4 s udie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
& |( N9 l! l: ?/ Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! C( k& A/ X9 O8 H( Yhe’ll close. |
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