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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
- F3 ?( g% v+ g1 | H n3 Gfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 g$ C' @% T' m: ?- Z6 \# d( pbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; j2 B1 H) ]" \/ ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, I* q2 F6 b, Z# m; u& \begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
8 V }5 p/ `* e0 q4 k6 [you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % `7 g1 {( F5 I5 @3 V
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)( a Q# L* G% F
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
8 N' h5 y+ V1 l5 P( r. a5 w7 ^, ?properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 P# P" q& |& F5 ^# v# Y; G2 Nseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 k, F' \4 z& e3 x4 k
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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' G; e( z" U% _! X& j: m* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 6 {# E. T$ k' l2 @
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; m3 T+ P# q2 T$ e2 u8 E6 d
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while . ^8 d# q7 ]; M! b4 \! `7 B$ M
having a powerful psychological impact.* F" W; s8 V. [+ \' t& A
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . a6 ?( S+ S$ L3 p
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in : P# m! o ]$ M9 Y8 U
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 1 s1 g, H4 A/ C: x, |. g( _! s
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you . K( ]. k, _9 O5 V' S3 L9 p i
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 d- J& u# V# J( o* ?" iwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.+ u% u, d2 \* `6 d: f' z0 r* T7 G8 n
: R. n- s* G9 F- I$ f* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 Q4 m) c1 ?4 O, z% O- j
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % e3 N) t$ I1 ~7 h0 q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . d% ]% I4 U) q' l) x
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 p: s4 j D a" d2 I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s $ K* v# T; z @$ }: p8 P8 D
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of - h3 Y7 R" b$ x1 ?' m6 E, F' r
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' {9 v# \! `' y0 Q6 }2 @7 D( H) B
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
! ?9 U) M( e1 e$ Othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
7 S* `/ J3 ^) t- u7 gSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 B% g9 Q. ]7 D+ J3 l B4 }
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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+ z/ L& n9 s: j' M5 M' u$ d% f* l8 `& D* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 5 k q" h6 m7 Q+ F9 w+ q9 ^4 b
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + X" |- }1 A1 i7 Q7 f: {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into : Q, f, ]7 u+ ]: c! B6 G* M
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ( O7 A0 M$ u8 J1 T8 @/ e
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
8 Q% F9 V4 W$ U) m' _better chance you have of securing the best deal.' {1 `/ ]: l3 o3 k) e8 H9 O r7 I
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
[' Z( D9 _8 _0 Z8 o) m% Wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 A/ y( x# v6 ~3 E% q' S# ^will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 f3 e& M9 Q0 S) Dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , [2 w4 N5 A: _- X
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 |& T8 u5 q8 H# _) _
buyers in during the bubble years.. H) s7 G, j z) |" i: N) M* O
# e) \! y% B8 O' r& t! d" k. E* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
9 `8 M" K/ g8 {8 \4 D* N& l0 Zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
0 O* `+ V8 Z5 S( C+ y) K' Kwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but + L$ \$ v; U( V1 _" V3 A
he’ll close. |
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