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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
" v9 b: H3 x3 }# F/ y5 N hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
: I. U$ J# }: Bbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 _0 L; _( X9 ~& q- M
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ( \( Y' o% k; F, J* F, P/ a
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 |) Y* x8 l8 Y# p
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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 9 H+ Z$ ?; ?! `* f: [/ u
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this & c9 ?: M" i: u, r
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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6 e$ K" W6 P, s& y* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
- @2 h" E' c- K2 a! C4 j: xproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 2 O" H/ W0 [- ~+ E. ~
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 b5 {4 Y" ~0 Eget 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
9 u: I8 m8 Z6 v6 c3 u7 Tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 Y! W$ k2 E d+ t/ f
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 7 A0 w7 C& e1 z) H, R$ O" N: a
having a powerful psychological impact.9 c! y1 h2 T7 X+ N( L
0 X: ?$ ]( ]9 y$ i+ |* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( r3 O6 V2 p& ]# zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. Q7 q, P3 [/ d$ Lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # L7 o% G4 d7 a3 \6 J
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 L, D" U0 ^. W, G5 S/ K! ?never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
4 _( \* s) [- e8 i# e3 J3 Jwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' `/ K {! @* s) i
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another / g! x7 g6 v! O3 O& \# Y- [
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 u7 n/ H1 n- h7 f% t
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that - @0 e! H3 S4 ]+ V
price./ ?0 {. j- J6 M6 D3 J* f Q
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ! q Y* S f6 K# B
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! o# p0 ?' v% d' Y9 ? e% pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
- Q+ M5 i0 j$ a) s. i! x% E4 |5 [# mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
2 q% v5 z+ v( s: ihave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * ?7 F. F! c0 F; L+ o3 m) s
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 h8 \$ J; `- HSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ! `( {, X6 Z9 G8 b7 ^6 P+ Q$ l
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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% |/ E' n' H8 r3 Q% f* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + s/ n( M/ H; N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
4 N$ {# B5 r5 L t, Aprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into . R! m6 v' T" |' a* f. B, G7 x& L U
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : {2 _. [: \5 m2 f1 r
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , p- t* S5 L8 ^, T. B
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ B! Z. _0 a$ x7 G; {5 l
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 2 E1 k1 k+ c& x& z7 K, X
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 s; H+ ^3 F' r9 `; C. ~# g) G4 ^) m1 E
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 R8 T h4 {/ ]; F \" L
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just + A4 D) b# Z% P) W4 B( ~- m. x
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( d ?. W8 J& d, O3 R, o
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, u8 Y' w5 V& j& F: Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you / I7 g. u+ S( F& a, [
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / x5 y0 }0 r, I* S
he’ll close. |
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