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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 3 O) e! Y/ o. V) R
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
|" D: J3 i) \" k/ wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 U& E+ v: ^8 `0 t0 M/ K
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and * ^! G P. a! v+ L# j+ a6 m0 _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 b9 }! [( _) y, D9 f
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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
! F; y0 [- K0 ?( E$ U. @you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
# V! G; f$ s! J; }! z- u( l, a7 Iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)5 I0 n8 Y7 X F8 u, W4 B; P- \
/ b/ c4 h' h( @$ n j' J* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) ^7 C; g! _3 C
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' D8 B, K" w% D+ {* U9 j8 L2 dseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : c6 g4 v) @- k6 m' o0 ^
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- C. e, V6 i% a4 J. i
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( w' m8 D& v; j# Z( r# ~- n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
% h) _% D+ q3 B: t) vcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % d& J3 O6 ^, ]# F5 I
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is $ {# S- K/ D' ?9 o( ~) Q" k" t5 G
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 1 [) g7 Y9 k$ Q- ^! b* L/ @6 B) W
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ C6 C7 Y" q6 ~6 Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, b, B5 ]# N5 o% t8 U5 Inever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 f0 D/ Y' h6 Zwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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2 E7 g0 e5 D* U* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another + T: J7 X# k) a! C/ }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; _) u7 w* u) K! t" b1 w
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 _* G9 C& i0 P4 m& Tbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 B) q/ u" |+ D g2 k$ M: [expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
) |! X+ c, X) m; ?- J$ cwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 5 L. ~% a L" F* m- ~4 v
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . }* u3 Z+ i2 [- r8 g; @ N2 Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. * c! a! C$ q' G( T5 P4 \: Q7 Q
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 M9 F5 e( |% E- Wdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have & E: o; b, k4 F! G- h
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * Q. F+ Z, E1 e `( q% i: g
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
* o/ ~4 x6 _" c' H1 ~9 Q+ uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The , x7 i0 K1 |# d p
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 L' v$ ], `6 }9 ? ` ]better chance you have of securing the best deal.3 e) l- W) C" W9 w# L; @, _; o
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * ~" r; r$ q- i4 V, D/ l3 q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' i! ~# x n+ v* Swill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ; B9 f( ], n5 {" d0 z+ Q8 c
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% t9 X g# q& j9 T- s5 _consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) n5 @: w+ b: u6 q6 Y5 w _( D
buyers in during the bubble years.: j- Y: a5 H9 V0 `# y
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) ~* K/ ?& p8 F5 L4 K) n3 ^+ Zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# n& x0 L# E5 P, A3 v' ~) kwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but " B1 @# V9 y) b
he’ll close. |
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