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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
t; T O: c- S: x+ ^, X1 z9 w! I H# xfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 ?1 D' l% f8 y, D6 dbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
+ c) d8 Z5 f) P3 e# nthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
/ \8 {% z' Y& p9 q3 ?" Zbegging 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
5 }3 L8 E; x- M5 Vyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . ]# l/ h* U- h9 W% g1 g V
and 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 d- }! J# |% i3 g, c8 Q1 kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken X4 R/ ~# m) o# M) p2 |$ K
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you * M/ U& f! h/ j% D
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ l! l+ M! \, A$ Z. T
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
7 L/ f, k s, N! {; A7 l/ C% pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not , i% m& V T3 l: l: @, q0 a
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
J5 t6 I; [9 I% _" Chaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 8 A; d( C: r9 i' s
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # q& t s. `8 W* R! T* k) c2 }
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * F4 r2 Y {2 r: N, z
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( a/ {* z; f! V- ] N8 {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 ?0 E- Z2 G c9 ]what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.8 t* g" @% w1 L+ s( j
5 a5 n5 q8 X. E, M! H( a' s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another % J( g+ F% M' j" {
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 }; k" ?! T2 K( |
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , b& J1 w/ H9 x9 [+ q
price.3 W' W7 G- U5 _7 H4 D" _& Z6 c
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ Y6 v$ o9 N$ P; E, obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + K( q& S3 Z& j- Y4 y- I% w
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of & z z8 m1 o2 E' s5 b
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 o c! F9 k* e3 D2 \8 Rhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 J( q( p4 X- E, q q' h# x* _the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) w1 M( N# M1 K4 T& vSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ Y% s" t+ d0 d& i3 Y9 ]/ O1 E
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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8 J; Z. u1 C) @3 [- P3 S2 ~* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # g% w% I! G: p
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : H) @) I! @ x3 [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ! ~7 W8 f8 A: D
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ( M) l/ f) I4 t) m" S
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the $ O4 a9 W0 Z- @% s
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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1 c( }2 m6 q2 q; X6 B* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ }9 i0 O6 H1 K4 L& y$ F; Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , L3 W5 A% y" c( Q) E
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 M! z( O6 z$ f9 L
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% q# N, J( W. H3 G v+ \consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
: }6 c g& a/ w/ Ybuyers in during the bubble years. s* k( y2 v7 }6 r9 \% [
& P' [5 u1 R$ A( b# c2 r& ^* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; \, o+ i9 Q: H7 }' i5 }+ Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: I6 m2 c1 t7 e' C9 |2 K" ~) kwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ' L1 ? J, K% G/ Z+ T
he’ll close. |
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