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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % z5 y% K) {0 w- B4 H3 H- V
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ v) U K( A( J' [& N6 ?bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 x* J, [" w% H8 Uthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
{- d9 n& a A: `begging for mercy. That’s the fun part." i' Y! }9 H/ M
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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
# n' P3 m8 L6 e( T' B8 a- Fyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : b/ j% ?. s$ R' O3 {
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* h [1 L7 S% X/ u I5 k
% S4 _# W3 [0 u* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 B* s* R& ~; U o6 u% q% Y1 `properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # ?5 S: o* Z; c) G
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 f @) E6 m, e, N/ a
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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" |0 l& A; X1 @% `* K* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # }( l& g% v% E6 g9 q( u
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + n- l8 E" N; W* t. p3 P- i5 O9 E
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- ? B$ w& P3 ohaving a powerful psychological impact.( _3 u; J8 O0 ]' e
; P& @' o# R, S- h F5 E! ]* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 V+ j5 `; z. W1 \# gcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* O/ w2 i$ Y7 Q9 o* t8 G9 V- Gorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
6 U0 h4 ]% g' u' |3 }the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ! I$ O: q/ B6 v* d
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 b* F* S: N1 q+ j, V: ]7 c6 B% ~what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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% S) S, f9 ~ i9 J: s# c/ p) G* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
7 ?4 E6 C" j$ w; J+ h1 `5 `9 s E# bproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 x- h# o: \5 q+ M- ?that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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3 Z* r/ d5 O3 t! p8 }* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five " a9 w9 W; O1 W- `3 ~
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
1 ]' E; n! D4 @9 V4 T: vexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # G7 D! B& ]* O
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you # ]. y; _ ^, D* H
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
- b3 q! [/ ~0 O/ Y: p( {! J0 gthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 D+ q; l {# ]5 I( \5 V2 i% w' x/ vSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will + K9 V! ^8 z5 ?- N- m( O$ `
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 {+ \& x5 |& I9 j
# k0 i3 H4 f; g* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
: t1 u- Y1 [, {; U4 v1 Yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 2 }& C; R8 I4 u3 e
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. R+ h6 C- N8 |5 u5 ~: u8 syour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' ~4 A8 C7 s: z7 }. |3 N1 {& f2 P
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , N3 D7 S' l0 \; O8 B$ a
better chance you have of securing the best deal.0 [2 s3 c* Q/ d) }1 e+ w+ Q$ {; n
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing : R% e. V2 F( t9 J( H
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
$ B, ^( g% B) V% ^/ Nwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
' v" a3 F& e, _ J4 X# |& h( R4 h4 I4 rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. u4 R6 B, R' M; }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, F3 m% w7 z2 O) @buyers in during the bubble years.
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# l( h& \7 j+ i# E. c2 m: L5 l* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) x* `+ C' a c6 t2 Odie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
. |& Q- J4 y- `* Z9 Dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 s' C4 G( p3 B% r8 o
he’ll close. |
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