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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
1 s r, G# X3 cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
, D( `# `8 x- X- }4 v9 a; G) Bbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all / _5 u2 v/ J9 `# Y7 J) H& c
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and / }& { O5 J$ Q$ r! M/ X2 g" A, D
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.: l3 e" i8 z: u/ `6 s0 w
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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
1 E8 X9 U6 {7 R+ [+ ?% ?$ D5 Fyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
/ ~, m9 U. U% s2 \and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)0 c* J( b* q* J( M# n' d5 F: X+ ^
G' T5 o1 }# _: B/ R) r* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many F' V+ s f& T$ J) h+ L% O
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( A' _& W: H2 V& {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
# L: x% @4 e7 \" s( T" gget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. w X8 V' y$ g4 a
8 N7 v) t* \% N8 `* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : h: \5 G5 e" d
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( P; y4 m4 H) Z0 c1 @( V, i. ^cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
' A! F3 o! V1 x( P% Mhaving a powerful psychological impact.. M; L8 J5 J( J; g6 y% G
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) Y9 z* Y( x3 W* Q, Ocompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ) e4 J4 N) \& N8 `
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % @# b/ {& y8 ]# B
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 7 m) C1 ]7 i% ], y- y' d/ F0 c
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ' X0 l) }& C5 m8 @" A
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; D4 D5 }) r5 m- q$ _% r" R
; F; ]* Z5 `# }1 |$ M* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - `* X+ A4 H9 W- n- X
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know , C% I4 M0 z1 h V" C$ g1 K* Q* u0 O
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
6 f% b' ~0 M; i, Oprice.6 u0 C# J4 S/ K# g$ u
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ! E! g' r% |# b" w) c+ n3 ~) b
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
$ A& c+ T- ^/ v$ l& g0 aexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 4 {; g8 s/ q6 g
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you # D- z% Y8 d) q6 g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . [+ w$ n5 s+ n8 Y- `+ o
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 U3 V0 g: q# X& |4 BSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ( C$ ?3 K7 C. G9 a; Q" n
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 q- H! i$ A# y' f0 p
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
# R5 I' J: d' R- w+ Z& oyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
* g# s1 |9 i. o o( Hprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 s5 @& \0 x4 j" {6 r: y% iyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" n, J* T% C1 J* V! U! u0 mmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the + t# ?: A5 Q1 C- u R1 N
better chance you have of securing the best deal., s9 m% t, ~! P. N9 B
1 }' q2 r2 L' p8 y- A+ S2 Q! G* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing + T+ N8 m+ `2 \7 W1 M* c
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 9 s9 P' d. d- {, u
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 f9 U6 x, M! [9 o N) y) Rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; Y/ _1 w5 T/ b ?: G' a3 I, @; zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed z1 ^) F9 i9 x' b. k
buyers in during the bubble years.0 r+ B* K/ d( g e: ]' q( j
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it + W) f9 S: n2 u% D4 p# D9 V! Z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: Y u4 _0 [0 k: a9 ^/ e+ G& e2 xwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& [) Z. u8 a# `he’ll close. |
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