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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
3 \8 Q4 D3 R1 L0 Q) j/ efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ c% L' W6 F! P& i$ A/ t7 C# y# Gbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
" g! u' K5 X/ Pthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 1 Y3 A" b9 _& f2 n
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ ?8 A/ |1 E5 U% J( Z9 H
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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
% R2 I' Q* q, T: A! j2 O+ tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
/ G! b' H U% Q% Band stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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' K. Y E# s: J1 x2 `* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many # q+ U8 ?+ d. {- R0 H/ d8 U( C/ t
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' z9 c+ i- {! v+ Zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 K" B9 v4 N; l* s- Eget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! B1 h0 i$ P( p3 w) T; u2 Z4 p( W: \
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on / Q9 F+ |- b i; s8 T& b
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( ?( g2 A6 ?7 l. Mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while + m+ W3 F1 P" {6 d3 S. @$ V
having a powerful psychological impact.# `; e3 L5 G, i2 S4 c# v
6 |& F5 t$ `. D1 t Q* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 p5 \& i; C" p1 d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 4 f9 L2 X) g t2 F/ I" u8 j
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ( `+ S4 o g8 S& P1 E
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
& {5 u( d# P# k$ znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
3 ^. |4 l0 A N4 ?6 O9 j4 Lwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.$ p5 o: T( B5 U/ s) [
2 [# W: ^4 Q6 q! s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 {0 I! g6 |7 |5 R( V; W* e
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* m8 a0 v# ]% h& n/ Othat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
# ?2 E6 T( x! k* ^1 }price.+ ^0 }( v' j) }# q
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: a8 z3 w* k5 R% w, \9 G+ Mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( @! ]! }/ b# _expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + J# I& x- {3 B9 D: }" O; T' [2 P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ b$ ]! ?* R/ R3 H, h) ?4 K2 ^have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 } ^; L* ?/ F" M) V. q: T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. o( |6 m k6 g* y
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % n$ ]8 m8 Y5 h i: _# g) Y
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.4 ]1 r/ m$ i' |: Y( l, h9 c
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have , D, }# D X$ C$ D, `6 j& I X
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' f0 n7 Y) {3 K+ _" s9 pprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & Q; L# @( ^7 }# w7 W6 J$ _
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 9 M! T% H1 a- T' F
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ( `+ c0 ?# L5 p$ r
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- ~& M: a/ P6 ?. W* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& D4 O8 \- G( Y, |0 g: hproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 9 J: w0 q8 d$ Q
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) b6 X' b6 j9 p- e7 Mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ J$ N1 a4 X! T. N" L( U. Jconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ o6 t# g* y {3 Z, {
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 5 C& T, }, Q' K" u
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you / \" T+ [9 P5 k" Y; @% Z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but , P6 I; [ m; g: S; l$ i) I5 t1 }5 q
he’ll close. |
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