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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
( h& R: \4 X- w, `falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + Y9 u' d r* b3 s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
: O! j2 j$ M3 X! Ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and o$ N/ Z& s6 e" E9 p
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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/ g( d; r/ V3 M5 D4 C" MSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
( Z$ P2 ?% t. x6 `0 F: u) l4 ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
+ V" ]" q1 j4 O; L- j6 Iand 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
* _: c- t5 H- h0 aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' D( y2 x) B/ P& Iseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 I' s3 T5 o' H+ z4 @8 P
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 Y9 a& M1 q2 E: V% e* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 3 n% i+ f; F6 I$ E2 E
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
" J W( U( l" Z$ m9 Q# b/ T6 N1 mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while % F M2 R2 n; S$ d o1 g9 X
having a powerful psychological impact.4 O2 F& Q( ~4 A) m' e ~
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. v# D+ R2 z: b2 r! t0 D/ Ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 4 k5 s% o# E7 \5 b _( J9 J0 ~
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on - I' i: g' ]" N1 b
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; G% L7 ?1 G) Y2 K$ m: d* b) Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get " e- f4 d7 j* q3 H7 w$ v
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another $ o5 T% g( [* _7 i2 A
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ' X- C9 e: _4 y O. a
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 4 @; M. m; a) ?4 r& G3 J& ~
price." H# ?* s3 Z4 Z6 a* W1 w
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
$ k7 ~9 w) U2 ~' d/ ~/ L, Sbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ I( k: K7 B6 b* t& }5 Gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 E7 S. w6 u$ U1 u1 Q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 N( [' t$ [( R Fhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
' n% d3 T) q7 b; z* ^the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- O- F; E2 o- }; J" L* w! k9 WSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 q o" g5 [" p0 {# y. n: ^( I
die 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 , E6 ?- M, z: F, D! H# e9 g1 P
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : h. J3 P( E0 `6 v( v- l
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' L* w, Z$ R# Q. L
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
7 T2 W+ K( w2 L' Y& Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : h0 ^1 G$ X3 ^& \1 I' Y# {9 V7 n' ?
better chance you have of securing the best deal.$ J. E" V; _( u. m& O
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! }5 P- Q$ Y% ^+ Q% J( [1 [0 x
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; Z" m" @4 q7 I+ `4 D
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, n& d0 Y/ ~2 P0 t6 @3 G1 c' rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % q7 _( B$ }; L1 {- u
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 9 H$ m* D. ?& d3 A: V. B d5 C/ Z
buyers in during the bubble years.
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6 q- Y2 ?, E% @! X( m* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' |" G6 ?: E2 m+ y* F) L' N) N
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # y7 ^$ E+ [) g8 \4 O% ^
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but # d2 c# `2 y* V/ `& x, P
he’ll close. |
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