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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
2 b: n8 T+ Z; j4 w5 yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* L/ @: [) @9 H6 obottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- x( T6 T& o0 e/ }& sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 D) B2 v7 j3 b7 sbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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3 ?" f8 F8 V0 T" d) bSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ( {6 _, ^& s( N) A' e0 l, ~
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 v5 s/ b% |0 @( U6 c! i/ e: b
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)2 h6 ]+ v4 @3 c" k$ X) X
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 1 h& i5 l' k# t# F( j
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
, ^! z# J5 S3 `6 s ~8 G% c. R* w' Wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you f+ K5 y" T4 Q) p( Q
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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& \! {/ B: j/ V4 T/ t* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
% s$ W; X( t" e+ p o! [# Pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 V% \9 R+ m/ q& E2 Lcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: u- K, k: a6 L& X/ u: R' G; B( `having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! V+ w5 |& }: r p
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in x5 ?5 S) d) I" t: E" z7 o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 o) G. }* O5 |) }! Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 4 ~% {5 K4 _# m0 K" P* [: n
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 `, V' ^5 l+ [what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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6 I$ b, P; O+ s& B6 Z* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) l/ @" y. s/ {! _' H O+ y5 U: ^7 e; z$ sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 B1 p4 g, a( _3 k( D& i4 b$ c; @that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that L; B3 w9 v2 V+ G; K) o
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 `$ D' U/ r u8 e9 T3 q: q6 r5 Rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 C0 ?* x* G8 {% {' J
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 l, l; X& ^8 w
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 G3 }& h6 U$ y1 hhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 ~5 X7 q8 b- \9 |% Q( s4 Cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
: }! k$ ?) j* ~4 @ dSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 C4 B# s f: M, h
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
: E7 u# B5 ~8 i+ j8 z' wyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 8 W4 ^: Z1 y9 p( X" q& E- u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' L2 ^8 u5 J2 U
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . q# G* h9 v) Z# w
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ) ?3 W: P) {0 Y9 d8 ?0 K* r
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " H6 {8 U1 m- r
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, [ S5 y+ v% B& Xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 D. I. X v0 ]to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just : z; j. y3 B Q( Z- g3 E- o" B$ G
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
- _3 v% T) }8 ~; Lbuyers 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 x3 k) G& K# n8 j3 B# [" S
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you + U; \! |( q) n. D- C- q& C
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 1 J0 V: l! m6 |/ p# n) g
he’ll close. |
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