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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 6 z3 Q8 K6 v6 r
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( A0 s8 q) n/ [* X/ Vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; i$ r* B+ Z! L- ~* \+ sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* M: H5 w2 o+ D9 Dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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: r: @9 k) E9 u0 T/ _So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if s' [, h$ F7 H1 r
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ u+ [2 f1 [) O3 K: c' A
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' F8 R8 h1 o* w( C
* v3 B5 ^) t% e6 X* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, l( _; J8 I( }7 v) _; ~: ~properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . ?2 v& G, q9 s; y
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
|5 H0 Y1 a2 X- d3 m9 kget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! o& m, H* Z9 ]! i6 y# S* l! O% @
& {2 J' A7 w D( r/ k* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % W: P: ]5 _8 o" I( F/ e
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 B, ~1 c- a1 q1 @cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while # H% @! t9 s* u6 A
having a powerful psychological impact.! ]& V- `6 R o' J
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- X! g: i3 F) c2 S' a; X0 wcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: `* e/ d$ Y" ?1 k6 v( @! z- \. Torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# Z, @: V2 }, H% @' X" w/ q2 Sthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you E( L* d' l; [6 s0 o9 `# _7 V6 U3 T
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 7 N0 Z% w( I3 w: m+ H& I
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price." H8 E+ ?) K0 v. z; {
* C7 s( C) E$ u) K* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 L- E- y8 L [* E Uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know " l$ v" _- u+ @. m
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* l) q! a3 f7 E# M+ Bprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- q- \9 d" p, V, Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 F& D% \ O* `1 g0 L3 o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of / S* ]0 k6 l3 a# j
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# K3 Y0 K& h' o4 \have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 G" V5 p( n n- d- ~% H' V& ]* Athe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 2 j, p# _0 G4 y( Y& {7 Y* P
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. _( O* s4 v/ F3 ]2 Jdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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: |6 t- e5 o4 c& ?" G; M' F* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 ~5 X5 C I9 |& [! D" H
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 \" F/ @0 `7 Q" _6 k5 R
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
4 ^ D8 t% u: d7 Fyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 Q/ A; Z+ E( }' Cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 B1 u) a' d7 `% R( n! }% f1 s
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
- e3 I7 X4 T W& o- Vproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 `8 O2 {* z2 [, @: i* ~will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
& Y0 V3 c6 x: H+ b k& K$ g, ?to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! U+ d% t' T- R+ j/ t. O1 G) ?0 }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 Y- p/ W( O; ]0 {; ?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
( V+ }( J0 n/ w9 ^) y$ O4 ndie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
8 u# a7 a1 S$ E. D8 B% b/ H/ Hwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
# R* ] @+ |, n+ k$ F* B% x4 ghe’ll close. |
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