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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
& M" ~/ v/ ~/ L7 h: I" ~falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * ]0 @" Z5 r, c/ \( g1 @
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& B9 i5 W- Q1 I! w# F! athe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 1 ^# d# A; ]% V. S9 v {
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
5 f$ N; }- B% X; E0 j4 N* P! _ ^you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 u& I' Z0 X1 C, j! R2 cand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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^" L/ ^# F: i9 A2 P* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 4 E) N# C5 `, S& z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
2 K$ v6 [$ \/ e$ A$ n' B4 iseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( A& w% A/ q8 z' L
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.7 p! W4 A% J: }/ u4 O, b5 f. f
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
! G/ ]* Z6 X9 Y, u- gthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- c0 R4 N, O9 @4 P7 b8 _1 G2 L- N fcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 n% W0 w& f8 o1 t: s% w2 m
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" B, P- i2 a3 xcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( z% D. s8 Q S$ ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
+ o. a; Q( M7 c3 othe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " \" i' M" f! R3 A/ H( x9 g) \) @
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 5 _& W3 g) o' W* b n
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) Z7 C# G0 K% W% E
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ( k. S* c2 m5 x. p9 q( W
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 6 Z; L3 f. z( }1 s9 G' u0 [5 ~4 k& q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
g% ?2 a7 A1 n8 [( Y! c t3 Zprice.
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% U' Q; z: S& c5 t6 X* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 5 `5 r" d( }3 T0 m! W/ Z, V. Q
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 2 L5 K2 o/ G& B/ _
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. `# w) o7 ^" a7 ?4 L4 B+ lwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ o! A- L$ Y- mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! J" ]$ n+ }8 A( A1 M
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 H+ H- N7 y. L, W& h6 @9 ~* X3 t, N! NSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, w: [% H+ w3 w/ qdie 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 - [: V( e8 b- A* V4 O2 F/ M$ l& ?
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 2 L+ |; d+ y/ Y5 x* h5 d
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( f& w5 a' }) ^1 ~8 h5 `% G
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
9 x v0 O6 Y0 ]5 Zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
5 \% k& `$ r1 f; P7 V8 `6 qbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* n8 f7 m5 Y) N3 i* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ; O( g' N+ h' W. j/ Y% S
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
" }9 Q B; u- t. F4 `will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 Z, ~. q6 d9 c2 ~9 l
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # [4 h* v! j: I0 `& N& `" v
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ ]8 X: S7 a# d; [" E* Z m. R
buyers in during the bubble years.( b9 M: V+ P. G! L R' I+ l/ X1 a( O$ D
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, l& b' b1 _2 S, k) o* S1 cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( P, d# G, r: Y1 W
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 0 {, U. O& h$ ^4 e# y; T; N; }
he’ll close. |
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