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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a : c# O* v. q9 M/ V! m U' z8 O* R
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , d$ t8 F0 E7 C5 f, x
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 b5 ?) V. V$ n8 n, E9 c- h% ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 q% L9 Z& l0 q4 f F( Dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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. F( m# Q4 k9 v7 y; {( gSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 2 x/ z- s1 Y1 P B
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : [' X+ |. z4 s6 X( d
and 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 ! w5 G" C& J5 d s$ O* ~! ?
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 Y* C6 N# k7 \9 j/ }$ \" ?seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
" s1 W. b2 [8 j7 |; \" O6 ]! ?+ u- O3 Z3 Vget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 2 H) i0 z! L d: R Z! _& n& ^2 F
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not & j$ f# ]! [! h; @$ M& D9 c
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - D! k# D$ u* u( X6 f& t
having a powerful psychological impact.0 N: h3 H% l* X3 e5 ~
* H1 I* E* r: @ Y* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is $ ~& X3 G: l) ?' r+ k
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ( [' N3 v! q2 b$ G* u6 f9 D
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
. n- Y4 e$ Z. b! [" P1 U/ gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you K* L! X& u/ P7 [
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
/ c7 G4 k$ }- r; A! lwhat 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
, Q- \! q D! d+ E6 b' D. v2 Cproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 7 g# Q8 r0 G& |7 ~6 S
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
% }4 l! o- E% `- p' l8 Vprice.& t: g! B2 {7 H% K+ u
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 c* i p% m( c5 j. L" |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ' F" F2 F! w" d F0 m' o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" Q% P& t$ X# t' n4 X: Rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' s/ ^8 V; d) G, b7 z% a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 q* t8 m6 X8 X6 H4 A
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
+ u J. b( O" e( [% ^: B: u4 TSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ E& V M8 s4 W+ qdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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0 t/ w! z9 @' n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; k) O% E; d$ O+ Myour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( q0 ^. E1 g) t0 K2 I& S8 gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 9 o( z& ^& E, P4 D
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 O1 B0 a/ S* K' z7 S I9 e
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- x0 i1 I# F9 J6 R6 Lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.; R4 u: @6 `8 Y1 C
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
( v* T; c& m- h5 y5 wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That * `/ J( F( z0 Y7 ]% i) G( ~& n
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 s; A3 G" Y0 q K1 G1 ito save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
2 c' g. e# Q) R; L5 b9 X0 xconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 3 {3 P1 B! Y( i) s
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
6 p' w& N6 [9 _) p$ j4 h" Tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you $ V" r& b6 W2 Q2 Z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
" |% W/ A) i2 c/ _, ] Fhe’ll close. |
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