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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
7 P6 {# m' v+ X* H% Mfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
5 D+ P! C; W/ }1 [' ^bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all . }! N8 v) E; ^
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; w; T( Y3 K1 e! k. ], |+ abegging 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
* C: v* y1 x$ D. i/ cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ l7 K% ~: i: ]1 I5 M) _, Y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)4 Y* t& c5 u/ N" v
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many / v0 a0 i7 n" g! a: u1 f) ~
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken % W6 o1 r. L0 B X/ z. T- q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; S) S" E: f2 n$ R) e ?0 \, ` J; P
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ r) w1 Y X+ |) N; n
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 ~0 F0 [, H6 J) }
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' {, Y. Z/ g9 ^
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
4 V4 Z4 Y: f& ~! [" C' nhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& f$ [8 y4 `5 ?/ B3 scompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 9 D5 I* j" {5 ^- W, C) \2 B1 h
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
( m7 V6 j" F, a. u+ V; Cthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " i* M, b. D6 V3 [ S
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get # t8 p" H4 k0 Q' k! z, p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.. Y' N- |; g7 |9 R* u; t
9 q4 o w3 f/ Z \- W& Q7 @6 D* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
# E% ]! J4 v1 d* N, lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ P9 H: S$ X9 uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
5 l9 o8 Z: I2 y2 {: o) {business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" F8 Q0 m# ]- F+ k' j+ u% a) V9 Texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! ~7 t1 r* ^# B: kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 @2 I+ ^8 X9 g6 u' Xhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
( f! n7 r& E9 G Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
+ Z% O; `) a4 Q @2 m) I$ TSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 U a, z0 W- U8 E2 Edie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 V7 J6 O5 {- b
6 x' L; @1 C# I. V/ F7 p* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 E. Q/ x; a/ P P5 w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
8 \4 U9 D5 ?) Z5 A; Lprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
u; Z& Z, n6 }your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
6 Q4 y2 x: p0 e( j1 t1 d& Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
( U" f. n- o2 [. n, E5 q$ P qbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.4 w( @+ o1 r, o X0 z
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
( s: ?- R% G; P; X6 V6 C+ K, Cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 v' H* J- S# d! |: j
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do # v) h8 ^; v4 J" ?4 C- G
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
( q( _* p \8 g/ j lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * `5 N+ m5 C, d$ O1 s) v
buyers in during the bubble years.
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) Z9 Z6 x# L( q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ c6 x+ R; _% Z( E* k1 l, ?die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
! X6 E) x4 p! X3 S( `, mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
" I& s" c- ]0 ]/ Vhe’ll close. |
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