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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, N# }- E$ B4 B6 j$ G4 ]. _falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
6 }1 ?& k: S% A, X, ^bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all % [% R( x- N$ V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! Q$ [- p9 W1 b$ `9 xbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 n" l# A' t2 z( @& {
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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
" s! Q9 t+ G. ^* j" u6 yyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
7 i# `0 S, S f7 k/ y& p4 Tand 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
$ S$ _7 W+ @! k; i7 P. }6 Vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken * R6 w+ J9 p/ m' e" i! u
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 {; ^, T i# @; [1 K7 ]get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 V0 H; t, g& J8 X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
4 S& ], O3 g2 K2 Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not & p6 a2 o" d2 J% y+ J2 I
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; U7 `# z+ O* Q0 ]% v. t/ \
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is l6 I; u( x5 s% u5 |, o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. {* U. w0 E) b6 K5 \: Iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , M8 B' T" x# w( ]3 H4 K
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
1 N% x, W8 H) P+ S! d3 L+ Nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 3 R7 s G* M; S J9 q" H5 W
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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5 f3 |8 \1 [& ~& u. m" l( J* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
/ T* P( {# C# R, aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 1 a, ]0 `# [# e) ?8 U: T6 a
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; S3 T2 Y( F {: E, |# X
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & T2 j. I* b1 K& \1 u
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 P6 T) o/ h: R# t- ~ G6 x) @
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
6 {; S, X. I" j J6 B6 ]- cwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you A8 Y; A, I& N Q% Z2 b" @
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! q9 T; z8 ~+ [
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 {/ x, d( J/ [) M+ cSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* ^( E7 Y/ y+ X1 y4 r2 X6 \die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 l* V' D5 o I
6 a' d8 [& `$ c* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
' x: I' `: a$ x; tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
6 R4 c5 Z, @4 N2 p* G2 `1 o* cprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 b8 k: |9 `# d; |
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 o1 w; y7 W/ r& W5 @2 t. I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / d4 k# P; x/ Y2 `* p9 C7 p
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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9 S8 q5 a* v8 d% A9 S! L$ k* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & A/ s3 ~: g& ~9 R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + I0 N$ W" u l" E, M
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 w# Q5 ~: o$ ]* pto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . o$ {& J: D% m$ a5 q# l
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # M9 N7 |% ^9 T, g
buyers in during the bubble years.4 W; o% ~3 j% z( S
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / \. z5 L- c# Z# U! l0 f
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 g7 W# u3 w$ }6 E0 h6 Ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ b4 V- Z# Y8 s8 che’ll close. |
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