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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
' G1 M; @3 J- N. S: vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ) e7 U: J% D9 r
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
( M; _$ N3 n9 t, R1 N4 s qthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 g0 G8 Y+ D; f! W
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 U+ u1 y( u/ `& N. N
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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 4 P# B: T6 O7 D% r+ Q
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 W- g C7 I/ y- dand 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 # C( M+ X2 ]* \+ g/ M6 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% c0 j9 Z8 e5 U2 o; Hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' o2 h2 p) A& M7 t0 Rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. Q& E: h! ]0 ?2 q) B8 ?
+ g6 d7 A/ u+ i" D2 b. w* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ! y( b1 x3 U+ v7 l5 f' m4 n/ U
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
9 L2 p4 i+ }* l3 ?cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) p% f$ _' j- r$ {having a powerful psychological impact.
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: M0 Z6 }3 _0 T3 J) w* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is : C; [: U! ~. z6 w3 v
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 4 ~" I- z. {" j3 v+ J; u
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
9 ], p: T. r6 Dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 k. H7 w. E2 B7 f1 Z' \$ Z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get y( d2 e+ [* M& F5 B' ~
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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5 o) \( \$ ~: E* ~7 g* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another : s6 E) e) L5 r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
9 J4 O" |9 R5 Q2 ~5 jthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
+ |" |- D5 ^5 o. D; Yprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 3 [2 E! l _5 n; @9 `
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 P# x- \6 ]/ B; P7 _% _7 O
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . V4 R W" u4 |( `
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" Y, ]* V% g# R4 k q' p. k5 c& xhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
W+ Q# m, I k4 }the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) ^' Q( L* s4 u/ \: M; D0 N" USince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
' {( j* j# t5 _ T4 [+ edie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.$ l+ `$ E6 T9 e4 z( X& O8 d" E4 w
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 U& I$ j0 e" T! Zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 Q& K; @8 D0 b G# W
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ ~. X/ m( ^- }) R/ kyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
. g# q6 g1 e k! Z; Q7 Q9 m$ I! Omore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ ]; ^# H3 A, }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
( G( p! S6 l) f Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 c/ T* Y) ~, c$ v$ n9 I% P' lwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do % K; ]# w8 o' u0 z) k7 K% @
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 r' W+ p* ]. @6 k3 a. j7 N" iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ! Z: S- y, p. s, q
buyers in during the bubble years.9 ]4 n( M2 P( r+ i2 s7 `, D
8 M; i4 `6 E8 ^2 c& E6 A; }* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it * v! o2 i5 V; B
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- B, r0 T! ]- W, J( ~will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: I" ?+ x( L. O" D6 g6 l* @) ]* rhe’ll close. |
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