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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
7 M6 {2 g/ u3 q8 v% C$ C$ {falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 3 N* ?5 l: c5 z o, l, e; o
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - R. p8 [2 P1 e0 @ f; l* _
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - ]6 H0 P# b6 U" B9 y% Z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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: N0 q4 X) ~% H5 M NSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
; h0 d; g' j7 dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ! Z- `. t g( t' w; D8 _7 u
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
+ V( U: Q% U7 D8 Y8 Hproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ w8 P6 X3 q t! A& hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' m4 M6 l! w0 L( Lget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 x. o% S$ V* i% `) {
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
$ {; ?/ n) {, j0 R _# A5 Z+ x* d1 Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 S- i/ g7 G7 z0 }3 t) [
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while + k& R* Q+ e) V% A( a- J q
having a powerful psychological impact.0 G0 l b: X! G0 E. n+ n. c" r
- t3 V0 D# l$ S* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& g# Z, r- p2 q! {) Lcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. }8 c* ?' I: S9 t* Forder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ; E, @7 X9 y7 P8 v4 u( {5 _) O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 7 p* \9 @9 T/ A( d+ { w- u
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 6 q& N2 j, i1 Y$ L X& a" Q$ R
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& g. P4 q+ h; a1 N4 v7 ~ v) w
4 ~4 B' y9 q- X* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) I7 W4 X. ^2 `5 b: |, f3 g5 Qproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
% s- T! ]/ v) \& J7 C8 p/ t8 Kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 d4 I; O" Y" N
price.
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! H; w) F4 l* e* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five * K0 ?) p0 u( B8 q
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( _9 C/ [7 j' k& T1 N7 J g: v
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of , _8 Q( ^9 b/ G- c
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
; s K7 ?+ n# c! ohave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 f0 P6 M* r( S9 Gthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) T" c" E. p, W, ]- ~; A' ^: P) K' sSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) h( C- s; u: p- S+ f7 R9 [die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ G1 c& ^3 L+ F
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& e% f* d2 \- x$ S2 B$ S' U/ V9 Jyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 P% L2 e7 i/ b7 p; |) B3 X9 R9 I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 A$ z0 L4 ]" K9 Q& i9 m `& y
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ n8 c! Z0 f1 ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" Z9 A! m2 v. J' `! Nbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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" K0 P: _* ~5 I* {2 a* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
2 L# G' W: J; P0 H) dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
# m- H, L! N* K5 @8 P/ bwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , J7 A5 n0 {% m2 E
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 E! _, s$ `: a- [' X0 n/ P1 g/ G" m, [
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
/ r) `& N& ^0 R& q$ _# p; `buyers in during the bubble years.
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3 I0 P$ ~" S2 v: `) e8 l. i* J* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it H8 N4 }" H2 c! G- \* M* N+ b8 r
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' K! e- F- V" X4 g4 D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( S5 H% ^4 a( T( h0 ^0 w
he’ll close. |
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