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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
7 b: c& M1 P+ {* Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 t. l; l: h Q0 r* ?
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 n. s- Z5 k9 k1 q ]3 e9 Vthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, H1 B; g) n+ L# ]( obegging for mercy. That’s the fun part. ~% M+ Q6 u8 V0 Q/ k& H
: Y5 p+ A# s8 M( USo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ' L8 Q( m1 a- H3 }
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, X/ {7 z' E, [+ j/ l9 a: G: ~and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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: ^6 _7 F$ ^, R! _* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
* u0 D4 v2 N. I. W$ r+ cproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
: t/ L; G5 x x* O2 tseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 ~9 I! N' Q @! K
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 }# ^- u0 B/ m% H8 K" k& M9 k
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; T G/ U+ f+ I4 G
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 F; ]8 w1 ^. M& K) q( O- b& n: _9 Ccashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 X8 C9 r6 U( [& D. `having a powerful psychological impact.' `2 G& ~2 |( R( W" y8 R/ u
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- }8 N+ e6 N1 z9 @7 X; ?/ Ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ ?( @4 M3 @& T5 u/ `) `2 Worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , P, H7 I" E) y/ i: M. g% f
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 6 {" ?% L! w& A2 `9 ^
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 `: i5 @( q, s0 t+ ]what 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
- i, U5 O; t( i ^+ }% cproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
" r! T K- v: S4 \that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- a5 K& i8 ]; l! `! }price.8 r8 m! H, k0 p: l8 q( U
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 9 g! ?3 K o" K8 K8 g
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 4 Y- Z8 R K" J
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 }2 |4 H( \- F8 T: D/ X/ y
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you # J5 R5 ^ i' m; [) X( k# Y- e T
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. _% B- z" A4 y1 A, P! Xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 N" K- Q: u8 s& U# lSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
! Z) Z0 K6 z V: sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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0 s* @. u( W. V! h* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
4 w' u+ l; ?! M2 N) P9 iyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - X9 v' ] t; v/ s
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) {- Y# `$ @9 j, i3 m8 [ Cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : v9 e# m, B- c4 y: F
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 d+ C9 F! j. N9 X8 |better chance you have of securing the best deal.; `$ `4 ?/ C, [7 G" p
- x: F- I i8 s' K* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 2 B/ x2 `* p7 o$ X5 ~5 K6 @+ M
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That " q9 A, N9 n& T5 o$ \0 c, j+ T
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 X! y( @- v8 _4 C& b/ Z6 d4 qto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% Z/ o, D+ I: z y4 K4 A. _5 H+ Sconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 3 u+ d5 S6 q5 X$ I- R
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 4 p+ g+ q1 f O% N1 v: }6 N! Q+ F
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you & s3 ~6 q, ~5 i: e1 W% o, ]) S% P
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 n0 q0 ~2 \9 V+ F5 }( \0 } ^he’ll close. |
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