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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ a8 l2 D+ y3 s! w1 T2 Q9 x& Rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' N2 c: c8 N3 D7 v6 A) gbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ a% ~* \) e$ x( R
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
8 o* n/ ~7 g+ ubegging 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
( j9 k& f8 s( a! _* X& Zyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : t9 L- z1 F+ M# i9 Q3 d& x6 X( w5 O6 J
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% E3 r. d% t7 [3 H
4 H. N x3 R' m G. I* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many S: X1 S* i( w
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : [! O" a% {* L- l
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
4 f0 _- P( }' }# ?) P; `; Zget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) F3 N" E$ m4 [$ @; U3 w
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
: A9 d# W; d9 a8 c }' O. `; Ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
% e# ]) y# \$ ~2 J/ Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 Q3 E) |( H4 s. k" w! I Jhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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7 I& s. t( A% l5 J# R* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 U* P3 r2 P& W( i" {9 P' w
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 o \2 @ Q0 C- v( b4 A. }
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# x( r7 |4 F4 z: W- d |9 E0 ~( `* dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 R0 C7 w" S$ G- {& L+ G- F$ Dnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( k5 ]5 d: Y+ }- e8 \
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 : d3 b b5 o1 E% M. \
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: k0 X6 {! G( D& i1 ^ f( @$ K" A# Nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
: _0 z6 T5 d1 R0 P" Hprice.- \' \% n$ w8 K" V$ B' N
" j C( O5 q3 H4 a! m* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 H6 w! D8 q1 v: A
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
* M( Z7 }0 z" ]' r( sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
+ v* Q7 P' C0 b6 hwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
! Q! v6 N; _* }2 c5 e) e3 zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; t6 u o& p( I6 r$ m# q2 M3 ]* O
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 2 c5 K2 G2 t1 K% P1 r
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& Y4 O3 l4 [ H! i" a" Y7 \8 Idie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 N- X; `+ q% L1 W- k" q
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
5 u7 ?5 Z7 i9 c/ O& ~! _* }' ~$ i& Nyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + o0 J: d/ U h
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 3 I3 Q+ q V! r- M9 M
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 C* O1 i2 B/ ?
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
; s2 [" m# E) r8 gbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.6 e+ J |4 a+ O3 ^5 V! m
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
* b* k- V2 F6 |) Q0 ~0 Rproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 6 \5 i0 ^* [2 o$ @
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
& _- x4 V+ c# W7 ?) q; u7 K. oto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ( [9 N' g# i, E ]7 t# x) ?, \
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed / C- @' V$ \# z6 q( w9 F# o
buyers in during the bubble years.* O0 ~/ }+ I6 Y2 C& p4 X
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 ?- E- \ q0 |8 {7 Jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you $ k8 E5 [4 S* v- V' i5 z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! h8 \+ M7 H, L5 T& e/ G! S ohe’ll close. |
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