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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
: @/ H( R' K: K- `, Z4 o" ]falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( l! f/ S3 S1 D P# fbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ ]$ ^# L0 j) H" {& jthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 6 N- q& V* Y" ]
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 x! S3 r/ a, U; v3 {2 l% Q
u8 _* N0 r! w0 t* bSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
1 X" u3 f8 a! \3 {6 S5 r4 N( c2 _+ ?$ syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ W# |$ _9 p% H( Q9 e9 g
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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; z* X1 H# p" c6 h8 D* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + I }! G! Q# q* p, N# ?
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 Q1 F% ?. H' A9 H8 ?seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ t+ Q% ~* E& eget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 f8 R# q: t; X0 c. r
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
; z% X: d3 ?1 o. y$ Y* tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / F0 D2 ], K1 Q& o' r
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while : @# A7 b$ d9 ^9 R! V# c6 l' I+ I
having a powerful psychological impact.
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. k, Z4 U4 O6 c% q8 y1 z+ s* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( V, l D) Q! H$ @( ^$ _9 M6 Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in , g) V7 i' v2 }2 m' k2 o# s. F
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on $ a6 a0 M7 c! U" n: p1 H) H
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
Z4 W. u4 k0 ]8 ^7 ~never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
* p0 [5 d& {9 C/ ?. b8 B) iwhat 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 " Z2 E- a4 n$ H' \0 G
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 b; f f- P4 J, T& {7 Athat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- w/ ^0 c, h5 U7 Tprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five , L! k6 _: c8 v: h$ I9 _
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s : L! j5 Y/ M& o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
A+ r$ \+ L4 P- v8 ework done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 A$ m9 V% M. U/ y9 J- Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of - C( Y9 e& j& j# a( z. a) A* }
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 G$ F) L5 c0 y, g: MSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 3 W: {& Q7 q: ?* R9 D; M+ ~
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
- B6 A! M( i+ [2 \. _your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 g# Y3 C3 b% y- r2 G. l
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into $ }* [/ H9 X; n) T, v) t* h/ |
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 J i: D8 s) F% D Q' m
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
f5 _1 g7 r. t0 a8 vbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.. j/ @1 F5 T8 Z) g/ j8 [
( d ~5 c% Q' Y3 K, w0 N9 F0 Z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; e4 S% U# y% O! y* N, f. L: dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That % H- f3 T+ h/ u4 x0 I
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , E* W; Y5 E. y" ?5 O. [9 F
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just / h, c5 ^4 `. B# S0 M/ I
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 J$ j& T. t4 l0 l$ ]2 J8 o/ ?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 : W2 E3 H. Y' g' [) A! Q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
& _$ m+ Q4 h" }% |, Qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
0 P! f$ {& I3 X0 b) g7 R" O: {he’ll close. |
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