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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
* F, `7 N( m& cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
h# `' l8 b- p d2 B( `2 kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
( ? u4 |3 p& S) uthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
) R9 w+ f$ c F# j6 G5 y O% Ubegging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ d5 e( e8 {( T# c3 S" l+ S
7 `4 {- u- Q7 s: a: {5 kSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if $ V8 n! N5 @0 H5 @4 {! v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 e7 `* V4 ?, Oand 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
/ Q# ]: H& j: _% }+ Q' vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
# ? x2 x& N: Mseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' [3 o7 B! u+ D2 Qget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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% N; a+ V, y- k) z( X/ n" ^* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 V$ D. | U- A4 ?6 s( f% K; D. v
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- W8 H" S' w. x' h5 R6 @% z( [cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ( e, g& F( Y3 K
having a powerful psychological impact.1 r3 ~, T* O" A/ B
# Q S+ Q: C& v4 q, z1 g* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) z! A$ p$ N$ J: R7 F
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
) B4 c; F5 N. r0 G. worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 1 d- H" D& |0 X( F- W) z7 X" ]
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
: l1 E! {% \* d6 T5 }" o9 c8 c# Nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get " S m6 Y- H- S- I
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 u+ A+ q4 {4 {; F; a" M
" P8 ~& V; Q) J3 D- Z/ v# Z- @* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
; T# G/ G0 [* T& ?property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 9 U* [- R: R7 l% f) X- O6 f
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 O* [, {2 B4 P$ C' @$ lprice.. R' u! X( }3 t" i) W
" a* N. e+ f! B6 X0 X' w7 _* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 M6 s1 E4 J' a1 n& ^& `9 Vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( \) d# i1 b3 u" ^6 x, E
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of , L9 p) {1 a+ {
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; i3 M8 `9 ^1 n2 h" @
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
- ?6 f! h, n8 F/ l# d( ^( j" vthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 E3 y! c- U* ^8 bSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
8 H, v, x: f; c' r! Pdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* A) P4 x# |' Z! o3 S* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
6 x+ N" m: e5 i% ]your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + s) t$ X" l/ r! H z$ `+ k
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) T6 B8 i1 H* B' Gyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 0 b' g( M% L8 ?9 p/ }1 h
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : p, n ]) r7 R, U9 g% u+ g4 @
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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7 S' _3 T& J( D' \+ e L5 G4 s ^( d% h* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
3 Q$ y! J4 Q* ~8 sproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
* ?' d9 B* x) K/ y' Awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 a3 q# t- F6 e- q2 Cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - U& f% Y2 R* ^& B* N/ A7 e
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
) j( U" s- l2 J+ i' ^' m6 Q6 Kbuyers in during the bubble years./ y3 L) O# { ?" z' @
" |+ H; P! T4 N n. ^* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; F2 y# C R! e8 kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' m4 v, @% l1 d) B4 Z* lwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but & q2 E+ w- o0 |6 q n( j
he’ll close. |
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