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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ R+ K1 s% L: P) Rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * y9 m- H" `# n2 V
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ' N _! m/ K* l, Z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- j4 V& Y( f$ c% `; C7 cbegging 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
$ f1 G# m% v) d* X w! syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ) \. N1 Y7 k, x5 U2 s1 O
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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I1 g) L O" _) G# e* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 7 |; ]" k; ^# K. z/ c
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" {9 u2 c' _+ N4 v: Cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 u' W, i3 U; R
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
l& c4 Q( n* I6 g! Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
1 P8 Y% i* J% o8 w! w! Fcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
& P+ {0 E% U5 W" T* b/ ]having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 Q8 n* N+ l' pcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
3 C& g8 r' R" C' v' Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on " w3 ?' a9 X" _, g1 a$ {7 E8 H
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, s6 M J* K8 a' Wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: |3 g# |+ f+ a; @, ~$ T) k; n! jwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' n) l% [1 G" O5 U& f8 V+ o
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , J$ U0 G1 M1 s
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. y% s6 ~' e6 w/ q1 d* M" gthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
5 B8 m/ ~" S) @! q& t) M6 Kprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 l0 ~5 @% R9 L8 S7 Abusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 A3 s e! Z# H
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 Q1 q) q5 Q: l( d8 R v& o) \work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 G2 y _( l2 F6 h# ]+ k4 b E Y
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% {1 I3 z; e7 J6 lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) h+ z/ P4 ~5 q A4 e+ RSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will . O( s* j2 \1 A% R* C
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
; c6 t% _5 U5 ^$ l. kyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the / X9 F9 Z5 R7 E: X6 l. q& ~4 {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into S# ~3 m. z, k l0 h4 e% S
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The , {7 J9 X+ g% u; X
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 N) M5 V# A5 c/ v
better chance you have of securing the best deal.6 ~% G8 E5 z3 I! L0 u
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
3 ^1 p9 X) {% C; |8 e# X# a9 [properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That % ~! j0 j" B8 ~( m- }# G
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " x6 l( ?' k, E' L* T9 i) v4 e
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 q1 b7 N# h. R3 tconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 3 b' A+ E0 e* U$ i- ]- Y
buyers in during the bubble years.% J4 Q* E& ?1 A
8 G M4 Q0 T$ i0 i! Z Z: r* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, m" g. m9 V9 ?! `3 l% wdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! S7 S) I; d2 a8 o% F
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but " z2 z: s: |$ C9 j8 \
he’ll close. |
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