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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ ^; n6 H) {6 u& s' t8 o$ ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the / c$ k* F$ D, T; b
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 [( e/ z; X* ?8 ?% e0 W% B
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 5 l( n* K1 L; g& k1 g
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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5 r7 i- s. I2 y9 vSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 `, M O+ y* S3 Gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; f5 T2 G. h2 t0 Rand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 @+ i1 x& T2 q1 R p- e
+ I2 u' {/ s4 O8 c% g' L* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 3 @* ?! v7 [! J2 c1 z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken + [: H. a% x" k2 O" {$ Z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ) m( J4 S0 e; W$ I1 U5 q: b! ^7 m
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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% `! j) M5 h* Z+ f* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % n. A, A' N9 ~8 H
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. U9 a( c9 T% k J0 @cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while H7 d: G* j* f
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is + r/ j( k* m1 R- S
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
8 N* E( n5 Y$ l$ ^, H4 Eorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % J. z5 i# j6 E/ G( r) U: H
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 U* Y2 L! _* o8 O, e8 B- q3 H Qnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ s6 t: o3 d- j
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# L+ G2 L, ~# t
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , e' I' E1 ^& @
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 `( Z; j5 y( F% U0 N; \
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ F9 ]0 c- `# Jprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 f6 J0 w" I7 L$ p) t ~; ]# Cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 c! d6 e+ a0 o+ |( p9 A
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ T$ E/ i- l; lwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, @) r$ p+ z2 n$ p. Fhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 1 U; N$ m) c7 h4 D+ c4 D* [
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 R# z. S4 h4 }8 QSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 7 O% b) G; @! p8 Z7 {
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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) M0 M/ H0 ]5 h, Q d* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 3 m+ e% n! k: m& Y# u4 }6 M
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 6 P3 [/ h& L$ d
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# h& K0 {* G! Q! J- P- eyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * H4 T/ Q, G0 C+ w
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
# \: @0 @, Y+ p1 o' [8 Lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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' N5 p1 W2 f& J2 I# R* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing j, }( k Q3 g9 u
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( O7 o5 @3 W" B* [" A" @ ewill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / z: I E, }8 j0 ]2 I# V6 Y& g9 Y
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 ~% K# A- F+ I& t+ e! x. W8 }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
- s5 {' @+ f% J: C% H# {5 |buyers in during the bubble years.1 \) g# R8 [; S' R/ x# w6 l0 D
5 Q$ S: f: i1 }% N* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it + n7 j& S9 _/ M; K b" t% O3 r
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # [2 S: E$ l& F9 W: K2 n5 v
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% q. v, ^( B/ ?! \; C `/ xhe’ll close. |
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