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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
) t* B0 T( B( w$ R! u% L8 @falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
6 P! N$ d5 [* }4 Z1 [$ jbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# z+ p0 N4 H0 q- hthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 `$ E8 @, N, \8 L0 I9 wbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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. O; l& e" F' P( [ GSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
) w4 a% \; S# `% Myou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + {+ f9 m, ~. C7 m0 }, k/ y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)7 z) I* y) W% ~3 Y0 K
7 E( x/ N9 q$ l* T* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 u: q' u# B T f4 k9 `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* N( E! _% p' X% t2 I* b' ^! zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you $ ~$ F B) H# s
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* X9 f% H1 H8 x- x% r g7 I8 V& }* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
' R0 [! ^/ j5 g7 sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 ?9 \4 f$ `: i. z/ `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 H. @+ G. r2 ^% w! U" yhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
/ q2 w" L& o3 J" M0 O6 ^# fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. u3 U9 K* X2 S& c9 K" n: `$ ]order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , i( h; g' Y1 x. ?# J+ ~' D
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
/ ]( e/ x$ b* s- ~- L Pnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 j, M! D* |0 v( s. ^& g/ cwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. {2 f7 t4 N) R/ e' _
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
" c: V8 \# ?. U/ I9 [property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 9 r6 }2 r- S8 e% V) Y2 b1 a# t
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * ?# ^2 P% m6 B( P& R* l$ L4 K3 |
price.2 L" {1 }$ M2 P
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 M" A6 F& T6 K1 O
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
' I6 b }. J6 [$ l* Kexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 z9 l: t1 z4 H0 l/ n2 U& Zwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
; p7 p3 H7 e i# u: ^$ \: Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ) c' [: ]9 x; ~9 _
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 B1 O7 i0 X# s7 \
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ) N: l" ]+ r* c* \
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* Q! T6 }: |5 E
+ Y G3 e. p3 K5 z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have & J' [: [$ [# K5 s3 R/ W: `( H" D9 N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 6 R* k- N5 w0 q7 K
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# e9 ~- D7 m4 l) e# W8 |/ Oyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; P! Z3 O: c0 G7 y4 j" C0 \more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " a. t& F* j- c
better chance you have of securing the best deal.# O" X* G2 k% ~( ^$ [/ a# v
- ^! z2 H1 ?) |) h0 l- ^6 S) A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, b1 m( ~( n4 u' c0 O8 Qproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
) h! v0 W+ E# N1 L) a5 kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do # n* @; |% t/ E. y
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. e" R! v& d4 p' i0 |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 6 t; c* F7 x$ F$ W* @8 x
buyers in during the bubble years.4 l; E% b6 E. ~- x
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
8 d- d$ F1 V% s+ rdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- m4 F# l3 X2 uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( ]& p" _$ n6 k% z# x2 v) Z
he’ll close. |
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