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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
9 b# W d$ o' ^* |: [& c0 |" @falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' \1 V# h5 L/ e0 }- Rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) K: n( Z7 [9 a; l* W# G
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* A( f- W; O) _* w) [; pbegging 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 9 q% y- H# {% Z# I2 ]5 a7 W
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 p9 Q6 p( f2 a3 L7 |" [) _: Sand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% @- j& G# J4 ^0 l
+ r' _9 E l% p1 o* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 3 u* e# e# {/ C3 F7 X* F: h( F
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : Z( m# {' p# _
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( {( H6 S: Z! j7 i' O+ v
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 7 ?7 z. v4 J1 B3 T$ ^! @
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
, c* _" n2 a2 p: q! ]9 k2 Q" _/ {1 Acashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 V% W; {/ S; H3 L
having a powerful psychological impact.5 o. a: V( b7 Y& Y
- d! x( i, _: D% g- L, q5 G$ Q* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & |' b3 g% [- i2 ?/ p
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; L) K G0 s( R% d7 ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
6 T" P! N6 k' ~% Ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
o/ l! q* n! w. f" Wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 a: U% F6 q: Z6 x, Swhat 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 , f# x' `. e1 A5 z0 r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' P( V0 J- W4 _3 j* }$ v% g' m, c/ R; g0 Qthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . [1 n1 m: u8 `2 ]5 g
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - H4 D0 T( ?* B; H! G/ z
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 8 l" F$ U5 z8 [* @ g
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
& l& V g' d, G: fwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * Z& U$ y2 t& n: E; q, I: h
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 f" _; j! i& h" nthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ' x) M! E9 _- o) Y3 {+ s
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. v8 D3 k4 t% |die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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- O; y% ^9 `7 c% u" A* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 3 M* ~) r1 w3 k" H* }' }" I
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - |9 W9 [3 z$ j. m: ~
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 1 G) s4 K1 ]3 w U I
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The + F% C0 r" s S8 l6 t/ c8 [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
& k5 c) |2 F! `+ [- \' pbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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{) d7 ?% L" i1 v, r' a* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " O& L9 F5 `0 i- A8 S
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 |. Q8 C3 E; v$ j' C0 |- Fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! i- N# Z+ M" c. o, u$ o
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% D7 E7 v; ]% m9 r( w. l$ v! Aconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ x" p" A+ m- X9 J/ a. ^
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
& ~+ ~8 u" C! Udie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" A! p& D% u0 p& ^" ~6 Swill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 |" m; x. B& |he’ll close. |
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