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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ G' p5 J& S9 \* K1 Z3 C/ P6 ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! k. D' Q) P; }
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 ^; D" r$ @& T |3 Z" C
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ) d6 B" K( B* Q ~' k* C
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.# O2 W% E9 {- h
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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
" Q0 z) x- w V+ f" t yyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 s: i' z& h& d/ X; E+ k& g
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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, I S/ Z. ~, _6 w7 B6 S* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) r* L, s7 a3 V! c. y# E! X1 V! p
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 j/ Y6 \- {4 x7 \1 _$ }seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 f ]! l' q' h9 A. Sget 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 $ x3 \9 k: f7 T
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not . t! W, g( m( Z: y2 C: Q j$ e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( E* {! C1 N1 l* g5 c7 Z3 phaving a powerful psychological impact.- B( G8 v1 M" T: z" ^7 e3 }
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 4 Q) s2 G4 L( s. k" Z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 r5 K/ D! j* Norder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
4 Z: Z$ p$ ]7 [( i, z) Gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' W O& E8 w- d( q; Z c
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 x$ m/ A h2 [' |% L" u
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) _' b# o! F2 v9 m
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 k3 Z1 m4 R. _, v2 r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; d. I' X; q9 ], R* T' P8 ]9 Ithat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
. @, e+ {+ Q8 |price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 r& ^. E8 l7 F2 V) kbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " V: D% I1 F. v: {! J. Y- {" x1 }/ q& M
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 3 s! e0 C' b* u% K* o6 X# O7 W
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
; S: C. c. _& u6 z5 C8 ~have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of / }7 j9 l( t! I2 x
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) e8 Z% a6 x, d9 w2 n/ ^Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will + p' M4 P$ F* x C1 x1 \
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ T, k# _" x$ Q, }" [ U
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ( B0 T; F/ {7 B' `8 T/ Q2 Y+ {- x
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - r/ y |( v% T# C3 H3 c
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: ?- f ^9 @# ] Iyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 \7 W+ }$ x4 ~1 P/ }/ Z1 Xmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 f, N: J8 {' J/ A
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- r. z8 F7 C2 m/ l }* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing , L6 u6 x4 W- {" Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
& r1 x/ K# Q* z8 r5 q6 [1 |0 q* t) O4 ewill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 i6 b0 f2 B& P9 jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 t2 S, H$ E r7 m' T2 d7 tconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * w8 G& F' |' O9 i$ u: g
buyers in during the bubble years.# f( v* k* w) { u& c
$ |6 h5 [6 O E6 n2 w" s* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 3 d2 E* ]; U% E
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
, I' e q0 t3 N: a) Awill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ) q+ y; A% N! p8 z0 O: y
he’ll close. |
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