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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ U- X% s3 I0 H1 E8 o' w( P- R( `falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ ~4 g0 [+ @7 |/ v abottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all / V- E- ^. o. M" i+ d' [8 ~# Y
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# ~" C" ~* D7 r/ o" J* h" N0 _begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., t: }8 H4 p- y" t, a3 F, i( n
: W: ~4 V) ?- \$ cSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if + n3 D5 E: S3 k) u, k+ l
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! I/ ~5 z% I0 d7 s3 _ n% x2 L) ]and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)5 U' g# w2 m$ P
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
( j$ k$ n9 E1 @2 a8 Zproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% r$ ?7 `4 F! M1 [: N K1 S+ zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
9 L2 u# s# M6 I8 cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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5 e2 G W; y; g. \* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 ?& B$ M7 t, n2 s vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' Y; R# a6 ^" G/ ~% _cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; Y3 S) u- ~8 V. Y+ t
having a powerful psychological impact.
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; m# W+ a/ l% u& P& \& Q* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 B* j& k; J _! Ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: g9 L; j% v4 r& Q9 i0 Horder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on . G9 T+ d0 |" Q2 Z9 i6 g! g4 N
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 `9 V0 U& F7 [& v% jnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 5 L" Z4 i3 P, D
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price." e! E5 g, m! z8 T
# t6 _3 \0 `. T8 f- ?0 {' p# y* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
% G0 ~* I0 w" |8 K/ R+ O( [property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 @4 r5 y- Y; [) q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 a, c; J3 w) a4 J
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five % p3 \1 x% e M( D y; V5 l# Q
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! O% F/ ^& M" `
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
) ]1 i- A9 e, zwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 6 d% F) n9 l/ s5 w- U) V( @
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. P* O1 x- ]0 R }8 xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. C0 c$ t, D1 E* \5 ~" c
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 |. S, g0 O, n- \, ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.4 b. @: r9 {! C5 _
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % j# D$ l# Y; H6 k: h
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
, |) b: g: Q! y: p5 ]$ [& x0 bprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 X3 A. R! |. P4 h* a% ^your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 6 t0 `: R6 s; F& B+ E# s
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : b" y: X" G, H: L/ f' V( Z
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing - m. n- e; ]! {3 n, q" `- y
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
1 r0 \( @7 C+ m9 W6 t1 U2 ~7 \will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do - ^: E' a0 ^/ X, K: u% R& I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; a# }; d: N2 d0 O9 i9 _consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
# D$ c+ g5 l& R( ]) x6 ?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
3 ?! M) \& E+ E Y* J2 l3 g: ^die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 K* @1 j: P$ N# O' D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 Z* V" F, W: K% z
he’ll close. |
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