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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, f) f6 u* }$ c2 [. [# w x( Efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* k4 f7 b6 X6 Obottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
9 k4 X" x; }5 d# @$ bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # D9 w& x# J, V* ?( F% Z% f
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.; V' a: j: }" a6 B8 m0 e
2 s4 M; e3 ?. R; VSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ D% P# W4 ?8 ^/ ~7 Cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / K; L4 v9 [! m1 N% ]2 @% K
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# |1 q1 p* A8 qproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . E& c" e! a; g3 g5 Q7 Q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 r# \! |- [1 a+ L' J: ~% N% K
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 y( P, I7 ^+ B" Y" n/ s* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
: \$ }2 |& ?* Q( u5 C1 F9 r9 ^the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. B4 z/ U5 A% i0 e- }+ n2 Hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 f# H* T$ q4 J; b+ xhaving a powerful psychological impact.; @1 J1 V0 p% k* P2 L' q7 s
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 2 j. b; Q+ \& `6 s( }* ~
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' ~- \2 k7 t1 B
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 q. `; c/ g3 n. x' r+ K+ H) ^the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" c0 i4 N7 }. g" w* \never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + x% H9 K7 s0 p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& n/ y& l; R2 p# I: I9 _9 k2 L
- O+ s3 l# _0 @5 I o- T- Q* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 M/ C2 n% J" B6 \property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % o7 m: N6 |* D0 y" s% T8 a
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that # X: s D' c, x( O
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five " d" @; s0 @6 E' \8 o
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! W% L* y [$ t- A! i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
/ @4 e7 L- o. z/ x1 [" ~work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' U" H2 A" k" ?, ?6 X j
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 v& v( t4 n0 z* \1 }7 b: othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 r9 H; n( \$ t) Z
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will & P6 v. @" i% U2 V7 l5 w! X
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 z! Y. g# y3 \0 @; V0 g( a! P( n
& M) x! P1 F) _( W1 r5 k1 p( k* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % T( w$ r, `' t
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; A& t0 G) W4 [# ^( A$ c
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: ?' F( H0 f0 Z" y. y$ cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The A" g8 U5 K; `( u) Z3 H. p7 Y
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 `3 b7 B3 _9 E6 W: o
better chance you have of securing the best deal.1 K. G/ u5 Q5 y8 v* R2 U+ ?1 P- K7 z2 y
$ e$ _' e) z& g1 ^2 _* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, x9 E5 T# Z0 m. r" _properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
n% H4 ^& n7 ~will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 0 t9 U% i- X+ ~# r% j2 D
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) |: H7 L0 R( h4 X' h7 dconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . s" V H" c8 |* F$ r
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
' c+ t5 r, |. ^die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# E! E6 J3 Z+ A+ L5 c' M& Mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
# Q- U) ]. A6 F( V- F9 e! Xhe’ll close. |
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