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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % F3 N. ^$ {; \6 m! f& m
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
6 }/ q* Q L- s# wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' l5 C3 J x, S9 T* {5 jthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : {7 q. R* T, g% |4 n" S2 m
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 u5 o/ q9 ?; @3 o7 q" [' ]
0 ?* y' j' V: {- ]' x9 HSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
3 K: ]6 F3 {9 D& T+ l* |you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% X6 p( g) H5 ]) ]0 p$ H& `/ sand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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$ r, W( L# \" A" N, }: S* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( m( G/ u+ X- f/ H
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , B2 J/ w; y9 p( i( q U
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' I# C/ h1 \+ P. K7 N' m9 T& q& xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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+ s0 P- O, @1 b% `* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
2 N5 W5 { G2 ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
$ P" U* `5 x; o3 d3 E7 rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 g. C- L* O( Z/ o" y% J
having a powerful psychological impact.+ i4 t! D6 h. ]' a$ D
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; u" Q7 H0 f6 R/ \4 D0 Zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ @/ r9 {4 f. r9 \* Y2 Iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ J' K" ?$ h% m, |& Othe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! M& F& ^. R) v& J% Qnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( T+ o2 L5 v/ ]! `- gwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) T. B- M9 g F) m
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 M' \- a1 T6 R1 }4 z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 `( B# l/ e3 @$ s* e; ~
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that / c3 K$ ~% m% f1 x- Y4 L
price.
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' S6 _- c0 D6 S2 e9 [& y* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: O. F# Z' ?& X% }2 L* {business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + J# T% V- |. U( X, \3 s
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' k/ N" w# a) {3 x1 m' Qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ a( ?- Y& M. C$ w* ?- N# v4 r. g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
/ m" a1 Y& y5 X; p% g7 ~, N( p) ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ E2 n9 Q* ~! P% TSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; W3 o# |5 O4 v8 i. q2 Z- odie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture. K* K8 W/ M, D% u$ H! \
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 W, p" y2 p+ k/ E
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 Y% v8 C, C( r, A7 ^- l- {price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
4 D1 ~/ o9 O c. Y5 i, a, myour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
5 G* v8 U; p2 f/ G6 U, `* Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 V" J5 _- v b- @0 w
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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2 q2 W3 G4 `5 \6 s' M0 D* A! A) |* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing . E4 N* @- B- U5 c$ Q7 b2 e
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , @9 x& l! S L5 |+ u
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
3 y" o8 [7 |& d5 ?% y5 u/ \, [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
: y- x7 H+ Y/ `consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 5 C e, X7 }; {" n+ L
buyers in during the bubble years./ z A& d. y0 }: ~. E7 F2 W
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
3 V. I6 }8 ?, Y6 F3 s7 y5 Rdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
7 {& k. v. ^( i, s+ Vwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! f8 z1 _. t* e* o. ^$ vhe’ll close. |
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