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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
5 e6 y+ Y2 F+ b! K& Efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 8 l+ Y+ G( m2 |8 n" h
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 0 ]2 O! u/ K7 d' E
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: o. j+ P6 K& X' s2 cbegging 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
A: u+ c2 b" qyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" A" m$ k! Z( a- p1 S2 @+ gand 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
/ W e* d% U, k: ]1 v- r& L4 Nproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 6 Q! t; N/ `0 p7 U- \
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 p) B7 Z! M- E% o J
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 v) R( \! l; m" \8 @* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : C S& K1 |/ X+ ~/ ^
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
$ Y) G4 k8 [7 \' a9 |$ L* `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 3 H+ d3 ~7 Y7 N% D, B6 T8 B1 p
having a powerful psychological impact.1 c$ U; E9 j& ~) v. o# h% ~3 k+ D
( U7 h6 m# n3 @3 [* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is $ E y& p+ m& t5 h$ m8 m
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - K0 l; ^) a5 f" e' R
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
V5 `# T% S1 t! V4 ]2 [' D( k5 Nthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 z, N; E0 _, C9 q: L# v
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & @/ H% t8 T% _* s
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.+ I# D( C. v) y( C
; t: p) Y: B2 M$ q* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 |8 ?9 q% d( d. u# B' q6 Bproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 ]: D, g' q1 t) y/ q: c5 p
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that # w/ {8 d7 l( |# T# _( H
price.
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\4 C: G4 U8 |" ]* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 2 t6 d" W5 u) B% B& c$ x% H
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
8 }7 k; t6 p9 A& sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
+ k `0 S) Z$ C! Q5 Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 6 C1 v# L: t; n8 g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . y3 n3 J' o; {: p# Z/ y
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 ]% p3 E t M# ^) k
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 n/ J* s! } W. P* A1 m( Q
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . i0 h O$ w# h
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 N J: r, z( R& l8 }6 Y5 f
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & B, f1 N7 u- O" T& M9 [/ Z, b
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
5 t: t2 E" b2 n, G/ V6 z- l& \8 ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
' {/ U0 [4 U3 J7 z& Bbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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1 t0 a: h5 v1 t) X# H* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing % v& W3 a# Z/ L' q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / `' [) F$ B8 l' l# n5 B N/ c
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do + s& l, H! d% B+ B
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % e- g1 |. a4 f+ ~# U* {& ]+ b
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
2 z+ Q1 T3 X4 g' r9 Lbuyers in during the bubble years.
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8 U# w9 t. c" N% ~$ v0 ~" B* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
! r. t% i" K0 B O4 x+ edie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ j+ S' @; f9 [! T# T) ]5 }will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
7 o' n. Z* j( j4 d5 xhe’ll close. |
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