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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 ^, M* }7 m, ?# q ?' T
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
# N& C0 ]! j- P' N' t4 B2 k0 Ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
9 ^; r2 Q$ B0 L% _9 bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
9 X* K: U2 H* u' [' {) s2 j. J! Mbegging 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 * y; ^! I3 S: u/ {6 J( ~3 \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- G t1 b8 |+ d+ dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)7 B6 i: D; k% A( j v* R4 [
9 T- K9 K; u( |9 @* A: B* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
% t% i1 _! q" ~: `) i* t2 {4 Iproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 2 x# D9 O0 g% s2 W4 ?6 x3 t3 V
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ ^) z8 v2 F, C9 c. d& bget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with." r- F2 x3 Q) c1 F- |7 S. l
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 v7 B' Q( P6 F! E4 H& l; u" F
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' A) H* E4 O$ `% bcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( R% V' D& }) [$ A1 d* k$ V) w8 khaving a powerful psychological impact.4 c0 u. x: w1 X2 x
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; d! F/ r# P8 `5 Z$ Qcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* |9 _( H7 \8 Lorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
, E& r4 p: c% \the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ w: v. |- E, m) k9 M( M
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 i! z$ y% \* P; s8 qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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6 O# M: ?% F& z( Y4 V* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 j* P$ E, A8 P
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
/ t! ~: t; M& `that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
6 |3 a2 A3 r z$ v/ ]: |( Pprice.# t4 G* y' i3 j: S3 d
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ( I( r5 U5 f6 q& T' D* L
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s & h6 R& j# J! t# t- E% n H6 ~
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: ~" o/ r4 H+ l) Nwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" u8 ~9 r( o7 g" }- l9 K! vhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 W d4 b" `% O/ F; J7 P$ Mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 `# n4 y' m: o& i7 N# f, hSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 E- m1 c1 s! C- bdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.3 |' _ i+ f& L
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ! k2 ]8 `0 e8 O" X
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * W8 L* F6 ?* r1 L; j, U
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
6 ?' K. s2 i3 h Y& K9 Z& }your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 S$ X9 f) V& ~3 c w& qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 o- ]. Q6 K' T/ |1 l
better chance you have of securing the best deal.4 N8 |: c' t- N% a9 y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
7 _$ ^. r# w0 wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 w8 C0 y |0 q- f( l
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 x8 N, |- Y1 x z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
$ T) M( ^: A; t; kconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % a+ Q5 L% A0 @
buyers in during the bubble years.1 E3 m$ p" y9 V+ ^5 a" T( B+ F! C
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
. D2 U8 g3 |; q/ {" g$ Sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 L# A3 ?/ M" q3 K2 h: dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but : z" w/ l( b" K7 s' B
he’ll close. |
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