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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
; F) X6 U1 P! w5 P- b3 Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 V8 H7 x! Z# e; tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ O' b+ f( |% h; T; _5 G
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ s( j; L8 y! C
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 w8 W, a4 k: f8 V
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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
: R) f, Y5 \. D. i/ c ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
5 |1 H3 R+ z' m: h$ _ oand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* y0 ?+ N$ a7 N, q* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many # Z; U: L" O4 z! L/ a0 `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 \4 }0 o' K1 F: s. gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 5 x: L9 M* T# `8 p/ i9 @2 ]5 ~
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.9 Y+ \2 B, Q' P1 z1 V4 u& X6 m" T1 F' H
7 e6 C$ o9 a j2 t3 V9 ^3 F; F* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 w, k# p% Y5 m" _* h3 b
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! z1 ~+ r* Q- Z$ ]
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ y; L% ?/ `' O2 I6 M, }+ W5 ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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9 g8 q* b6 ?; C* N* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is + D% A2 U! m4 f& e3 U; ^4 Y! t4 L
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ k0 ^. a- n1 i: { Oorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) a3 q$ @2 n* m! D( `. D
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ ^; d! z1 c9 W7 j7 g0 k. q( J$ m
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& w: Y( R2 |6 Y( i9 y% Bwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 2 d6 e6 F0 S* a! g7 O, v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( D! W, K$ Z7 v( n
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 h$ x o4 B' c+ z3 M6 Tprice.
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! `& U) m% P. w3 i6 w3 d* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ j4 D& `. X( K6 cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - u+ _- {# J, m k3 \1 ?
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' Z6 }: U p/ ?6 n7 `/ c/ swork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ B4 Z6 B+ S0 P; ?2 L0 w2 Zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 K& z7 ?& \0 q, U1 O" ?8 t* W& x9 bthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 7 X1 a/ {0 G3 b5 f% x# J0 l
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 u3 l- O8 _3 x T% H" a
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 ! Z# X$ I& { w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 O+ K7 O0 f3 Y* ~2 n3 D9 g/ I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
0 Y7 J$ P, z5 {" m, M4 p, c qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
. i; |& \9 L$ p! O9 t/ xmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 J& P/ ?8 k% G; h) J9 B
better chance you have of securing the best deal.6 `& U! s8 C, k
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 3 d& l% R" L f0 g; N
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + _: R3 I! F. O& |0 J, C- O7 F
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, t8 t" {$ ^1 s2 W4 Nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % F0 C0 H: \, I: W, C
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
2 k# L6 j. \# o- F1 Abuyers in during the bubble years.
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0 s* Q; ~' r! @4 N q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it " C+ F9 t4 D+ G0 {' K1 O- F
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; K/ T, w1 w. {3 ywill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
4 f+ o w9 f7 ? e- b5 xhe’ll close. |
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