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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ X. f/ d" _/ i" D3 x) Gfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
# O. h- q" q- c% M$ `1 }- J7 wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ t5 @4 y/ j. c! c' y8 V6 s* j7 o- ~the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
. {4 `! M* {, ~begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* P3 P$ P( K, L* Q) D+ E
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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 8 v$ {' J: u5 y+ O6 ~3 b7 f+ U
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
4 X, j- G" ?3 @$ ]# ]3 eand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)# M, o/ z: r; I3 [
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
5 E+ Z; K6 e9 Q) l8 Qproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . A1 D6 r! i6 U
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
T; z7 a1 M3 Y- u: T2 d0 Lget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.; Z) @+ }$ \& O' ^ v
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on & s6 _- U/ C+ j4 m: e. `# `; e
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 0 v0 q$ c3 z7 ?* v
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " a& t/ j: O% I/ D! D
having a powerful psychological impact.# b' r7 y( w; M3 z8 R& f
! K5 n; Z8 Q" }4 X* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% Q" b5 k, D* Y: ?# |completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% ^: K- ]3 x. A' H, y5 |4 eorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
' Q: N, T) A8 f/ ^+ ?. O e1 K) jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
e- F% H( D% y! ^0 nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / m6 z5 B8 t' m* _6 k* v; s( c
what 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
* O. N4 R5 h) P% Z( yproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: _# S( h( l- {- |. Fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
8 w/ V) u p/ H: J5 D: w& obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s * |4 a0 j, f; X/ N8 r! l/ \
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
1 G+ O, w8 b6 ?1 ]1 `0 ework done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
) {% N0 p- v; T( S b$ D0 @& Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, o5 I) }% A4 X6 V' \% o; V3 Dthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' X1 A! H& D3 N( ]: [, {Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, h' I. \8 p" |% S! a1 Z8 I0 Ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.8 {/ q! U/ [# Y1 ~1 Y; ~% y2 q
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have : R0 ]8 B9 a6 c4 X' `) N+ q4 _
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ L' `5 {" v5 v9 Hprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' g# W( y2 S# q. v; c/ W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : Z% q" v& S0 A" |! D: w( t% y
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , W7 z# J+ ^, w% o6 ]- o
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing M4 p% Q2 R! }" Z1 F
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
5 a6 v3 f% e2 l0 X: n" N* Kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! K' R& n: `3 v& O1 t! wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 7 t% j. j/ A8 c0 z- X1 Q+ ~
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 x( ?. W8 c6 Z- [ j# l. kbuyers in during the bubble years.! @' _3 Q4 h: M5 o" H7 n- O
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it $ Y' |8 k' X( ]4 r9 w
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; ?+ l4 y: q6 k; ~will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ V6 B" x6 t1 I& N" H% \' Q+ hhe’ll close. |
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