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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
+ G8 _' P% }% ufalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
: V5 D( x; w' R' L0 sbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 e5 Z" Y N- Z2 o7 ythe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # P" D2 S6 c0 u
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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# E4 R8 v( r: }So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
- q6 I) g$ j9 e6 u9 Gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% H. X/ ^, W/ tand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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, ?& n, F1 o2 E, J4 U4 U% s1 ~* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 A6 r$ i4 c. A6 x9 d
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
$ m6 G5 K( N0 gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " I) r% l X% Z9 Q+ R/ ~& x
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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/ L4 g! {+ |' E* `, Q* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& g& ?5 N P( U$ v. V# F& k$ Athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
& }: i' ?) \; o5 Z& X+ X0 hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while f0 _6 v! Y* J
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) p7 Z7 t, W. w+ W# i: d9 Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in $ l* J. k7 }( _" f, d! p
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 8 i: W% |3 U$ U" }9 r
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 B; _% U$ x! z! U( L% ^5 |never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: c. c+ {, o, vwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.- }$ S* o5 w/ C' m) U8 T
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 s' N2 z! ^4 L% ~: i0 N1 b, V
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know $ t5 c& j! S8 _: A, P% B+ o8 F
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 D6 v; f0 \5 N& ?4 e$ N4 Dprice.& t0 y* Q0 }0 A, Y% _+ R
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- r, S/ n* ?! Jbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s $ P* e- s7 {- M. o; {! M4 y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + q& }" Z; g5 J* c0 _
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 3 p# e U9 f/ B1 {! y" R
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : K% k8 C, D W. h! v& Y
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
" G& f- Q" ^& I5 }7 B9 v9 W PSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % O! P6 X" v; _- Y% u M/ U
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 a5 e5 Z0 F7 x
2 N/ J" V) ]2 E* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have X, c9 P9 J7 a9 A* m8 @& L
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
. f! P3 Y) s' a, fprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into : ^- }2 [( t- D% Z! p
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! A% j4 _3 T# e# q% ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ' t) K, A" _9 r4 J h
better chance you have of securing the best deal.8 P" X+ A5 e6 i5 e
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
5 H& v4 d* e6 i9 s0 X+ Aproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / I, I/ V& |0 C/ T# v+ F( c- M
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do + N8 E9 R$ w" Q8 g
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ( ^; a O2 q' Y9 d1 B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 Y% c5 P t9 i2 H9 X5 F0 Vbuyers in during the bubble years.
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1 w9 S' ~6 Y, M* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 1 n' t' N9 ^$ `7 N& s, X
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# P! i( N4 t J. R( Mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; v5 }/ Q, A0 I# v8 _
he’ll close. |
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