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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
. @3 e- X9 l' X! Vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 h: P: {- Z$ v4 r0 g
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 4 @% B" X6 F5 @, K& f7 i6 n' c
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ j% m1 {" f$ v* R7 r4 @begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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9 `3 V/ M1 l1 ?% k; J! xSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
4 E$ j6 N1 s1 F L/ G2 C$ ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # U& @1 l6 p# q/ A2 H1 r
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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. I4 {$ w4 F$ q' U* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
1 I& F1 O1 Z) }% l/ x% T7 c( Rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; \# e# B+ ~; r$ {8 {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 S( X2 X# N* n& k9 j Pget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 \/ } R7 W' o) G, E" Z
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " }& x; R$ T# h* e. b! n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 f5 O' g3 {) @; J2 Acashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 9 t) i) [' G1 F
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% `( p- |% M& L( u2 S8 T6 fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ U& M) Y& N: n$ L) Korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on / m. _- f$ p4 b I3 E7 w' x
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : c+ ^( u. ]6 _
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get # D1 |1 m5 s; \. i/ M
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 m+ K7 Z6 @% n) I9 o1 m* b0 ^! U
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another % z% t/ v! d' j
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
9 y4 Y- b( U/ r" M6 C% Ythat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 1 k% D. @" u- \
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' _. m* J2 \6 F6 l3 O$ Cbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - H) Z. `, Y5 ]0 k- \; k% @
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
; f- @$ z3 m# \( e. R* x% kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you # z( }! h& K6 T
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 W$ P% _. m! b9 V& Othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
: |" K3 L/ X4 n, e$ g/ e' M" jSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
0 t3 X6 B) n0 f/ u8 S- tdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.; z* Z' y; s: Y& O. K, D0 Y& Q% V
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
) P, k6 E) H5 N0 }! j% c6 h# _: eyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 Y3 L: Q! o, V# J& I: x: e" d1 vprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 q( u+ l+ q# h" g/ a; g+ K7 @your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
/ A [- g% s, [+ {0 L) Mmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 I4 z! G" e5 Pbetter 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
2 ?. K0 w, M. Gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 B- f, e8 m! ^" |
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) Y) k6 \0 {% B/ |2 Jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; Z/ P: ~3 L* y2 L# c4 x
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, g" w0 f Q7 E7 \( ~' D2 ~% Pbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; l5 U# z5 v$ a8 edie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
% t- q( |) S/ I& cwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but , [0 L" d9 W9 z
he’ll close. |
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