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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
s' q# h1 {4 [4 R# ` qfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ V ]5 Z" c) ]) K" H7 dbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
0 t+ J$ p* i5 T4 {the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 4 D% Q& k1 @( v' x$ @; K
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& C- K3 u) E) m* {- W0 J3 N( G
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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
, t- } ]. c3 R# nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
/ z0 z+ ]; u* Z& `4 y# kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( r0 ?# Q$ F; Y- s8 n
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken % E' g" L f% n+ t& a
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! w5 h( p3 n. q- Q0 K
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
7 H7 S- L% d5 F$ E" R1 Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( T6 G. o/ o' ]/ \$ Ccashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
/ [: b. \4 U4 thaving a powerful psychological impact.$ [& t: G1 k" p% F( _* F1 ~7 w
0 `! p; X% Q0 c( P7 H3 Z6 o' ]$ T+ n* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& c0 D3 T; u( H/ ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
1 ?& w% w; M5 gorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" r- u/ `' t7 E$ z% q3 E1 Lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" x. ?; B2 J6 S1 {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 q" [: v8 n Q
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) V4 C9 e: x7 d# y, f% I! e) o
. j: W f% n& I! N. x* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # l; J0 l. w9 d! w. k0 k b/ w$ Z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 o6 O! p( q6 f- Wthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& b) R0 e- e7 v, W' m% Zprice." Z! E& K8 \+ _4 L5 }6 o
# ~! `/ T4 w5 q7 \0 m8 _1 r+ D" c' m3 R* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 8 J0 w/ Y8 T4 K8 V( v4 F' n% f; y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
6 P. ~9 S2 D) V5 @2 Gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 S4 k- S1 R- c- Kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ X( M) l8 v+ F( J. f# Y/ Khave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
* P, u2 M8 l/ j' tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 U5 W z9 w4 k* j
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
# [1 L1 F3 F6 g% Y1 Y/ tdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: X% X5 p* o8 `% f6 Q# m4 I
% ]. d1 R& @" n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
]: }& [, ^1 J0 _& [your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
- m3 N) [: g, {% ~% wprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 }! Y# x7 G& V% C. Uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; v G( M9 k4 Q& Umore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
8 ^* E0 d, O% |" fbetter 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
; u2 ?4 P; J7 _+ e8 mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
; e+ I3 v) X; i5 E# q) Awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do l9 E+ D4 W5 B% o8 F3 W1 ?
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 9 g6 @$ b) R6 _ u0 L/ U
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 }) M, q* C# E% ] gbuyers in during the bubble years.
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0 y3 o- {! p7 B; W$ g* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: O% Q3 H% l; ^( x! _0 M6 t7 gdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 B. g5 e( x2 P
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ' I1 N r% s+ B- z: f8 v; i
he’ll close. |
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