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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
" S5 a8 P8 s/ S+ J8 B2 y; s" }& q! ~falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 Z/ n! F0 D& O3 i: Ebottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! ?1 [ W' [/ ^1 x& e
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % O6 E4 T0 `& h( q. N3 W
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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- {5 W$ x6 a* W$ P7 \( hSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if - [+ M8 W) ^+ I" h
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this + u3 A- q6 @: L8 o$ w; u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)2 Y# t9 u1 [+ e
# I1 l/ v4 m' L- g' T- \* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 1 s& t9 p1 L2 M+ l# B' `7 R
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 4 `9 s7 _& M6 u& \5 c
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you - l% z4 D, f" V5 F7 x6 ~: T, d
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! z4 b+ D. ^( [" R5 a
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
$ L5 O6 [/ m6 ?) d2 ]! [) g( Tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 4 l0 u H$ r8 O6 w1 s, c" n- }% p
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 H- l7 O9 J* s; \2 jhaving a powerful psychological impact.* m; u7 b$ v/ F0 U0 c
( g$ Y7 f S4 u- j4 t* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' U* [7 ~5 s+ S1 h/ z* D+ P W I
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 ~5 @/ m3 f$ i& {order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
& [1 \2 ]- V" H7 r% L! |! Sthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. N. U$ S! P# i N, n: q# s) B6 y9 xnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( t( B, v" I) }! x/ t
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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7 [3 ^. z! I' K( F+ p3 W/ u9 c* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) @! b" Z Z' y5 kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 Y- [9 G v g) S$ v$ k
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 E2 n# ~9 H; E. @
price.
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6 z5 x2 X% Z& d5 S* F# e8 u$ J+ p* Q* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five * c' D2 d6 K; H
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- w1 _, z9 A8 ~+ L8 f1 x. Nexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
* P( J; x& A: w f& {; q) Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
. Y* ~- x0 j& V" X( P( Shave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * k, y( [9 x1 `# H/ [) M2 G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. + a% G( o; T# I# w: M/ k
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- E$ ~' o& S9 t9 qdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! T7 B/ m; m( z; `& h& Z* j8 ^
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # f7 ]0 Z) T: t! b
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 z: U1 H$ N* \ pprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ c( ^ N% v, @) Syour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
) d' |0 Q1 Z2 ^" E8 s; bmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
% o: k* S7 p% q' w! ~* }6 lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.& Z# l+ `4 ~: S4 X9 ~
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing n' O; z6 ~: G6 W) u) R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + w1 [ y8 d1 `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
- ^2 `! V# ]9 c4 d) y* |" H- Lto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
2 W D, {7 {5 _, k- Y* Fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . ^3 m( P+ @4 V9 T
buyers 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
9 C7 f* ?- }0 h3 c: X) `1 m. Gdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you $ t" `% J1 ] T7 m8 _: W' T) s
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * d. r: `- k) T4 b/ o* Y( \! ~
he’ll close. |
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