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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 1 ]/ ^6 c4 T5 `2 V
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( r6 i6 M7 U! Kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
/ m& p5 W% ]. x1 ~0 e$ vthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ |: `" r+ q. v w+ _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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7 E8 ]8 R8 j: }0 m9 I/ C9 T; aSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 g# R* Q7 ^5 ^4 n; g/ f; xyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; U5 K0 Y' }; E& H! c: k: j& Wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)/ j# g: J6 d( z- O
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
& L, N! N7 S/ h: u2 Pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 p* g2 S& B/ ~/ S7 q0 R& U9 _seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
7 b5 u! L I: {! S( S1 j8 y$ {' S' Sget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ ^7 O0 m% x$ d! B: i' O
0 ~6 R: l- [4 ~7 x* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( `. G. N3 A0 d1 L$ G3 i
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not , F. v; v& D5 @/ a( y( d% r g3 I
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 O% L9 {9 v8 X: w! ]. p# K6 H: W
having a powerful psychological impact.
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4 s. t' Q/ r, E6 H: C( g: J* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
! l# d, X0 V7 P+ H& w4 u+ B7 Wcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # ~- I. V# R+ X( O1 a/ M: c
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on # i3 U2 ?7 ^3 m0 L( C( W
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
s8 {, f, h# d, O' \' i: }! l) N* a! s. Lnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 V" u- f0 p+ \5 O& E) y P
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
0 [: Q. {! N5 {3 z+ Qproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 o2 w) h1 L& U0 F0 E rthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 8 d5 q- g) H; I& p3 K! `9 t3 l
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
& T5 Z& F- L8 K( zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s # ^ @; Z1 t4 i- [
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ! C5 N' e1 [7 X! D' V
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you % F1 j. x( T1 Y: j# Y
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ z w( E" u( A8 M: Xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
L+ m9 R; |- B$ S1 D: a$ w5 ]! HSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ j: Q6 U2 S. t: r" D( k8 ldie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
v3 O# t5 s0 f `your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # P( f# |. D& @( R6 d. F
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# ?7 l& F, R- {" S7 dyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 C% f, i3 N$ J- Z
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " S5 }/ n% F# w
better chance you have of securing the best deal.4 _8 Y* P, _& L" a5 h, F
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! n& V) C. }+ F: ?4 t' q6 J
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. X/ \+ a' E; t) H; iwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 4 ]! U( E( S8 ^0 J8 j
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
6 N5 j4 n, A: h0 M/ O3 |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , C' {( W0 V! |& F
buyers in during the bubble years.- k$ j/ [! s2 X0 v6 O
' I5 j+ W* D+ b/ [; N4 o$ c5 R* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 x* G d: Y& |. f# ~7 H+ E4 sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
8 O7 q7 J. Y# `" `4 @will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but [# q5 X f+ W5 |( M
he’ll close. |
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