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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
5 r. r/ S4 \/ U3 a2 _ efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 T9 F4 x7 g4 |" }+ ?7 D4 `bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* _& l' y7 d6 r- h8 z8 k6 {# j7 ~! zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 t- e# K0 U, f" t9 S, S$ \! u
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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. [( `: U* V+ E4 P* SSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
4 D, a9 I+ V' e' D/ e/ Y/ Iyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 5 p# P9 s( t. _8 K/ ]; x
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) O& _* ?% P+ R2 J% v( z% A; X
7 _" q# }* E+ K) [ x( w) ]; V/ `* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many {3 q Z( K$ x1 @% V6 N: o
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " f$ X/ D( j- f* M
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 w9 V: J2 d2 o8 c' z4 Xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 s8 V/ W0 a& q$ l+ D2 B- L
+ I$ t' Z, j, _1 |* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on * S: S) `. D3 {! w% w( W& ?# c/ c1 w& E
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 p, k8 m+ d' ~8 y+ t; a hcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
`/ n- U- \% L4 lhaving a powerful psychological impact.% U) z. J8 p1 x6 j& s; E
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
1 O. r# R2 q" ~completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 C* u0 N0 {9 k8 ?2 e& `1 I1 r' D2 sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 m/ s2 A H: ^
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 1 Z: p' B4 U1 V: P/ O
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , {* d7 X& B% p* [3 {
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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; |0 \3 u. Y5 ~* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
* G/ S# ~! v, \property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know & X. j9 p$ X0 N: I& C
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
, P" D4 P* b% Q* a; { Z6 P) wprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 D) a, Z- W9 N- R1 \3 Qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 2 V7 O4 J+ c! ^6 P/ |2 l0 t' W
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
# A- W. T% i/ w6 V% v1 K5 rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you z1 L. M: w* B& ^) g8 g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 0 Z: P' }! }% V3 l" v; o1 |* ~
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ ^- N {8 e5 L F& f: u. PSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 X/ n2 D; W. `* h+ W1 rdie 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
" j$ Z/ e% R* |" }" l7 w. Yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
$ K% T' U! _4 l5 G! Kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 P" m6 f/ s$ u f; ~your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 Z0 `' k" ]5 P) J: O9 v N3 ?more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ' n% Q6 _8 R8 y, J: K! r
better 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 K% J5 ]2 Y% Q( U- p- S5 T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, L# i% Q" F5 c( N& _0 vwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " U" G( x" ^6 i$ l4 q
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ) ?/ v) R7 ?: c* X5 E
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
1 W3 j* \1 f h! l8 b2 Abuyers 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
7 P& E( |6 ?* P2 zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- `* c( ~: K5 x( n! ?9 }( gwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 x" Z }0 ^9 ?9 M1 X4 w) K; A& Ehe’ll close. |
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