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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a . T* E% t& }1 V- Y8 k3 K
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 ]& k% w `$ U; lbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 K0 s% R4 ?' F0 J/ F
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% D7 M7 m7 }2 a7 L5 f0 Xbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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' Q4 `$ j: F; t2 N- k5 @5 [So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
w8 W- c# W4 e0 r, m& Ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- ?2 f. ]+ X& qand 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 $ y! h; h; L6 V; ~. a: L4 t
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 N0 R$ ]+ \: |* v" Y/ P/ a5 [3 sseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 J) o5 y( w. Z5 O* H: k0 E- }
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 6 g, @! E1 Z; Q6 o9 G9 D$ T5 z3 f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
9 }. K- f. `& X* s0 P; kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
! E0 O$ U0 h1 I& E+ d; a! @having a powerful psychological impact.
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) r2 j; d% L# z+ S3 n. R8 W* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
0 G0 E5 y0 ?' U- [8 m. Ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ B) t7 `; G. X; D5 ^6 \+ Iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 L: F2 g/ v, @8 z0 U( {0 ?
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ) _; R2 i- V4 L% w* ~
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
/ c$ C4 D/ Z: G* Z, ]" E0 t$ wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.( L# G6 l+ [' y6 o9 P
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
" h* \9 c0 k2 g0 Q5 v) ^ Yproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
) G( N; T* z. D" xthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 e- y/ l& }/ t$ v8 b) X$ d% o+ U
price.; d8 w+ o4 r) k; I$ E
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' L) ^. n( k4 }1 b+ c f- y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ; A0 p$ n0 i# b e0 F
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 z$ {. ~- m4 Dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 y" ?, j! Z$ V* G" t, g3 @have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * y% O: x+ }9 E0 n% K. o: X
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ( t/ ]) x& g% T( B
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 7 R8 x" ^" i- X
die 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
" z5 f2 z f3 X2 W& kyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
' M: O+ n4 ?( a; _1 E$ H S' wprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 5 [2 O# v5 j5 f( C+ E; J+ F
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
$ K% @! Y2 }9 ]more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 u# @8 H2 |3 S h
better chance you have of securing the best deal./ s- d. _( V2 _ Y+ g, M0 k# m
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ) L/ g& c* ~8 l8 j" W* m4 R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. P3 q8 S# _% owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! k d4 n# B. n& P: I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
3 a, k5 N- A- u ]7 dconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
: @, B- g3 c$ S9 ~4 `% Hbuyers in during the bubble years.
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% ~- F# \8 v$ }2 m. Q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / P% [; s: y$ @" Z, A
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you % N' r7 x8 \2 l( A2 F' ~ {
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
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