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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ X: B0 l+ C/ i7 @) H& Yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + K4 Y) M! {- _1 d% q
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) R5 }6 x9 R" E7 a0 Y5 q1 vthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ; g/ m/ `9 H8 T+ }
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
3 V& Q# A$ K. x9 ]3 f9 X1 }7 s Hyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ! h0 K# ~& ~/ e4 Q3 {2 [$ q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)4 Q% \2 U; l# ]8 Q& v* B# ]
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
% @5 y& ^0 D+ c1 Kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' {/ H+ o! L# g0 p' ]( h7 ^seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; Y) E# c' m, S; V, R
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 V2 G D/ ^$ {, L& I" D \
( j+ u) e8 r: s! j' K* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
4 V& a: G! X$ K, Q3 @6 g' ?+ Mthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! k( i) x. D4 }1 U1 o4 {9 y! Rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; h) i2 h+ T9 K5 X$ H! Q6 h/ Ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & h' J& Q5 m& P q+ i$ M* A
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
b1 Z! C3 d- w# Z) c' a) border to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 A. k$ p. m; O# d' X' ^
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you , r( m1 K. ~2 k
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get * z7 I" m' H0 h# D; Z+ t
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 x! v0 W3 [8 h2 J+ G* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
6 U9 B! r9 b1 T7 {5 Kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know + _( z* L6 `, D
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
# s! _6 E; |8 ]) h) Hprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 j" s1 P0 y* R4 @% r' t1 Q- |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / n2 ` z" z9 ^- h: u3 @# R# `5 ^/ W
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( y' b; |' \8 S) }2 o( }0 i+ twork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- q: I+ {. D4 i2 i1 Khave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, F) f" f9 n+ d1 y" A- `the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
% {: z- x6 t0 j9 Z0 QSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 0 D0 {0 V( m3 m" s a9 a
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ ?$ M; ? J0 e% R! v* b
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have : I# s; Y7 L$ H: E3 Z+ o2 V
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ?; q' t2 i$ R2 |2 b# T# ?6 n
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into : t0 [4 _6 Q' b5 M4 I$ F
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' c! E7 q8 `8 c+ H2 p$ i1 V
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 0 O0 ^0 i; E% M" B* j
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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5 v) P8 \3 g) h3 h# f1 N* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing : ^9 i; I @7 n: a% Y" G$ H' c
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 R% I% f( [6 O9 w& \ _% w8 w
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
2 f" J1 d* U4 nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; r. t% ?' X) Xconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
( ]3 O4 s' @) R/ ybuyers 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
3 C( y6 d0 P9 P- o, u. Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! l. I( z1 m, C
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 C6 j- t) f1 E7 f: q0 t" e5 S& l0 p
he’ll close. |
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