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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
8 c: T+ C/ J6 j! z7 Q b; Lfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% a. ^* W5 G* D- V+ i3 [bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# Z6 w9 @: {$ H2 ~6 mthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" V+ n( s; R( {: M# bbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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$ B0 t7 ?" X0 FSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
$ R! ?, y8 U; }3 e4 oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 5 f% `* M" s) \0 [
and 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
6 e- D t$ c" i7 ?1 S, j4 {7 Zproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* `/ }6 l+ e, m* r2 Wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 T' u: X: Y6 j7 X! W/ Y9 d
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) K# s4 H- s9 [( J( `
7 \0 S% m( o/ V; v* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
6 ]. _; n' h# Q; u' F( P2 kthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 @2 I' g' ^1 _cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while & P: ]% |+ ^6 T- N
having a powerful psychological impact.* }5 L. w" |$ k g: P' u) u) L
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 f1 b% j( R6 X! X- c
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 4 w z7 C, O( z* w) C A+ m/ B7 Z9 q
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ; [6 v8 b9 O# t- ]1 f) m
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! a! k# o' O/ Q- d: V6 knever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
- B" E( z; S% b* Zwhat 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
. Q \/ E; t: r! F4 D' [. vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 o* I! W+ i4 z& y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 8 M' S& |! N: `2 @& }
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ) |: n6 N) d# s8 X# z
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
$ |* X( a- E8 N9 M* F" Dexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
7 Q7 ?% Q) h( ?2 L! y$ o& Iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you % H& O; N# ?; k
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 ?8 _. Y& _+ L3 G* |# T3 A7 vthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ [6 D% q, C0 [( u, O/ w( S& }8 xSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 R- B3 f& v. v% c! P8 p. pdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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! |# l0 u8 I* Q& z# E. b* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + X' |) Z' D. U7 b3 C$ [4 w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ x5 \( _, B& ]: y3 z
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 o) T1 h1 ^* [' h1 s1 e' x0 i6 vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 ^% H/ y& r6 W, W) a- v) k2 Ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 O! m/ O) `1 [8 e; E
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ j1 o. \2 z0 ?) X+ l G3 q
# u" H/ `$ v3 H; M2 j; {- k+ p8 {, ]* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
6 \, n+ Q" N0 Z) yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ t* ~- i/ S1 F$ { n! N( c2 Fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
- J0 H7 h& ^' H _to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ v) `5 w' u# u) oconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
: i- Q* ~7 q+ Lbuyers 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 * `/ H, _+ R. r
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; ~6 Z- P7 O1 @ h Z- Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
0 b" V8 k$ T) Yhe’ll close. |
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