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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
3 m0 Q' ?" }9 w, k. Efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + w1 ^# @7 F( g! J1 I0 j7 u
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 z" F2 U; y- b! ?the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , e% P8 i5 D: ^
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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8 |2 I3 v+ {# y. m3 ]So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
x3 e! n1 r, K" y2 `you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this |0 y" I. g U
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 * @* p6 d8 { I! C: N, a
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 6 v( ~5 T# ?$ h0 [
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you n# ]9 P6 h8 f+ X& h! O. A7 a
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.9 p5 b# ~/ p; j$ I/ W
1 u/ M3 ^9 @% z1 T* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
3 i) Y( @4 e. w- E* F0 R& P5 bthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 u: u- W+ R/ @7 ]+ m N7 P$ L
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- X: D0 U" ~8 [' L$ zhaving a powerful psychological impact.) w8 P; r, J" B0 G3 y, G
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
D! n2 g7 N' ~7 J4 O" Q1 Zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
, H2 p" ?$ L, A! C forder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
; v$ W: m( E+ ?5 K) z& s. jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' H+ O; o3 ^+ J& p( S( q
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; e2 p7 [, i0 K9 t, zwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.! `! K9 {7 q6 m( `9 K
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 K8 @! \; p9 R$ H oproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; [4 w" z, q4 S$ e. G" d$ b' ~* ^& A
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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+ f; L3 [! H& V1 X8 a5 T* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
3 ?2 A) V3 o+ l8 ?& T9 ]" Q; obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( [1 Y) W& n/ y0 P$ `, m
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % w! L* H3 ^7 A! s/ e3 q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- x" O1 o( L3 }$ ~2 P9 dhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; h1 s* o% E+ M& uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. d1 x2 M! U# x: ~( y/ dSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& B. t8 H& k- y8 @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 8 r3 u: l) `0 o% K4 a9 r- |
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; O& f; s' x6 _) b
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & z7 _( S( h0 \2 k( m
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( B6 x N# o q6 ^4 Lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" W3 C4 F& |9 J' l1 _, R2 r9 \3 ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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/ I4 k" M! B+ J6 A: g* I* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, r g/ x1 u: Bproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
9 b2 a/ A0 n! f. Fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 j/ L6 y' C; N" C
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 4 Y& j0 n. e3 ]/ `% W0 }: n2 L
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , M- a& B- {% l9 m |
buyers in during the bubble years.4 T' @5 k' l: \7 W& E% V
3 j/ x. M8 k6 m8 j7 Q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
5 r _) O' E. }) d; h- E: ~die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 m# a. H8 _* }& Q
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 z6 k5 U- _# _; [( \: Ahe’ll close. |
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