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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
( Y6 c" k2 c! R4 b6 i5 q; E7 hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , A& U8 A- T5 T3 b, G9 @# X* i
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
q% X; j3 U8 X" m+ k* Zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and v$ J: R0 M" X; J" k( Y6 \
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ o' X* i* X7 v% v8 g
6 T- A/ Y0 ^1 N- xSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if , C3 F! X. R3 r, R5 \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , f$ V! B- Z* T/ s
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% V/ L$ p$ b7 d/ w4 K* F/ f
% K( e+ N" ]$ c* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
3 { Q% n" G' v& \2 C* ]/ Vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- o# b. V& ?! }1 @1 _7 ~0 {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ d; B+ U+ Y6 E% d- L* ?get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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0 j5 z' P! u6 _/ M- u$ D* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " M4 V# C. v: u
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
6 V. Y0 @% [, J5 }cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 ~! v& R7 K5 Rhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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( Q) G0 G* U( {6 J* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . [8 N9 D$ x9 a8 R, V7 K
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; X- `2 _) u6 l. xorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , v: j$ F, V1 m, f' S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
) x5 V% ?% ^ o$ {: l" anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + w$ u' x$ b2 ?9 V5 Q* U
what 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 4 t$ a: w2 o* Y+ H6 T# O
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
+ n! j' }/ l& H* G0 x7 z1 n5 ythat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
% J9 `5 X/ W; }& i4 hprice.4 x. v' E1 G& p+ c p7 N% g+ `" W
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
) o" K0 F* {& Pbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( d1 s2 S1 K$ X5 C8 G7 T
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 F3 c# z% p& A: swork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 5 t) c" L0 q- D4 z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : Q; Z: V+ s8 G- i* ^: z- p; q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ' ] J( S. n3 t. Y/ J5 W9 u+ }8 R
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 E5 A' @' P( i2 Q0 @
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 7 N8 C' S( p, m2 g$ L$ [$ d
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& k" E( j2 ?: ?5 S6 p4 ]6 i, Oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 2 v& Z# H" P8 l" [% S
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
6 h5 F" ~/ o$ ~% n* M! Lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
! r# @, m7 q" u$ q' Ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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( O% V7 D' b6 A1 W+ G( c& G* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * j7 J0 x% p( f0 \% y3 b
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( F+ ^0 }. ]: K7 |8 p1 o0 |will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * \( h: @( K1 c
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 8 T6 w, e) r- ~; R. h
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * B u* x/ u8 ]/ ?8 }5 m
buyers in during the bubble years./ v/ U/ [& e0 a
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* d) i0 {$ k* q, C9 idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 _ r4 F7 k- v$ k! [# u; w" @; Owill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
7 b* |/ G* }5 k9 u" {. \# x4 I7 Ihe’ll close. |
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