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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
4 O' v6 G% ]8 w* wfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 O- {- n4 y+ I. Hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 s8 d+ ~, V1 L& g% v
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ K/ S2 }+ @7 n) Z9 ~# xbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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1 o8 o1 f: A0 {4 S I- U# \1 WSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 3 ?$ q$ `9 l0 t5 T& v8 O7 e% ~
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 ^) o. `( d+ y g, X- yand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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! u% M0 F0 J5 a* ~" n* d1 x* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many , d9 K I. R0 i" Q$ T
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken Z1 v8 x1 z7 R" Q. K- I8 y! ?
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ R* A/ N4 j' R: n6 @1 Cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! J: u8 g) @0 ?
4 g R! [) r& a, _* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# V2 j1 |( o& O* a$ H; Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 e3 ?' r; _2 L# I" p& Pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* u, b7 j5 ]* h' bhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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7 g3 Z7 j0 ^) X4 `* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. A, _. ~8 I( T1 f( Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
4 ?( D/ U: b( C0 Sorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
( e! g) _! P9 W& J) J1 R! ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" b) [% | Z+ b9 K) I* M* Tnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 r- k4 v H6 \, L8 v+ J1 T* d4 vwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price./ ?/ x* @1 v: L% o3 V0 ^
2 B$ k" r$ K* a, @, L* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
. S2 v. q; y# a7 i5 w9 Q4 Mproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / K! v6 M1 c W8 Y% w
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that - W m+ n$ ]1 t9 n+ ~
price.' r7 y* H y/ T \ P& f4 s) V
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- q- U, @8 f* o$ A* pbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 v6 F1 K$ _2 s. a& q$ bexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 2 S7 z& V$ g" P- R
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" Q1 W# F; ~& N8 X; R/ G- Qhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : h1 t: s( l9 h& T1 C- f
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
: R$ G2 D% K( E$ Q5 VSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 7 R! B7 M( u2 N
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ d5 g5 U" d6 P3 P& `$ C+ }% C
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
' i6 s- ~' Q9 ]5 S/ S. J ?3 {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the " B& I) x: j3 j$ k+ |
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & x5 ~- K: i3 M7 S) L; e1 O0 L
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 C* h. s. r9 a# G3 g! L( t! A
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 z0 c' @* k( Y4 k. X tbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.: D! r5 [5 _/ i0 {5 P f m
9 K6 E1 y; y ?, m; k" K* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
+ D0 [) W3 Z6 w7 ~properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ l; |+ U* M5 t& Y! Bwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ; H- q" p" k! y- P/ X3 M
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! Z3 m' r4 ]$ T! K, R, j: _
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ p% M/ K8 j: u/ i% K" P
buyers in during the bubble years. Z1 X* O( g# h% J |- S) z
% J0 S% Y4 i0 G2 f0 }* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it % a6 S4 ~. F1 q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 6 D) x- o# n7 j" _) n
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 1 Y4 C6 w6 C5 g
he’ll close. |
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