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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 9 g) E. x3 a7 o9 _* j
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " m" A% ]7 X/ c
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* E/ y1 d0 d. f- d( P* U. Dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 8 ]3 B: B1 u" ^/ P7 s( _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 x( Z- c3 W1 r1 N2 j8 O
" K% d% B9 N Z' W' }' pSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
9 |/ m( `3 x* Y8 x" a, ^+ Myou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this & v, m) x9 i* m5 Y" R
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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; |. g J4 N0 J4 \ B: D* y* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, `0 c+ M; i9 ?: n A' sproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken * b* h' H/ v$ {7 S; o2 I7 `. i, J( T0 O _
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
3 @9 Q' i1 K6 T' aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
* ?$ g1 v8 t, @8 h" S# n. o, N% ?the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ e+ k/ u" y, |3 J& D t4 H
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 }6 Y" u0 @- ^- S7 l* Phaving a powerful psychological impact.& J% e% L& K( U+ n3 Y2 Q
5 z( R- G( q0 c+ x5 `5 w* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , _8 }' u/ P3 J6 M) ?
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
8 z- _9 I" d. n: s6 ]5 F2 worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 m) ?8 e4 D/ Tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% N, W/ p. n- t9 e) X1 snever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) l1 \( {* s/ {7 d
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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# O7 R3 z7 H: C, o* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
- ?$ x9 c2 J8 ]; |5 P9 tproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
+ u' `4 v) Y! H( V& }3 {+ ?% gthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & t% x( d+ N# l- y, ^
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ( _ J, e' q H) z: I" M
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 ?0 y0 o5 E \! d
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # \# m" t3 x) t# Q9 M; r2 |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 5 r: R) Q; J4 R8 ?
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 2 G+ j Q5 x" W
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) ~2 R& G6 V" rSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will c( _$ @( D/ b1 y8 R* y0 S
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 # n" n& Y5 V2 T+ T+ }) V3 \
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the . N" A& u! k7 S
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & o2 T% X0 U0 K" q
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 E) r% m) O( d) F5 E1 R
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ }* c; d8 _) T! fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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9 U3 Q8 \! b' D6 A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
7 `8 @& _5 X- u7 i3 Z5 }properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
+ ], m3 Z' Y! p4 h. ?5 awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" b/ {0 Z6 q' O# g1 [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just _( I3 S& B8 F
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed c; s N* i+ }8 F) R- ~1 P7 Z
buyers in during the bubble years.
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! r' j+ I- [3 Q7 x' C8 H* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
2 x. [: }" j# Wdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 2 G; C6 p- r1 a8 ?% D" F) p
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% e8 R- l i2 o; F2 phe’ll close. |
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