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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ( `0 x5 m# z+ P6 S4 J
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& ]" {' p4 H! B0 T7 M& Y& Cbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) E, J! V# |$ @0 p9 d
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 1 ]5 Q4 F' \8 x4 p6 K& B
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
2 i. Q/ E# U* s/ V3 q4 jyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 5 y" j/ @, U$ a% a+ S
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% s2 s0 E/ ~! ^8 }( r4 o; y% _* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many , k. z) Y$ q# ]1 j) Q2 F
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 ~+ O$ N! r S% Y2 {, Q$ ?; V# @9 z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ W7 @" I# A: H; [' Iget 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 4 K8 Q% E4 M( |( w" w+ n- s
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 1 C6 f B. u/ k) G( {' D. g6 O" p- |
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 X9 ]' [3 R' z7 |" V0 `% E; `having a powerful psychological impact.* A1 `+ k5 ^6 `9 L- K) {7 m0 r1 h* a! u
* E$ n" C% C5 r+ W+ A4 K8 M# z* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. D2 E+ I! N5 \6 bcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 8 ?* Y* f# X+ t/ E o5 {1 X5 W
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
+ V8 n2 ~) z3 z/ Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & j/ D. A+ g u' a8 t
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 3 i; X1 i/ I1 h. c" L
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 _% ~8 S6 r! z" x5 l( h! r
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! p4 Q( m3 P1 L m: R8 w
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 a3 F! Q) W5 I4 V' L/ F% N# x
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ?! }. J+ r$ e- A& x2 D
price./ ^9 w0 _8 }/ B0 }/ m
|, V. p' H y* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five " c8 N+ H! K, m$ u( ~2 Z; L+ _
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s , e2 `1 H6 F @& ^5 a5 n2 |
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; A) C( B& k. E3 T7 Y' q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* u A/ U" ~! g3 s+ U \ Fhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ j. i1 C& r! y! w7 ~7 {) _! s( uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ C3 h! D- u7 r, \) I3 FSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ' j' }6 X }" x" x" e* U
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.9 @$ W. A! y$ c: b1 Z& J3 {
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, P5 v' u/ C9 d: ^your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the " p6 E+ `2 E7 U! I3 h/ ~2 X$ q
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
4 [$ Q& x. q4 s0 F/ q5 N) q7 lyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 x- H4 S/ p8 Z+ B7 O9 J2 h9 Gmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the $ U2 h" y K% A* a
better chance you have of securing the best deal.: s# V- J: z; A# D$ n& M; n
K! c0 C) }0 A$ F* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& _" t+ n. s# X( fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
O. V# o, T- g7 w4 bwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 ~, F q! |' M: o }) ^
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! v$ F9 f. c& Z1 H
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
- ~# D; [: u( l; U8 Ubuyers 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
/ R; H) k0 D+ A; \6 ]; Z! R7 {die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( S3 ]+ G+ Q) v3 @8 Y. e/ b
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 j3 Y# q2 M7 r& g4 V" rhe’ll close. |
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