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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
% `" Q& W( Z( H8 t D2 g: p4 ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
: Z0 v: ^$ [3 E: T1 k; ]bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 g7 F# `3 F3 |9 v& [. `the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; @& t) j7 J$ d3 D; X$ gbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.' F3 J1 U4 K; u+ l7 }
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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 9 i! R1 ~) k8 L% |. L1 {2 l
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" U; F6 i8 q- I2 f* x ^and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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. L6 h, B( ?+ j( z' H9 _- s* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 3 Q# Z2 o- m0 v/ N2 r+ R
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , P. Y0 s8 s, R
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
% h3 p( Q+ q, @7 o; Cget 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
. Z# h6 k1 b4 L0 n: ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' w+ x6 V1 r* K% E$ N, F
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ) }% Z9 f+ X" {! C6 O) ]
having a powerful psychological impact.& D, N$ J- q: V/ |% ]
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is G$ F* M( G4 F+ J2 m( d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
# B" }) G: ? j# {# ]7 Jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 C. E+ y8 B8 ?; T/ ythe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 9 Y* o7 A) F$ _+ ?1 ~
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 b5 E' J. i3 t- c0 ~) n6 l+ [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
- G+ ^* X) w& b; m* }property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % h& Q \& B. S# x
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ' R g1 j" t3 M t% d6 H# N. V
price.
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) F) Q# P# n( B* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ C( j7 Q- I/ C bbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( P1 o( Y2 Z8 Q U& Vexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 S4 x! Z9 Z( j& b
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 5 e# ~. ?9 G5 |1 {
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
- C5 d* Y+ S% t+ {( Rthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
; \% z C/ {- K ?* v3 `Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
: M" |/ i, P' Z: l9 B: x9 |& t# }die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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8 n, S- j* A/ r( N* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
$ @% c# X2 Z7 ?6 Uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - J# F2 X$ l6 a0 r% E0 z
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
4 m) r/ a! C4 ~7 v; vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
7 D6 G' g6 ?9 M$ D/ Emore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - K8 r8 L8 T2 f4 z
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 K* _. m% m W9 e2 Y' ]% p
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; w0 ^/ x0 {7 m7 J& j" k. r
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! K$ Y e$ Z. d3 X- W5 Q0 o. Sto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% w! I; o8 O$ @( a9 K6 Y0 wconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
# z x$ }* o/ j+ [buyers in during the bubble years.
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- J8 d. e) o0 J9 ]6 P8 p9 N, B* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, N, m( y4 b, N; fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
2 U4 m- ?6 j8 V) R S4 D- Cwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 d1 i/ H- n: }8 K" b# @he’ll close. |
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