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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a , R- z% e3 @/ q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ) g" l/ @& Y8 Y- f
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ' [- `) u2 M# R0 G+ f4 m/ X+ @3 t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# Q% ~, S- N- M$ Abegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 F* \) m, G3 o& `, Y* E! ]% F
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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 * z- e3 ]& F* t0 W! g
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # g- D1 g5 s8 Z5 j- L
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% b/ M4 |& @# E, F* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# Y. j( s$ P0 Lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
4 `: A2 }! h8 L9 C1 o6 T' gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 f9 Q, M4 ~) V$ W( q% G+ B
get 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
& Y0 c7 l0 o, T/ v1 k; P1 Xthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not : x, o$ {$ o8 K0 B
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 O. |2 S" D4 S- O7 o/ @; h
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: m* r& }7 x V7 ]* N+ ecompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
, f. b' G9 A1 e/ L' w$ T$ v- ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
* k& U4 x# I! \the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 6 N. u! J, ?0 Z! j$ |4 T
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & `" Z2 X# {1 K' b9 Y: ~& v# `- i1 Z
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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) s" F6 M( O E. i) C3 d: ]0 q" H* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ v6 @3 L. o' {' m$ n4 o/ dproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know . T. P/ V/ a5 k/ k% y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' [8 c* }! j0 J( kprice.
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5 Y6 R- p$ f# W) w* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ F, L& F- w0 }, I- d% qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
: L. ^3 d5 E0 v5 ]; Wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' L$ y# G* v6 Y4 qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* T9 O1 v" a6 M) ^. v9 j3 ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 d* j F& a* pthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / k5 y9 ]# g8 l; K. ^1 Y
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 u: _' t1 T) E6 R
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.) S8 l9 V4 f- l1 I
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % @6 Q, x% B& ]4 j, E$ n
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # i$ F9 p$ l8 {4 o; ~7 p
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. F+ v. b$ p& k8 M) J0 |your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ; |' s/ B! Z7 n; ]( X- S# v9 _
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
/ }9 v1 e1 z$ _4 J( bbetter 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 : X# d" q4 B7 W4 f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That I9 v: t6 V( l& i& e4 ^ M
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 F% d* J+ F+ g' z Rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
' d# n+ P: G w+ Fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % c, C& h/ \0 s9 I) T
buyers in during the bubble years.
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6 O) _! h0 w0 L. D) T* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 5 d& @. I+ k4 W+ S: z( _- s
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # c8 @& a% o; v! D0 V9 x; Y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! P' B6 z7 {0 G
he’ll close. |
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