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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
+ Y. P2 g$ n- l8 Qfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the $ u" b8 R4 P% G* h& G3 k F
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 K- `4 m6 P8 Z) \6 v0 P9 _9 o+ othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : b5 j) i! Y, {, i! l% G* q
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 % q; ?* E* V% M$ ]/ z3 t3 \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* f) T9 _4 y* Z) i2 Dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
0 V, Z( q O- {; }, Aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 }2 w, Q+ {9 B2 S% zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
/ G/ o ^9 C& `/ l4 aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.# `% d4 \9 f6 l8 F* g: g
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ! ]9 r+ a, G& }
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not * Y" U5 I a5 h& S! _7 V/ U. p/ r
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while * `; g% X+ r+ o- t# W! m3 d+ F4 N# j% n
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 7 N& R0 u) |. [4 ^
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
, o6 B e, \+ i0 ]& ?) porder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on . I! j8 Y- }; E5 O# Y/ Q. B9 `
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you [4 O; w3 r& q+ r
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
. z% a+ j8 T7 ~. ~what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 N9 q+ c; o: g. t$ Q9 y
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - R1 k% d$ v, [5 T/ z8 z2 v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 1 h. R3 c% h* R( E
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& I2 y. M7 w! v6 P' s N- A5 {price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five : Z- T7 @; Y( r5 ?0 v/ B( h% ?
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 ]8 _+ o' `* S/ r; f& C
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of : O# i8 T \ |- U) X7 B7 k
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, h- ~3 |( K8 F( u! Thave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
* s8 Y, [( ~) u) W$ B8 lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' `9 |" F) J2 j) RSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
w+ Q) N5 ?/ U' Q/ `4 N: M7 }$ zdie 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
5 c# i O3 ^$ H" y0 Q O7 y9 o0 Hyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the . B9 Q$ _5 F, P* a5 Q) n
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ s: r: h% |9 g* f2 V" T1 ]! Yyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * w9 \/ j" a) _7 m& j, p' [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
; B5 ^& L3 p0 j" K ~% U& Pbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.7 T# { T5 E. E$ `. p
" M! X% e! |, G' \- W4 @% O* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
- S/ u' o1 A7 j' R6 u0 {1 J, n' M, Cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( j, S$ n- z5 swill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 h; Q' w% N5 w6 Q4 K
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 Z. h: n: V" e0 `. j4 B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 2 C) o% Q+ L0 [. E' I" h
buyers in during the bubble years.
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2 F+ r, y+ F' @* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it . U/ |+ C; U, {0 }; i
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * k0 C8 t, z% t$ @5 S
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 J' M4 U. i1 j4 t- e5 @) ihe’ll close. |
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