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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
( D) I1 R1 I* K( R* ifalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* z( g6 w% {9 ?bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# r5 D- K7 _, athe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: @% Z; C# [) q( j- W- s6 m9 ibegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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. B# C7 X1 j4 g+ x/ M7 ASo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if " Y5 L* V: X1 A
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : `: Y6 L# _) H: y6 p
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)/ W3 k7 C) {; j& C1 `7 \
5 n* D0 f% U9 v) L1 V2 D* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 4 v( ?( C+ S5 X: O5 |. o, j+ k3 L
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 z5 Y) V; f* y' T# l, F n% L7 `seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & ~( ]' `/ t5 L# z- O
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! D1 s/ J% t7 }( y% A
3 e9 l8 P+ a8 \3 j/ \* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 e( c8 K4 L# X7 S7 x. b8 y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 T; x3 T f- }& O0 d; H) f' `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 l7 q( ~" N8 d7 u% J$ v
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
?( a1 u; }, d, c/ G! ecompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ) ^! S5 \! x# S; `0 p# h: @0 `
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
: a" m; \- J% s# Cthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you . g: A9 h! L: g- Y" n4 b2 a
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ) U9 i0 i# f, i, e5 Z! x
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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2 z4 ], o. P6 C: X8 f6 r0 K* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) J' H- m7 G) W/ w2 K) Z5 sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / t; u" k9 |7 M9 P5 L
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
3 ]6 `5 }3 D# [price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' b+ t* F& K6 E+ B( I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " g6 X2 B: l! a9 B' ^4 \
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 D* p' G' ]" ?4 Y7 |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : ^) O. F% ~8 _1 r5 m4 e
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 G3 e) w7 U3 X. B/ q7 N' G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. % j& J# n/ {+ ^2 x* J% ]$ T. m
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 0 O% z0 S7 ?, a& k3 }! \' |& M
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
4 s! C: m4 L1 |$ N L* [, cyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : R/ s7 d. k& ]) z. U1 U* @$ r
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# G7 Y, ^! Z3 V& k- A6 Gyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 l/ v$ h% H% V/ ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
9 A8 h. O" U% Qbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.9 g7 {# Q5 H3 i
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 2 G% x8 I8 w) {0 Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ) k( b# v' C# b" U- I- v+ I
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; y9 ? Q" O& f* n. G5 V( }to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * j( P* o) T& o4 L* c9 I
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' l" w* ~) X( H; o+ k5 c( vbuyers in during the bubble years.; H3 Y) ]4 L4 G1 z* d6 m
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it " L- E/ D. I3 o$ ~/ f
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
2 e) @1 P2 Z; G+ Dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& l" b+ G! w( m7 a/ ?5 D$ c" E8 the’ll close. |
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