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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
^8 Y0 n' R W7 q3 e1 A" cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 L3 `( u% S/ G, \2 Kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& l! @$ _& |" D8 G- H) J3 Lthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
1 p# D5 a5 X K1 A. Q9 c# wbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.) U) v7 F& d$ [; e$ _
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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
$ Y2 ?+ v7 w! Fyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; {& N' w. U" s+ {* M: Y: T4 Iand 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
. x8 z6 _4 L) b3 g7 N+ jproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 h+ i! M$ z$ Hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
$ R6 W. N. R7 S; [- U; \get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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, i& _0 T# u- X+ c* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& [7 {5 q6 p- [ R4 X/ d% F. S& H. y) Cthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 V& p2 L; H) F8 g/ Kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
5 G! I. k# g8 qhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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) a" l5 K5 s" B$ `- m2 t* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) c0 \# K3 d' l
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 7 ~7 y( k {) c- G- \
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
: j. [9 k$ `+ N) Xthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
& j8 x/ D2 W- @5 K( Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
" j. m/ O3 E( N! h+ jwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) R" T, s/ L7 J/ e5 a
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
( w* Z8 L. a8 W n% Q/ @property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 n. C2 [* |- z* R# D* a- Athat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 2 u9 t6 t7 H( h; m. F
price.) l6 T& ?) e; X2 D! U5 |( Z
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' \, |, j9 }+ _" M! C) X4 z2 v- L- [business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- X1 B$ @/ W# ^& A& |) C% ^' @expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( _! A# g" r' y l; Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 5 r# M5 ? y1 i1 l3 s# s0 R! {
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, [3 y" _' R3 x* Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. . t0 m: U2 O4 Z y' w- r
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 4 h* J- ^( c% H* b: T9 h4 V# I
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.% O, e/ Z/ W1 ]/ j" d3 Q
% W& E* s8 e2 a* [) P( f. [, q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 3 j) j/ n( U6 N0 W; ~$ m
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
2 h) F( z* q- `* ]* @0 Y2 Y( {price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ) O& a m& R4 ^* p7 b, g: Q
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 r4 T* g, M: W% E# B2 ?more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
D( N( ^; K& v# n4 A5 G8 Mbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- v# j7 N0 _8 ^' E* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * J6 B" s: `5 C' g/ ?
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
& E% @& ?& d1 M( W, ~ J6 Ywill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
: b* G2 R. w1 p, i5 \0 S4 o( Eto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) J# E1 I2 X- e; kconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
! e: z4 G5 G3 Y$ E4 Sbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* G. m) i( U8 c( \& W* A0 M* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it j+ f. o1 _" F, r
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' v- a% E. I, T8 M% X5 P; u
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but % r! y' N m: d% H( o" Q* Z
he’ll close. |
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