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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % j' @ P2 C: u5 o
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the | P. d6 P6 k K: q/ ]
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; W3 g1 m/ P3 c, d/ Bthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
9 J9 W( n% ]$ P6 l; I- c# [- {begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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4 L! X, A0 C0 I, e$ k, aSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ( {- v6 F3 P: C: h3 W
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
( Q2 j8 T+ K+ Tand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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2 B9 z+ ~4 v* \* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 G8 Y- v g- H0 n% ?
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% j; {, p* \; z) Rseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 a( K2 W" f0 W; q) ?
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.( [, P4 \3 k' i) ^2 p0 F
$ e6 P, `: C# c! P* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # w; ^/ f: z: n" k* Q6 G
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 y+ H. [, r7 z8 Z- Q$ `$ `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while # ^( n7 }2 Y! ^
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is y- }2 t! W1 b/ t
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
k0 J' l0 w! J4 S! r/ a1 |3 ?( I* dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 ^$ b+ x: r/ o8 d Mthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : V2 s. x* M( d ? g* v- A
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
( h$ u w6 Y# ^/ E5 bwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.% P9 A% ]5 C& d0 \9 {. f
+ H$ \) V2 `9 A0 i3 S+ {$ n/ F* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 0 l4 t5 e% q. |$ s% O9 @
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 y/ q& s% I: W7 zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 3 F6 j3 Q" X; e7 v. X! A" G
price.
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, }- A' M( K* O+ v- Q. H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - U* _+ y" c0 @" @1 P) k
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
% @8 X& O% d5 \5 Wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ' G" {9 [( ]& `; X6 F4 Q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : T0 q0 G" g A
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 K# A- y' X/ ?the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
6 D' E+ S) E9 {" CSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
4 n- {. J% `4 ], g' h4 U o; M1 D. Vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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! ? @% S% J; M; N. e% k& e/ `% C* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 h& W; i0 u; A& l: }
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the / `8 h5 M& z" ]; Y
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ' B4 p4 e0 o/ W5 o/ z K
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 v3 z# F9 T7 ^
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / d" x+ P' w& W% O+ W% M
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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5 C4 ]: u V: ^- b4 [* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 5 S- b7 @4 e4 r% h0 \$ t o, P, H) Z
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 6 C/ c. a* k+ \1 y% l
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 Q$ Z7 R. l- v4 H2 v+ r" Vto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just / s) t9 y7 s+ P4 ]8 d% x
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 3 F# C! g3 {) t ^/ q) X
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 2 b6 [5 G, Q" g T" Z+ k% q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you + @% W/ [* O9 r0 h- I
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ' \0 }- S: f" [
he’ll close. |
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