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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
1 ]7 P$ K0 D; ~* _( l, r5 \! Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ e4 @' ?8 `! T2 `2 ~bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# h- P9 C5 a& E) n* u dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- z+ [; b1 U1 |/ U, Wbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.8 J2 \! b9 `' M" B
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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 7 b B4 @+ i. c+ ]7 b4 C1 R/ B% b& {
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % D: X* p" ?% M0 I' h3 F. Y$ y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); ^8 I6 l0 ?4 x
' t' Z- x' W2 p( ^* x/ ?& {- d* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
. \ ^( L1 H j- \3 I A% Cproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 T* v2 j8 u4 A+ Q7 K- O& |& U" Yseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' p. y# Y1 k7 Q4 h2 [( R! j, x
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 v/ {$ J# s5 v
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 U- e1 a/ z1 ocashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* O2 S* N$ Q$ O E6 L) S7 W/ n, phaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% I5 m9 a H* H. c. A$ Mcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
7 k: s$ g8 X# x+ D% Gorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! \1 \; k& ^$ q; Bthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you / R' T: W1 I5 w: g
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 l( G K" X) h1 V# N' L
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& d% X& U/ h% _5 P* d! a. ~4 ]7 l
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
+ m# L7 L! C4 r! e' z5 Aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( P! S/ v" [( uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) y- i) K! O b) W' h/ Z( J4 ]price.
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0 a7 L, |" Y6 F% s- K1 g* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
5 R- `) l& I2 s- D5 Nbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! @- |6 k7 _' x0 t! o; {expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 i9 f& H8 F( j' E: E5 Y, Owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
! ?2 ^% Y4 }/ H" ~* Z9 k# w1 U( f4 a" h! zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of |0 W, s% m+ Y& B9 u7 ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 t9 |2 y+ P M1 M7 z( hSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- Z. l9 X- N8 p- ]9 _1 R; Idie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* b& T3 U% n8 g7 v+ Y9 e' [# J
* D* Z7 S% B4 T" Y& |4 t. j& n2 |* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& a3 M! f: j' y4 f6 `your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; D6 z- K5 I( m7 _price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into + V* `8 o3 J3 `& ~, T. r# B
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! r9 M$ A; v8 |$ ]' kmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
/ j2 j5 l8 X5 j% P& c7 ~better chance you have of securing the best deal., L" I$ ^( k& E
# x1 u5 d" V* ^$ o A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ; {* N1 w" ` G# T0 U4 T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 6 I7 s9 a b( ]3 b; u5 M* b
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 i0 z5 s& I0 z! B, nto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
1 o8 z) s) D6 ^consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed - i2 Q/ _4 o8 N. B
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
$ R6 Q0 T; r7 Idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 b+ ]" _& {7 j, Owill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * L* K7 ~9 l, A; q% }4 e4 k
he’ll close. |
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