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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a & x% L6 V1 @% k; `9 P
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ K1 L- W( w$ ?bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 Y1 J# M& B6 [; @1 Vthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
8 Q7 p t D/ |4 ^ \ g: @- v! g9 hbegging 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 2 A9 f: U: n' r) B
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " Q) Y6 ]# |7 X
and 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
: ^# j+ k6 K. R9 gproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* a2 P5 s( u% S5 l. P! dseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 \+ T( b# T {& _6 k! u
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* y2 X" |4 X, e
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on # v u9 v! r$ p$ \5 w
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 l' D8 g3 J' O: [1 x( n9 h- [cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 4 J' T. z* t$ [% `
having a powerful psychological impact. l$ k) f. n6 R$ Q# }
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 5 H3 J1 k- [- H! J, Y4 d! ~
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in / M) ]7 I4 V' \+ v& v
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : I+ F$ S* U' R, J$ M! [
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' M) {. X; C+ A+ d7 z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : w- \- m3 S% L& |7 Y& K1 a. `
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.2 a: _( X& e5 i# } g) O5 [
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another & ~! ]. ]1 a) ]$ g4 [9 b* v r8 m
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 h/ O. g: o7 C7 u2 C; D( B4 U/ dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 f! z1 t- Y8 C q2 n z
price." M" A, [1 V9 w" `% G. u
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 s! O# a2 D. y& a7 O: ~
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 4 r6 y1 x6 D0 n% C- x( G
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 [! L( }7 d0 P9 g9 Y, Dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : [: B9 R- x4 M
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; r2 H% I: k" ?# n" s9 i# Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 ^) T: J- V1 O7 ASince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. @1 D, ~2 Q0 G, I. I: ~% ~* j) Hdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! K1 I( K* `/ C Y8 N
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 2 R% I: e0 r! i4 o* D8 a- I q0 F
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - t4 j2 O9 `" f
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 S" ]5 t# ?3 j- |: {1 f. b, c
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& x; q. `3 D8 w# Bmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
; }# L* y: I4 g9 C' a1 ?4 g" Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.' ^6 N% a, s( {# C
; Z4 S8 z. P/ X2 e, y& p5 ^* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ D& ` a, p7 ]/ \2 kproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 m- r; U7 H. U3 U, s9 j. u
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 y; t( `- l+ R
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; h+ b. y) M9 G/ Z9 Y# Q$ E
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 g b* F5 [6 q- h/ k# L
buyers in during the bubble years.- ~ z, R7 D9 a0 n* n5 p% p- l
6 N; P9 q1 T0 I* J9 D7 b* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
, v5 P7 Z' Q1 D+ l% {die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' u& ?( n& n* T, \8 W3 @) J( iwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 S& |, F3 H. s( u3 ]+ O: ?
he’ll close. |
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