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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ' O6 D7 u* @3 V
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( m0 W4 [1 s7 W3 L9 t# O' A4 j
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - j1 Z" ~2 V9 z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ |+ n( c! b4 u; X0 Mbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 E6 ?* w4 w$ c
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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
5 Y7 ^0 P0 h) s0 Eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
) ^6 k; Y# p4 d2 S- \. h% Gand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)1 o# K# g0 B3 ]% W6 i Q2 X" H
8 l* C0 {$ s, i) s2 K- m/ ?( o/ Z* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 4 c/ ~$ F2 G$ Y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 [# K) o, _$ E; L' g5 tseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 L- ]! z' ^' @# i5 Q# S+ gget 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 9 B5 c3 `3 H$ K
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 A1 d9 s7 \6 n/ Mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 c1 d/ V, j4 g4 c, k% D( j4 V
having a powerful psychological impact.& F0 X+ X6 C- h% Z. i* z$ _ J
9 v% l0 {: K1 j* q6 T1 n* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) L2 B8 T0 i: M3 C$ ^2 s! {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in * C8 e' G8 ]5 Y; B- N9 |
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 A) }- {5 w0 V. w
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you H- [0 P* ^5 Q# H, K
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ m* Q; N2 E1 G+ v3 D8 p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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5 O% L/ _* |8 p- h& i, v1 I* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 m; {0 q$ l, \( sproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ b+ v" x, Z# {% ~8 y, r: ?2 `( Rthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ s* D7 `+ }3 v+ i1 H+ aprice.4 N: T: L" j/ g& u, k6 ]
1 U* |( `- G5 a) L* A2 B* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . b/ u6 L" Q+ W; J/ h- M& n( b% G
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! X w! a8 X. W8 e2 r
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . t+ b, y3 T2 I7 q# s) X
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , F$ v; O. Q" {( X% l9 Z1 w
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 8 _6 n W: Y8 G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
# ? y* _9 X8 y- H+ ISince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ c' C! ]7 G3 c; H" I
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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$ o# G3 e% ?! ?$ Z2 y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 9 n3 ~# h8 Z0 [ B; K. i; a) ^% F
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 1 Y; J& E% o% [9 s# {. U$ A0 w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ! o; b- R* y& \0 ~; T5 Q4 L
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The , p$ {* i' a; M/ g& T/ m
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 t9 Y# g6 G$ ]5 b4 k# Z, l
better chance you have of securing the best deal.- K5 T. q. U+ `0 p* ?
1 M0 ~# d2 t6 `# F% `* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. D8 o! X) G9 o& }2 B7 d1 Gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That # u) K9 |7 q& h7 Q& b
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : o4 k+ @5 S( y8 }, ~9 G6 x
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) @6 ^- d" H3 `1 ?consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 |* `& \) ]( D# w% f& Bbuyers 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 ! q) j4 q3 M5 @8 [
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 p# x0 o P: ]/ w6 ~4 e! F
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) A1 Q5 c2 U5 g; u& she’ll close. |
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