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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
5 e& Y4 n! j }: G% E$ efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 z. L4 [! i& L5 M( k9 O% s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - ?5 M% C3 m* P# ]0 u r6 {6 t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 p. B" A" O8 \8 J* ~8 t4 ]; U
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.) p* u, v! J9 Y5 j+ G
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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 / B" r% ]' z7 Y; t8 j1 ~; A
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 d% O ]. H4 B0 \4 `1 {
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 7 I; i; y+ e; \9 Y9 z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
+ X4 g. N3 W7 R2 }. G. Oseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' w6 w$ l: j" t$ K, G6 z$ gget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* P! |7 p- _: L
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on , t& N! s% w: {2 t; C& T& |$ w
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 1 k& I' Z v% y# i$ [
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% z! h* M4 L5 e$ W, R' uhaving a powerful psychological impact.4 Z, n6 O! i* E! x0 Z
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# C' f$ {7 \6 u8 d1 _4 ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ G$ W( q; L; M5 T% e: h5 {order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 Y( A3 |) a7 k# q
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % N V0 g! ?" F8 V- K
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + \- A/ ^7 Q# y9 l
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.7 V+ E) f) n5 J4 q5 \
2 z, A7 H Y0 X# v$ D: _" T1 n* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
6 t" W/ {. {% W8 Kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 7 A' R; K% L! a1 G
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ c% _. T+ K" c, O; nprice.4 l. H0 S4 U7 i0 |; W! j' A) G
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
1 \* f* C) Q8 b3 G$ _( Lbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ; z' _! r3 ~( G: a- E0 s
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 u8 X# |- b6 z# I7 I4 t
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you & [: L" Q& t% m
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 J4 P9 g7 e1 Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 9 A1 D9 L3 n, t% C7 z
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 X; ^% P: ?- L5 M8 R$ ]! w
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + M) ^1 _. u0 s+ \
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - ?# o! O Z# S/ ^
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 5 c- {( k% v2 ^7 \3 A) X0 E
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 Q9 `# ^& f N. v9 e6 imore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 z0 U" n+ K, Q, n0 Mbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 S& q2 f5 r9 w# L& Y, |
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' y _3 f) h# z. _will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 [* Z; J) _# ]4 {to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just " }. |# n/ `( [/ i1 p1 c \
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
/ Z0 F) J( O) S& y qbuyers 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
5 f1 h3 T0 H ~% a- O5 Y( t9 ]die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; b2 f) ^% d4 s- H
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 B; b/ x# w0 ]8 P9 N
he’ll close. |
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