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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ' v* u+ t0 R3 O
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * Z: d5 H$ Y6 s8 N4 n# a7 O! h: Z
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 F" K7 a2 B) ^the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, }; o7 y" x& e$ wbegging 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 " w8 L5 J$ p3 G( {6 j2 d( t8 M% a8 e! V
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
/ \+ @" K( `& V0 eand 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 / F2 f$ U5 o4 q7 Y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) S Z/ n- E% s0 ~ Y/ P; Zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; B4 h9 ^8 L" ?4 @! J
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 4 x! c$ ~: H8 n3 }; S% ^2 N
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not a- [* H+ ?0 C
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
+ g# i# J+ p8 W$ fhaving a powerful psychological impact.( t$ c; ]! _# U: \% \$ E
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 4 O6 Z- u9 x# M
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 q% O9 A& @/ P2 [order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on . r3 W' X, \ E1 G+ d% d3 B g
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" Q7 b9 D' q1 m3 J' nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& u' ?1 Z' M* S) Y" ]2 w2 ~8 C) Gwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 f& J) h4 A" ]2 _3 l* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 _* f6 q2 Y& \ K
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
) W2 G! ~, O- i* Qthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
. {; B+ ]% o+ \price.
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' g% J- ?( W% e" O9 N9 ^; C" w7 }* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five + V& Y' i" Z6 S x O
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ g+ S- P Q7 c' i/ y+ Iexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ! t6 V& k9 f5 O A! c
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - a2 c. Z$ F3 e! E' { T
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , n8 u1 y7 C( }+ b- I# V% J
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. & e7 T5 K% {$ r/ ^' D, W! E8 t* f
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) F( i2 E1 Y) T* k" I. Xdie 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
' z) s9 q! T; }your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# I* z9 r5 B4 w( Q/ v8 Nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
0 I9 r6 f; @$ ?" @5 g9 N- Myour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
' G6 A1 d8 y/ y* C. zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 D' [+ [2 C, Y2 R, L. K0 ybetter 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
, p& r$ N$ s8 Tproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + B# k- N8 v+ \ X: P Z/ A
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / G& D/ C% O$ b) t7 `' k
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 Y* X; F0 E6 n
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 8 Y& J4 Z3 e' X& C% L: D8 @" m0 P
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
: f% w/ b" V/ B4 K) r6 `die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 D m5 Y# W! T- w# E" j
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 4 ~4 b3 h* N( c* Y3 p
he’ll close. |
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