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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
8 N6 \/ Z* q. D7 bfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% A [* u$ Y' abottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 }- z p1 Q! A' n8 Rthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and I0 \/ c& X$ Y4 g/ [) v
begging 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 " @# Y3 g$ i2 O/ a/ D# d; D& `) Z( H+ Q
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ( h+ n3 [& {$ V F
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* p9 b6 N H8 f+ s+ s- {: ~
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : ~; B$ ?& X' n' a( `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ; ]' e, T. q: Q" `% o: `' b
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
, J" K0 E6 x/ q2 d) {+ Mget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ k2 \/ ~; m f4 \" `
- x! Q! X( ?- D* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# g9 c' ^- g; S( T) {the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not - {, A1 D. j+ h) I/ R/ P ]
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 l! z- ^+ X2 P, x/ T( C7 V! |( chaving a powerful psychological impact.2 }1 ]* X" |% m7 t
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 7 C/ W* L/ O! F
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 1 l2 N" y4 z* w0 H: @ y' H7 X
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 D* w. s' W$ K$ L+ Q* o; e5 f O( F
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
' k- H5 a# q j3 L7 ?never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 9 O& n( ]* l t$ ^( `% ]6 K
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
* B4 |4 V9 T/ {$ ]property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 P; i- U9 Z3 |6 V0 e8 fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
0 _9 Q3 }' c& x- u1 W) hprice.) A7 b! F! H. V+ O
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ z7 ~7 G z5 {9 y* C. O& gbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 4 s* N: g$ I* f; V B
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
m% p/ D1 i; V1 z- L# R ~work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; _# o1 w! J C' a/ G5 }/ q
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
( e) j. h2 U# a+ X7 athe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
, t! p" y* X5 a& ISince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ w: y2 o) I1 Q$ U4 q3 e( @
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 G" ?- n7 j$ R6 s! x: ?
! g6 G) ^4 `$ p4 F4 q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
5 ?3 c" y7 `# Dyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * _. c7 q. u3 f7 z7 f
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
6 N% B2 } K" }2 A5 R# myour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 4 M7 ?8 S* f) ]2 k/ x6 e
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 i8 r1 _$ t7 ~. {3 q5 c& \better 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
& H# Y8 \( m; m3 G6 }# eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / Y- i7 q6 }! \4 r% `& b
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% b6 `- L* z6 H" h* K. [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ W% K2 E* G; w+ L% |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 0 ?; Z4 X9 c: }) g3 A
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
! M4 ?' A5 p K" Q6 ~' j& F. Ydie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( {" m6 v. Z- x0 d1 F7 P2 r
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ) K3 f( n) T2 Y- W" I$ b4 F
he’ll close. |
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