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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
$ I5 R: L. A) p- @7 }- vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
: x& ]0 ~) y# F" Q/ G8 o3 bbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 9 b, }1 I* S+ c8 e
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
& f) {/ f2 G+ o' dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ x! T$ ^& l! D+ _6 G3 x& Y3 Y
+ F# v8 m F7 L9 Q; X% r3 H6 q% xSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
, _8 V) k" i# M" l) ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
t# e* p8 I W* M$ Gand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)9 b( J" H; ?8 m" U0 g7 z' T
& [$ Z6 Z( }% M, n* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
* C; @+ i% R: ~! [+ u- oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( P: s) K7 n3 ~8 X) G4 E4 u; Q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 H! W, P& P& fget 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
+ L, `2 [; w* g9 ?the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # V3 ` k O. m9 h
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% p! X7 n, S& V& u/ E0 H( nhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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+ J$ a/ O& R) g) {& l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is $ A0 ^9 Y/ v" J: u% i9 y
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 H4 `3 ^ r/ h7 H% P$ porder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 J0 W. g) U Y# ?# lthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
) z+ B" s0 P) |" r1 ]never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
" t) ?! b. c, V5 u% w$ Awhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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$ [% e1 X6 \- y5 _* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # W% J4 w, x' n$ o
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( I+ R, ~' k/ i4 b2 `( zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ E# |5 Z) E4 o1 Fprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
& u( b3 ?4 T( l8 |9 p/ mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s & B" I9 g( d# z# v" T7 m M
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ _) q0 [: W1 J6 V7 N( E5 u& x$ m6 Awork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 1 q0 {1 C K7 n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % c( J) V- S5 \$ \1 d
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ; M/ z, k6 y9 ]. Y* O, [
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will - O( B( P n% s) b
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
8 m4 A1 l. e- z8 Q1 ?your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # L" c# y" i5 i6 Q" @% [5 Q9 G! @
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - Q; H Z: R5 ?( l7 V! @
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
$ Q3 G# _7 W/ D* E# |6 wmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! A# e' d, @9 u; Y% M0 ^4 {* ]$ _
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
6 L# K0 K# g6 Uproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That - t; v( P0 l; K8 _% W6 ^* v8 [
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . ? h& H& \3 {# q: B% o' D
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* m/ Y) x8 o1 ?9 w" oconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 H. e4 T. j3 b& B, M# zbuyers in during the bubble years.) P5 f/ O5 I$ ~. E Z4 v/ ]
" w4 ~# {+ G, P& \3 I) {* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
6 r# ^% }% x/ _' Fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; o) V. j* T% p
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 x& E" @, N# z, nhe’ll close. |
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