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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ) b1 p% ~+ r2 c! H& x) c( p
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. M1 g2 U0 E2 Z: {; Zbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
`9 a+ b# \; u$ D5 c* Y& n. p9 Kthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
& P5 t( A W* k9 ubegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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+ i5 g- l H1 F* OSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
# O" O- C+ i) P" Kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ) a# T! B0 r8 [. ^- @8 I/ I
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
, D C* H" P, n. lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 K- X0 ?! G& @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 l5 O$ [0 s K" j/ o6 p0 iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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7 q$ m4 B1 S+ f& C7 R4 V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 8 {5 O% G4 Y3 B5 d: G
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 `2 Q4 D% k* q8 | h( d3 e/ T3 V* `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ E8 ~/ z3 L# `0 g9 lhaving a powerful psychological impact.3 @% n) J2 w( V
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 S5 u! k' N( r8 g! ]completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in $ U9 C x k/ O/ d7 r
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 8 n. R/ [, [- q/ Q8 H2 v
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 1 k9 K- X8 L. G' J) A
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : H( n/ H- W* h( J; a
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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0 S" ]# e' N3 l: }* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 I. A8 o+ N. J n3 r8 i
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know " G! m# z* f i/ m0 n; B
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ W4 Z' n( _" vprice.
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9 D; [$ t$ ^( k& G; R* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & z0 c5 x5 H9 \' r
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 X; ~, f" k( G( C. l; p( v2 a) @
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
/ Z8 f" x& U: `' v2 z3 W1 e0 }. \2 w% e/ gwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 0 n! t. B$ ^- u% H* G) e
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 e( b# h' I1 ^1 M+ l4 H7 X. N1 f
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. x; f% i; \$ F9 k1 x$ k5 _5 S7 V( s/ nSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
}7 W& x, _4 S J# M5 |+ kdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.& p, p1 T0 ]: T# C2 b. L4 [$ h1 \% K
2 a, W6 [+ T8 {) j$ y8 M( Y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
+ }% m. K7 {; K7 S; n( {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 H( Y8 u; W2 ?4 I* h, ~' j3 i6 [: D
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ _' o# @- w- M9 \7 U; lyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 h6 t. N4 A1 k+ F) o. \ ~more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! h C' u' G1 v$ o5 u/ Z
better chance you have of securing the best deal./ |! \- b8 k& F( d8 N
! [& m# N( X Q0 L8 c3 x* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
( e% V" |- s. x! Fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ?1 ~0 Q! y5 i- y$ a0 r
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do $ H: g' l; b: ]. j" w+ E; I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 Q5 d) q7 W) I" i/ {/ N1 {
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
8 n5 S: | L0 [5 t2 R K" \( e9 Abuyers in during the bubble years.$ r! J2 I4 g. |/ x6 N
' ?; E. u+ x. {6 O* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' }: M$ m# M) l6 B/ m$ G
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you / A+ x- N3 \0 d' c" i
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! c! D4 q& o" B
he’ll close. |
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