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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
: T9 C1 |& ^8 lfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
! J1 ?, C3 |2 x7 K( y! Y( xbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ X6 }. P+ } \9 `* a
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; k1 X2 H8 w9 H/ C* s0 c$ nbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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' q5 d1 r% a6 JSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ' ~. C% G4 @1 L- c
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
( d& Q7 a/ K3 _4 qand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)) g0 `2 C+ B Y7 n U+ S/ }) j% D
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
7 s1 g* s) V( }4 g. j8 Aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! A4 Q+ g. p! K kseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 D/ y; F$ S) s$ |, q* i+ ?
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.: _( w$ l+ @# ~5 \3 O0 R
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
0 b; i7 }: X- \* l- Ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % H, i% E3 i; ^3 U0 `6 Q
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) D' \! j' X% W# ~) Nhaving a powerful psychological impact.4 c* k0 B: E! R2 A4 d( q
2 J D m+ K$ x; s* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 {) l) F5 z4 R9 y) c# ~+ ~completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in . O5 b( U. W/ S( L
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
: J' m( K1 i' P$ \the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ( U* o% M8 ]( Z3 Z2 x
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 L% |& H& \# L) G% h' A" Ywhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) Y! w. [2 {# X4 C9 }4 {
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another : c/ G1 Z" A. W6 c6 D
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 p+ j- T6 y4 y* I; j
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & v6 `5 k1 z. Q- T
price.
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" r# P! r3 [9 P& X! C& Q3 M* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
( M u2 ?0 h' r$ Q2 I4 o/ B9 K$ L/ \9 qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( R0 u7 B6 t) f b5 X
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # I( `6 j1 e* x
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 s( r6 j* q* g* j I- L# r3 _have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' W! E5 F" p% e7 `! f) B
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& D, \, M* P/ w' @; U( U2 @* \Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& O( b5 s( y$ b# L0 s4 adie 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 & _" N$ T6 J! u1 v' c
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 1 f; l* W0 ^2 c: M% T" K
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' a: f0 P F$ ]7 |your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 ^ W) T3 n# U; R) i& u, Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! H7 C, [; p) @8 V8 d4 a6 F
better chance you have of securing the best deal., q- c6 Q Q% d9 j
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
/ M+ }9 Y) K' o. Y5 f) h. hproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 e6 D3 x. O7 J2 D. _1 i
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do $ O; L6 @2 I* t- Z ?! o, X0 T
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
: _3 w0 P& I; Q3 G; hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 {( v- V' i) i E0 r( u9 n& e3 ~buyers in during the bubble years.% o/ P" X3 n( v8 X
; f6 G: b+ r7 ]& L1 E* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it + B) j9 v' Z4 b( @! U7 U
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 @1 v* Z; y2 e% H. g
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but + Q6 X. b# ?1 ^
he’ll close. |
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