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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 6 K+ n* R% J: W9 C7 S- h
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* m6 m- d) \0 abottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
. b$ \* h) [+ @5 L- Zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
1 p+ N' `3 e) t- L+ w4 W# Lbegging 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 / J6 j" z& I6 F4 {2 @
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, j) v3 H/ ?4 l, \' Tand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)$ c) I7 F i. L# U3 _/ L
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
1 k) v) _7 a5 z0 H, L. b) b1 Iproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* @! o$ W: @( C* Fseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 6 D* Q$ G H# ?4 Q) ?9 S
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.# M4 l# _* O: L+ t- l
+ | l" B/ \9 N% p! l9 L. w* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
4 l7 d3 _) S( H2 w6 Y( Y3 I# ]the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # J- O( L6 e/ {, l: w$ _
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while : C$ B+ L/ `# M
having a powerful psychological impact.
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' L$ v! X7 [$ Y* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# W' E: s; g4 b0 z& k9 o xcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' P/ w" Z* n! W* x$ o* {) [2 t! h; {- norder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % X: G3 q+ W3 H7 {$ o$ I- C
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ) i4 w- X+ w" x' f% {' k/ E
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& G* M7 S/ H9 n7 S7 nwhat 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 4 d6 M2 _8 E0 A$ h& [
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
Q* \3 w8 L! e* {9 F1 Cthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 8 ]% p8 T7 V+ |& }8 Y
price." d1 x6 I8 I/ A/ D9 S" k% {) K
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 L' s5 M* l$ \$ B$ \ u4 xbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 9 x/ m# Z% r& {$ a6 _; y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ |( j3 p+ r& K/ Pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / q0 h8 v9 _$ R
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 |7 J$ |2 c! \6 B
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( u4 {# _8 K& `# \5 l1 \; H' VSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will * i3 h0 s. c+ i/ P
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 0 ]% n/ q t+ E
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& ^$ e- d# W% U& C- I [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & g% N% _7 ?2 U+ j: a, {
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% r2 L, _ i/ l" X1 {8 D! Vmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 W% Q8 _! z- `7 N8 Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.9 c. u0 p5 M7 y" r8 p+ R- q' T
2 h. h0 _$ R6 i3 K( D* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 1 c0 i* d( o, M2 W' H
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 s1 n1 k! f+ l# Gwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 O$ f* `9 j% J' B: mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
9 r- @# _. u1 w. x) }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed & c7 @6 z/ b3 s1 m5 [# s) G0 Q& E
buyers in during the bubble years.
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% K5 r7 g2 p1 m7 j. e* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ( v1 X W. x7 t/ i6 e9 ?3 q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : }$ `1 [7 c& O; e
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 F* o7 U; n, B L
he’ll close. |
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