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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
# n# z% O; s& E/ i. p! g' Ifalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( b% \# a- O1 T4 }
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 B) a9 g4 N6 e
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- ?4 a. ?; x; T0 z$ c% j( e' Pbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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2 R: |; ]/ R9 O% XSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
8 J3 o5 M. n% r1 uyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 7 s' `5 x6 X( e# ]2 }
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)+ x8 y& V/ P, w1 G+ [6 d
9 r, \% Z! r8 l: Z3 t; m* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
$ y* ]% J) ^: {( l6 m8 z rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , X" T# C7 ~, I; `# t
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' p! h1 Y" j6 E9 z7 m
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 i+ _# d0 l8 ^8 Q k! ]/ h) M: u
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; s1 p' U. G# I3 z
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 0 } l( f H6 d S2 a0 r
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
9 n. a% P" O/ g. D! Hhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 p* g3 g8 a7 D9 y0 j# Ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' k+ W! F8 s: \. P( n. u0 W! Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ t/ p- B0 x( o1 Z! J0 hthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
- B' U" m& L8 D# Q( W4 j* N4 J/ hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 A$ b1 `+ \$ ]5 wwhat 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 ( K3 f" f2 u7 D# C4 T! {
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 8 [2 @8 B" J4 k! }5 V/ G% W
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that % F" j4 T* j# ]: t7 P X
price.' A, Y( }+ _: b2 f4 B& j# a1 G
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 F" p( _6 }# ^0 v" @0 O* g7 i3 ybusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s v. G! L" c# a- ?2 E+ t8 R6 N5 F
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 A/ b( i* t1 q# o0 A
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ) @* h, y! z' L E5 E* W, X
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ x" r0 |* p- [. v. D
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. . i! W! D. b0 j( S. O k# \
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ' m* ~& m. ~" e) n$ \ H& ]; [
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 b6 \9 M8 Q8 H: |$ u8 u! T, _
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; c/ p7 a/ Y' j6 o$ u6 Pyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 P' r3 n8 E" r& g
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
; `, k( v7 _5 L/ Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! d( o# s- Q7 e
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 X$ r6 |; }) r3 S [
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ N) x) M- e1 u# B# a+ u; [; `
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * {3 o+ `2 Q4 U+ @. B) V D7 a
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
0 w* b, X% |0 J( U) K$ J+ Q* P8 zwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# [5 ^! ~7 u& y* K2 E* ~* |to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* {8 [: l$ P ^- Z- ]consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * E7 m5 G2 f9 ~7 s9 L
buyers in during the bubble years.5 v" G/ D: o) I1 a, A3 G9 \3 h$ F
8 p5 _" G" w2 ~: s: a4 f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ [+ u; J- e- b: ]$ kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
* T* [7 l3 N0 R3 T! Cwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( g$ `4 j' |0 N$ m
he’ll close. |
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