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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
% y3 D+ F+ ?6 e( `; afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the : U3 [! `, Q2 ?' a9 b* v
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all " l8 \: }' R3 Q7 B# V, U
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 Q+ {% o+ b3 n8 Bbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.' X$ f7 r9 e2 W% |5 B/ x. _* m E
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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
; G7 s9 U, x- A$ R) Zyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- R. c1 |/ u# Pand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 z0 k% |* R% H
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
c1 t2 }% o* T8 s9 c" [! r. y2 Hproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 Y- L1 l( D6 b4 B6 lseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you s' P% d0 N$ i* x- P. B
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.- u9 V1 d- d+ t: K; m' o
, K5 Z& N# }* o6 T! [0 S( i* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
' z8 H9 b7 B" H7 P5 g+ v2 Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 9 t/ N/ |5 Z$ O0 _; q( g6 a8 {
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / r$ h( G3 W6 k
having a powerful psychological impact.: D& F; J, [5 P8 F9 d
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% o& k. }# M' M. o' t$ ~7 _completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" {, @& [0 \" Korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
7 [0 a8 X; h7 ^; @+ p( A; J1 ~the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. f% X% @/ h! Pnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
- l$ p. M q( z. Q1 L9 h* nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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# x& j# q5 X8 j/ r$ h, y# S- U- r* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
6 ]9 `2 x% {/ {property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know - Z u, l* G5 W: u& f+ G& `& Q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & W" [: ^: k& }
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
8 Z" `" X+ z: y' {business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ; D0 x! T: B$ R- a7 T1 j, H5 ^
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ( E; h" Z) P9 s; J5 L: q! v; l
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - i \1 p$ K/ x" Z
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 n: w% ~) x4 o# q" I5 m
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. # |7 V0 d3 m$ a: q/ e: T: m
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
" Q6 V6 h9 f( U+ L) r5 ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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, a' C$ j# X2 M. ~* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have & x* ^8 P, g, E# K
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
- }* k7 r9 m4 kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # c( w6 F7 E0 F) j9 b
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 w. Y3 o9 f; C/ |more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ; I$ P+ B# a. M+ o4 h2 W9 `( D
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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: [: y2 b" \, z: E% {! l% t# E7 {* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
8 d) f: F" T& d' Hproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
$ z; y2 u4 e; z4 |will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" y+ E f9 W3 kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; f( [% P' @* @2 l0 n/ N2 m jconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
1 b$ f+ w& I. r3 ~ fbuyers in during the bubble years./ b) g8 K2 Y0 E6 G4 K
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ w4 N$ l2 w' `+ f* o: Kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 K8 g2 K% c( ]) J. M5 Y3 D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) m) m1 K4 q3 x: M) v7 c2 ^% J% ~7 e# whe’ll close. |
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