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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
. k+ ~3 j+ p( _3 |1 efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
1 m Q+ x% Q8 w! L! {$ L; e" Xbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all % X2 w/ \1 t& m/ M T3 P, ^7 c; F6 n; b
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
7 g- W1 @7 R5 B3 hbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& [1 K, U/ D0 t: p: r
3 n& G! O: T9 o+ W4 p3 cSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if " T' O) s- R; N) f
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 6 I, q1 L7 u$ c3 Q# B& s8 B
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
; m/ a; u; Z. dproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 b. z5 e0 o5 f4 C' @
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 6 I9 t. X: p% G5 v0 O2 z2 ~% `
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : a+ ^# i4 W# d( e9 }7 B
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 V! m4 _7 a3 O1 H
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / E* c# d+ k N) S; s
having a powerful psychological impact.
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5 }- z U, r- p6 L* p* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * {$ r; x% S8 x5 E6 F2 n7 E, P
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - A; `) p/ Z5 J/ }: B6 D6 [ e
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ B% R* ~' @+ u2 _! Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 \5 Z" n* D& ?+ e9 T' g2 O2 bnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; `9 Q* l U+ ?9 B% R
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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; g/ g2 p0 J5 ?' a0 Y0 }* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 F9 J6 I; N( B9 F
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know $ U' S; {. h# B
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 z+ m) O" `0 y/ z! L0 Nprice.
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0 i6 ]' N7 a0 C6 H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
$ c+ A3 }& F. h rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
4 B/ e2 X, T- X( o, H2 n7 `" X% uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of * _0 w" B( _" ~
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 0 \" m# q* P( v' P
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; {7 N! N" A1 W1 Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( f4 w. `+ K* a; M) a- o aSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 s" [( v8 B- O5 F+ w
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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6 v8 z( E, X( x7 J/ G K8 O+ ~( p* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % b/ d9 a& B0 Q2 q& m
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
2 `1 H% ` e. M$ z$ Kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. \4 x d$ ~$ o) v0 V% J+ nyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
, T9 r# e* ?# T2 t5 u% [more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 E- }' c+ e5 c. S0 y
better chance you have of securing the best deal." l8 M6 U% J4 }5 n' t. C: e2 A
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " |% Z5 Z* z D, F) [
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 p, V R& S+ f& L& h
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
K, }& g) `% U0 Z2 Jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just + |( \/ G# r& o# Q6 \8 q1 A: D3 @! J
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( [, o6 c: K N% W7 J1 _; h
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it & r2 D0 S6 Q3 p# |, s- `+ {3 M2 s
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 A+ ^; w( j; ]; b- t
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * }6 p, w% U! \1 Z
he’ll close. |
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