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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
H0 J" ?/ ~- t0 p0 zfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& n% ?- {1 |9 L: ebottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ g% Q0 U7 p0 f/ I# Mthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 3 r- p9 p8 ~; _0 Q
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., C# q; I1 Y7 @
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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
( K) k3 N! ~$ X8 Lyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
9 o% m: M# V% p. j+ iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)$ K) @7 E' c8 E! F5 t( O4 y
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many & P/ J" Z1 A! j9 j
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " {& `# Q$ x! b, g) R6 d* @
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' _5 v: D r0 l, {) P4 _
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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9 J. a4 h9 e4 a5 u4 M* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on , i" u0 r" J2 P
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 G# I* ?$ r1 [1 m
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% S' l0 m' {: t4 h# y( \$ Hhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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3 t. R8 f$ S @% R, @1 G* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 e. k+ m' X$ }
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 k. p1 e. f- s& v6 G% f: T" W2 d
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ' m! }' N- P# U! P+ l8 q
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
) W4 ^) K; v) s1 rnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 d# ]' t$ e4 s2 @; I4 r; \& d4 \9 W0 Twhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.9 n [6 Q) A5 G% z& ?
* }4 ]* q1 {' [! C* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 g# Q, @5 i7 z' y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know + b1 h: U3 u R# R2 X' e+ y/ l
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
+ ^( R4 c& z( wprice.7 Z0 O( g, U7 L9 Y/ Y0 h2 O; x6 I
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ; u: g. @: i- `, [" ~% d0 Q3 @
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) y% O, b& @: C, E1 {4 B5 pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + J! `7 c! R9 X; K/ k
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' W$ [4 g5 x, s" ] X
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 q; @$ B7 l& B. T6 z
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( R! V3 G, V. e) g+ x" I! v% O( hSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% r- W. s7 V' P1 [+ @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
, h, A1 k8 G J/ i/ K8 a! lyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
5 ^% n% P$ t4 A# Y; O' q3 xprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 b) S! p; A6 Q; F& S( Qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
- X7 ]: z0 r/ v5 t( [! _! d* o/ g. Hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 [' b8 l! T5 U+ ~. L
better chance you have of securing the best deal.% {- Q* X/ |) Q! \- F2 G
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
) J: a( A, f& cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
- q( q$ T' M- P3 R, G" uwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 R9 e6 Z0 B% J$ M9 u( E! d% ato save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * r( i! t/ ]' ^0 w: S m- q8 U
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
& p( d, g) k! l( U+ k+ [( L- Lbuyers 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 9 A( e4 g- G/ A# K6 _
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
5 `9 J3 d3 b; k x! t5 e+ rwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * a3 |. I5 e9 [
he’ll close. |
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