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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a g F' T8 r# N& L" U5 n) g
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
; o2 k4 J: J! k. t0 kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ; x5 r# ?- `8 D3 x. q
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 l4 Y0 R4 H1 Z O. H: ?begging 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 1 H* \/ T8 G9 D% D" \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 {! ]+ B" C4 f+ Zand 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 ! |! r5 d) Y5 @' S7 W
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken + g, ^* Q, r" g: Y
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
( w5 }1 I q- A B Nget 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
' {$ |- ?: F/ C Z5 C gthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not - U) {+ k3 t' G2 l* {
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 k8 B* x, H6 J& a
having a powerful psychological impact.
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9 }# J8 N- b! K3 l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 o; v- |5 f7 Z, A" ~7 t
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- y9 J) b4 T: h0 Norder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 \5 X! \) [4 F y* T2 h7 c8 ?0 W ythe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you - i3 Q$ z/ V: D- C$ Q6 o. b, o
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 3 x2 v$ l. z- D' E
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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; f# ^; W! e! K) ?4 A2 Q, w- Q* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 k P `: P7 [property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 O2 K/ v& D4 Z+ A- M: sthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 2 @5 a. O y2 K6 n8 w( c
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - N' D. o9 \8 U& W$ ^( C
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + X V9 E: h$ l5 ?8 s* [
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ) ?; M' e# q/ t3 M
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you + Y! N, u+ s/ \6 `
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of " X5 l9 U& k& o
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ g$ |$ l4 M- }, r, qSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% z# V7 \7 Q2 j# `die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ e& K, r2 T! P" }. ^
0 u6 p0 \& k* V! k" k" i* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 V& L5 N4 Q O% yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 4 R. F* Y, G. q! c2 E
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 }9 w' o+ l- o$ x3 gyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & e+ z9 G+ L# M# y1 h& Q" \' {5 A% u
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 M; [& G+ i/ h; B, M' j% n% E# K
better chance you have of securing the best deal.2 T- d7 y/ y7 w: R, d
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 0 ^4 M: s& e+ G5 Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 c7 s3 E8 ~9 O3 E. K( G. ~
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : x( x4 `* A- e$ g
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 M; k. m/ s4 `$ M gconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
2 {/ r3 J, {: }* p: s8 gbuyers in during the bubble years.! G( E) P4 j1 B; {5 y i
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: O2 _$ _3 }8 u; R- p, D* D3 Idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# ?8 b \" y1 y. |& q* @will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; a J0 T& Q, k! B3 E
he’ll close. |
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