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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ Q0 w& M, `) V( ]4 ?5 [falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
5 P9 s7 K0 E% P: C# D- y2 K; vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all G9 C9 t Q' l1 Q& Q' j7 S
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- @- ]% l6 Z* ~1 lbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.2 |( J- t: ? ]2 M+ x' b
! g. H# x, V- {: r8 SSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
* V( m4 s/ R! S) K( `: `4 h; i, t5 R1 Dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this * w+ o- o" n+ p& P# C4 o, ?: \
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
" k H' j$ K/ O4 y0 [" J7 W! Sproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 1 X8 R! i/ I' [+ r
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
4 W1 s+ X- _3 Jget 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 9 j) h: B% ]9 X H- O7 b
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # i9 H# r7 ~/ ]6 _
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 Y, c ?4 o/ _3 Z8 h% s3 Chaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . \& e" |! @; s& `
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
4 w7 C) y3 c$ n+ {, ^7 aorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# q |# E, {& p. o6 _the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
$ n! _+ @. m4 Tnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: B9 s" T' }: y/ R% `2 Gwhat 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
7 J& A7 _+ V/ c9 O$ ]" kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know : o* J# f1 x3 V$ |( A% W
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ _# A" P+ F- o* c1 o( oprice.6 @: q1 s4 u2 |- e) v
5 B+ n+ R3 ]8 h; s: w1 t2 V* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - c6 t* i( z" p) k0 W- W/ H
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
$ v1 i. X/ ^& ~, uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 K# b: V8 ^$ J
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
1 G8 c7 _3 V* K* h6 h% shave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 1 ~0 g+ E) m' X
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
6 q3 ~% ], M6 t1 p8 }) @Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 4 v, f% T3 {+ \
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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& ]6 C3 _& z9 u' m1 u5 B$ a* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have / C& W6 j/ z$ K/ A3 b9 Q$ A+ ]
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 b" Z* Z' p* `( [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into * r% t5 ?9 X0 W t. N/ U* O3 u# H
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& c+ A, O6 F4 z4 e4 t- Hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 K/ a" a V/ ?8 F, l0 A: Ubetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
# R& p- f1 p" ~, W# e- M/ aproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : b/ ~, P4 w# w0 H+ W# r+ w u
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( Z7 e6 y6 j" \9 j
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
1 l0 _! {; z/ {3 q" ?* V, |consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
2 n6 c6 B0 ? I+ `7 I3 p7 Lbuyers in during the bubble years.
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1 Z7 `5 w8 v' }8 ~/ L% @$ R% x* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
7 s: V5 V8 v4 k% {4 j9 N) Z+ ]die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
. v5 ` c5 m/ T, U; O! u4 f" iwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 n" z$ d, o: B9 r! U/ G! G
he’ll close. |
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