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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
3 ~' h7 M4 U0 \falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , E# B( N. M7 M8 Y- s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 L3 ^4 W1 ~. \7 ^
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
5 g, [# T, Y. j- r" Y$ P* ybegging 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 & p8 K( `3 U, r
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 k+ q" Z' b& fand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' B. e1 t! T# Y: u$ n2 q
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 @% _1 k* b( Y Y' R" E
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ; j! _# L. s) m: _% z( e8 F3 i1 [
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' W6 C m6 e# e% J" r
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. d q, n. n" W3 v! x8 m' `& T" u6 ]
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
3 ]8 Z( u% F2 ~the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: e* N: _; f2 qcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " k$ W6 L3 t5 G: l
having a powerful psychological impact.) `6 O7 b3 A" B; T) [# X6 Q: B L
" i9 ]8 Q" w5 R$ R5 h* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( {% C# x+ M, y6 mcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; m- h+ b# F6 q. gorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
) [* z0 ?/ z; f( ethe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 C( W3 |4 d+ P0 f, g' Fnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ' T: x0 |/ B" S$ h" s# v0 X# x
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 T! t' C6 C7 B0 b, j9 \- H
: i' w! D% I5 }& a& V* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 B; e0 x% {3 N5 R3 N+ Gproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know " i" V4 j0 D$ c" f
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- s& B0 S6 `- V4 d3 E/ o9 L. S& kprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five + ~/ e: l) [; i8 ^% f
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " h8 p3 D. s' {% @- M' V
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % _8 I$ `- q3 O
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: K/ P, n3 \- L. k+ G0 m8 M# R7 }have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of & r& X( N3 t$ P0 t3 G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
4 a3 R& O5 O- ]2 V' s! L. D# ~Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 4 @ y; N D r2 J9 k
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.( x$ b* M8 D$ w0 i+ L
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
7 l3 F/ p6 v3 P$ E8 N& P5 gyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * p$ b5 f( c6 _" X w& y6 s; I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into / b# O( h) [" W3 x3 k7 m, p
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% q- T; W+ r1 k: f+ c4 d! Lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- d* n# y2 E; G( Obetter chance you have of securing the best deal.( l9 W) |* F6 f0 z
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing / w# Q3 S9 }( K
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That $ F; q. W0 h: }5 K6 M, }
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 u. A6 z, ]4 z$ S9 W1 u
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , z7 v1 z& t( I! Z/ f9 @
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ p( Q; K. x- d* q, ybuyers 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 . t5 j4 @$ i' l# I( p/ G% q4 _
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 w. n# V3 ]4 f# d' j2 d
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / A2 M0 \7 V( w$ L% L. ?
he’ll close. |
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