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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 4 I3 ^0 t- m2 F. B
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! V2 c7 s9 M2 W: N7 X% w; F
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all * I4 W* _5 t9 {& |
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
4 u W& i: `: m7 A; x# abegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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+ O8 c0 M) G( x2 F' QSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ) L- O' q% C+ z" O3 ^/ D& O
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' r. T( m: c# ~, eand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* C. o: V; s! {3 `
7 a" q: F( B0 x% P* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many # \$ F# w& P* F6 O' r h
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" V0 e* ] b: {) m( E) E3 Cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
, q! l, A/ T* I6 Y L# Oget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.( `# a) y; @ `2 l# P
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
9 c2 I4 P, k+ }' q: f" P3 R+ _the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! | @0 _: r" S) pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* k2 E" Y# i; V$ c1 ~having a powerful psychological impact.
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) W$ R4 P5 b6 ]+ N* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . f! e g6 O* m5 [& K3 J
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ c- V% M" N o& ~& Y3 F ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ^( y5 p% a8 A) M; R& f
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# Y; J6 d' `0 E$ Rnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & Y/ Z( w* y# w0 J- ^& \
what 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 ( C, D3 T1 B- s# ]3 q( }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know : E$ F/ m1 V0 x5 |$ A; b
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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; i# B% H# f9 x6 w1 }. o* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five * @# y+ n4 h4 O& Z
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 ]/ U4 j' A" A; \+ X; B3 \
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: m6 N1 f8 Z/ B; w6 Q- P4 Z6 J+ ]work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 s* a: W& f j0 c, Yhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
1 c6 D q3 u2 {the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 i% ^" u4 L6 W3 K3 i2 V' T, J/ t
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& u& o& ]7 w" o d! a& ], R- N2 vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ r- R6 Z. M% A* S: m7 [8 `
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have - n- q# l) W5 s. ^, q/ Q& Q5 A
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the " j9 G- @/ {2 [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 1 C; @2 A4 x" l9 K
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . i' O: e! y+ t
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 0 j4 D4 r _0 q$ C! G% ]" |
better chance you have of securing the best deal.7 [, \- S$ s2 {# B
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
8 ~& C7 F7 J% wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + }6 W9 [) C6 {: H9 z4 F
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% `% q% z' B, a' dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 3 _% I# L- `2 x' l% n
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
) a8 C+ T& {% x; v# 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 7 y$ q8 a y5 ?) Y! h
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 A+ f2 I' r g8 t: Y4 R+ G3 j
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 u& b+ U2 Y) N1 Y3 k
he’ll close. |
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