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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a & I6 @, S8 q' D5 f8 b5 Y
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 6 |9 G3 T( y8 D
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + X) I/ y0 L5 A3 c4 E. P q8 T1 I
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
G& f; x% F5 hbegging 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 ; n' i" S* K w- e6 y( z
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
3 f# u* f- t9 m5 b- ^8 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 . d+ T; U* V$ H5 G! r' c) q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- g: \: y! L3 p. V" Kseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you - o6 \- }7 H+ w; D1 g9 D
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 \! {: i1 g m% n8 D
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; }. A$ ]2 R$ E" U- ]! G4 j% K7 B
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " S2 p% k: i8 Q, i% ]( @
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while s7 m/ I7 H; M. |# X& C
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 H" m' o0 @+ j( u; v
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 D4 D$ I5 O; p! v9 u8 x
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ( \1 ^* B" r1 ?' T2 @
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! o3 ^( L+ S Nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 0 ]% \: i: Z( N$ z
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.1 m2 S1 Q/ ~. f a
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
5 e; W8 r' R( R* V: Y5 @6 fproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ u5 r! c) ~8 ~that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ' \, z' f9 ~ [2 Y4 P0 j1 ^7 ]
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 r' E9 R9 x: n5 l
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
& {. c% {% S2 k, ^& g2 ~# d2 l( Jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 t. e/ Y( v" I, Iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 3 l: n) H3 M; V3 o- r3 C2 ~
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
c& e+ K3 ~7 L. J# H4 dthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
# j: m& E1 Q5 L5 fSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 \7 G' Q! u# V4 f n
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: {7 ?: h2 O0 K0 z
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
; A: ^2 R0 A& K; r$ ~: X( o- {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 9 B. `& c2 T9 U0 l' ?3 F
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # e( d, @: ~! j4 c# A$ g
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : T* A8 d' v) F$ ^
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 G1 I+ o& c5 Z) c& K' _) ]2 l
better 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 * M' Q. b. y( W
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 a3 ^% O/ p, ?2 T: c9 }will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! L3 m( x7 l! D- x0 n- o! Wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 7 } |. `. @1 s2 ?$ D! I
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 G. V6 G6 y# z
buyers in during the bubble years.3 [& U1 U/ T, ]
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% Q9 H+ v ^( sdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you & `, s& H+ z9 w& w- e% @! [. p9 c; J
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but : P6 Y, r/ K" j9 H7 _8 X
he’ll close. |
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