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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a & {9 W: y) Q4 b# q' n$ t& h
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! k! d7 J. ?/ K. K6 i: V$ f5 i
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ C& N" k8 M% Q( }. R" O( R7 v
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
[1 ^+ u& J6 G/ }begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., Q! \1 [9 r/ }! ^
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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
# D r, b0 v( c4 Cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 U! S6 i2 i, d- k" f1 Q; Z* E' |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 2 w, e* y: j% X
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( h6 I6 k3 @; m* S+ P$ Dseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 5 ]* G% T- D2 M# _. \; {" Y+ V
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' f' G6 f. T) X& L8 Y
. U U5 E. o7 J' F: r$ ~% E: i* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# s* ]' G' L( d! ?) o F+ ]the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not & C- Q( K) P5 O) l" i% b2 R
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " F% {; w) C3 |( M" T
having a powerful psychological impact.. T6 o o- {' i8 K
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
% G+ A* A" d) A3 L: Q$ O Z+ hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 0 d" {& R1 {: z2 H8 F+ S
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on & @0 H* [7 |. b8 h! j5 S
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ) D( {' _" W. F/ q) g" k9 Z
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; d9 `( F5 E3 ?; X7 {7 T6 Fwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 \' e8 J; H. p3 ?, @0 J* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
% v" ?( D0 m- |* nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 [! p. s. P' V/ q' h* Q+ bthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , ]! ^& D. T' G) L
price." J/ P& p/ s5 g' K- |& m" t
5 d5 q; k" h3 z2 {3 E. g0 n* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five # @; U$ e, D7 ^6 O1 Y1 i2 e
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 I7 s* W0 i1 A% |' c
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 Q3 R* J' t {
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 E5 o" a" B. t7 }! T, O* v/ }* h3 j% nhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ( L+ Y7 x" x" T) j
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 9 g8 ^- Q5 R2 e( }. Z1 D8 P
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ ~" k: B5 ^' T' Q6 z4 P2 O2 E* J0 Adie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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; P$ Y( ~' a6 e$ c' w5 J* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
8 u% C/ B8 q& w# M( o! ~3 E) tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" _* s" l: B& N& v: _( Q* y( sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 6 J; o( h5 ~1 T+ t6 n) [* s/ y
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
4 H9 y _( c0 Q, U+ I0 rmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 2 E( z4 ?5 \- O# H) `! e
better chance you have of securing the best deal.3 X5 u: ^+ r8 o" r X& X) C7 |4 n
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
7 k" `3 ?0 W7 O7 Eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 3 J' }7 e* C& c: w; ` U6 Q
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . h5 w0 y" P" t
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 C' S' G; X7 [consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : Z+ X' V: V, {" R
buyers in during the bubble years.2 F/ D1 T9 b5 D' D
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) Y/ _8 \9 h) Z- K# C, [! M% ?
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
* \( k0 e2 c. `5 twill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: m' | e" R8 h5 E! s B fhe’ll close. |
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