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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
- H, m8 s. I+ F$ I% Q) ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 V, Y/ P; z: z' d9 q1 k- hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all + t* U0 J0 M; i; j
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
7 D7 k9 O( N0 W# \begging 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 , `6 {' A- S2 S# k5 J
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 m1 ? s( t/ O5 U- H. Z( X
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)1 x+ C7 z J* f# Q6 z: c
( I" ?" D% [8 E* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : W/ Q2 C. `; { n
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
$ i4 Y }+ b6 g2 e3 t$ O4 ?seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& t N* @* ~6 V. ?( P, U( `0 Cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* v' V6 c3 r8 M9 g( v; r# @2 I
' B8 ^1 _, k2 D4 Q* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 8 l/ B5 e8 r* a* Z
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % `4 H* x. e6 h* ]
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 9 J3 L: Y( Q0 R1 D0 E d- e
having a powerful psychological impact.5 X } C/ n5 z4 o ?
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is / _: M, |; m5 q* l6 ?7 Q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
8 V% j) l6 W8 g8 _+ ~7 [) qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
% `$ \7 p- S+ Jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
: I: m2 W$ g7 F$ b/ v2 u, ^$ mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : I5 z; a/ g8 r: K
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 + x# A9 _2 }# w/ H. i& b
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ! }8 Q) {1 p/ H1 L
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* T* r& B/ ]: @ c, pprice.7 a# [+ c* ]5 ]! X9 B3 a
X2 K9 l8 a* S' `" r2 L, X- R* v. d* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
# r- i# o* _# J. `0 Z6 Ubusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ) _% Y* @3 u2 `9 s) T; [
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
8 y4 O" a7 r3 t- x. Y( Ywork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - R% E4 I7 p% S0 M
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , N; H: I' D- O
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
* n: j% j& g; D* K+ ^1 wSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% n7 h: l8 z( j' k% S1 vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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% R/ D/ F4 T$ L, \3 g* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ; |( @% W( i, K
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& `+ i" v5 F9 M+ hprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " ^: ~6 x; [* d/ E
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The $ I$ j3 I5 T; J8 Z
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
) q1 _: T" o6 Y. n3 xbetter 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
7 U- [/ W% n) g5 gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
# W2 t; [. i1 l, [8 Owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / R( m5 B* |& y9 q' k5 Z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 r6 F( X2 v8 V: N% `+ |8 zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed / z$ H, J& J( s
buyers 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
3 i" {0 R/ V L9 h4 I5 E/ cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ t2 J3 z( y: c0 `1 X* ?: }+ iwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! Z7 w. z* f, w9 ^5 T. she’ll close. |
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