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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
, H' @ l/ F6 Z4 B* b8 J/ _! Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the . O( O& Z& l1 @+ t/ S: T
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
& b1 M: V9 r1 g: J9 G A; v& Ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
7 F) o! V$ f; a4 R5 D0 g \; Ubegging 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
% a& }* _# S+ j# D0 Lyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 l8 c* q9 \& ?3 wand 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 ' Y1 r* [. A0 a
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
! w' `' X) N' ~$ o8 Bseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 n) s! p' @0 q5 _: a; f6 O
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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1 e, L* D$ J$ |4 O+ K* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( Z4 `; G$ M% y/ l
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
, z2 Y% V# |% I8 Mcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
F7 O6 l2 p. j; [" Z* Ohaving a powerful psychological impact.
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! [* o3 \6 x1 s8 q! v# m8 ~# T c* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
+ V( d5 {* B' j# ~completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in , e+ [9 C. ]; t! p
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 j. V, C% s. W: a
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " a- C4 ^7 x/ T+ b ~! y5 ~
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 \. ^1 U/ {5 N& R/ F
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.. j- ~2 a, z1 A' u+ D
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
9 n' M, b ?9 H& m, Xproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 Z+ m& L4 H3 x, y4 Z0 [( q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ) y' e- y% B C( C7 e+ T
price.& G# z: ~) Z2 c$ H2 r2 q. d
& Z! v7 p+ J' [" [2 o; P7 u* H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 R5 B2 B" F5 ibusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s $ ]+ G% A4 t% `7 s- C
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
7 {& P. J- P5 c% W" Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" l. n8 P5 W2 @# i* L% F/ O8 K3 t) g) Vhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
3 \% N. N v% X/ q. ]the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ ^. O4 D4 Y$ k4 q _: WSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will * b8 v, d: S( d* `8 k W6 n& T& d
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.6 N* o1 q, p& Y0 ~/ G8 w/ b% H
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 Z0 T7 ]9 q. F9 Pyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - i" h) c1 X4 |% i6 z
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 [4 _: z9 H6 Cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The " g! O0 D( N5 i8 n
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - U" S! F& C3 @/ d/ ]. Z% x3 C$ x
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 1 n* {. ]9 [: l( \% X9 L
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That " c5 r% k. x7 _& t5 w
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
3 R" U9 f0 i- cto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
9 A& Y' E% y: Y1 ~consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
7 L! S/ ~$ s a, D3 x) ibuyers in during the bubble years.& e8 e' N U& R7 f( r/ ^. a- V
* {5 v% C7 f6 Y. |* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
" O: Z( S( E! D& X' hdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" o' _; P) a, Y0 I9 y3 Ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / Y, I: s& Q$ M: M
he’ll close. |
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