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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
/ D; c% f" O) o" ?$ ?falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ h/ f) ?% e! B3 l: f7 t; `) ~bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 S% S9 [1 z+ Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! }0 |1 L8 f- J! b* \/ s: U3 zbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.! a3 l- {2 H0 M) k& b$ H6 d
) R- k- X' C0 a! f' ? `) `; Y- ^So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
- Z% Z) x; ~6 W. |$ o3 E" w8 qyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" W9 W1 _0 U- H" x, c$ uand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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p. K) c9 X% R2 o* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 5 D- E, {$ J" h9 i$ n
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; @$ z y- }0 Yseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
% V& O/ |0 P* l4 d& xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* C6 B5 {; {/ R: z; R0 T; @
% w! c1 V9 _# \: Z* s* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on Y4 {# _, [0 Y! b' S, r8 \( R
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' O' b. m. X7 w& u" O2 Icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 0 z/ Z9 O5 ]( X2 n
having a powerful psychological impact.3 l7 F& C9 c6 K1 t
6 I1 V) a1 K, H* }% a: Z. q* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 7 b% S6 l& g) l6 V+ m
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
# [/ H; w* C$ t" zorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" q T$ v {- ?0 a" O5 uthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
: s. U, K! V! jnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get i! `# T2 U! Z8 M9 Z5 t
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 , }. o" u: g W2 j6 S4 e0 f/ `
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
7 v8 s1 t2 }4 B; {' Y# ?; d1 O7 C, [that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that - s$ o; R: y5 m% B! e
price.# E2 G; R9 x( n7 ~$ M) Y/ U
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
$ Q/ D4 v8 X/ v4 @8 C% sbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- V* ]2 x+ x! ^0 l' q2 d [( _expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 p7 N/ V$ N& \; @work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; H4 c0 F' L& n2 v' A' M; D9 r
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 8 Z4 A, G7 `) \6 y2 e
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 2 Y/ Z- S0 Z' H, I4 I
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will * S9 t3 m+ _1 S" O
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
! U- |7 @ s+ Uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
4 s% a, I' f8 Oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 d' l, V D4 E3 ~+ Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : V/ A4 ~* G+ P* ^7 R8 I' A
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the % l+ f/ v, e t
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* b2 L: |. {/ e% W* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 6 ]+ y6 w( ~6 b0 F8 `! ~
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 w) w- {/ t* h' ?. c, v, n! ]
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) F: W6 ~) C. i, a. z! s3 G
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , ?8 Z; r2 i5 x# s4 ]
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ' \/ k& Z* U- {! U* C$ l
buyers in during the bubble years., n, Y+ v3 G. y% `
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; Q& K$ h1 p) }. ?: C2 H& Jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
M3 G4 z( J6 d! _3 d1 Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 P* l |3 w9 _% E$ v+ e& q8 j& u! f
he’ll close. |
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