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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a # O9 ~4 @2 p$ U5 U
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 a( O8 _2 i: k! C" rbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
: R8 W0 S: q8 x2 T" ]" Pthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: U! |1 c: O1 s7 ?" b: obegging 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 ! G" l; j- R% i5 m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
4 ?6 k2 D# w; j: g: g. }and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% @% U) i9 g3 d4 E }* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
: d, P% h) A+ l0 [! Z; s) ^) Rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 0 ^6 ?' [0 j- e
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& [# N: ~& {7 v/ ]get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 r* E2 y( D( G6 y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 X2 F1 s/ X2 I2 \cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 r4 f' s5 r! z5 C* A( g/ U$ \
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 o8 B4 H# R7 p! {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
~$ e0 G# J) J7 Z; H) worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
3 y9 b* ?) u+ E/ f1 jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% p0 v9 Z2 {" hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 W1 p* v/ }+ H- P
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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. r$ ^4 M; B# P5 p! ?* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, H+ J8 V+ ?( L# C$ R8 `property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; Z1 k% v k: `7 P6 u& H+ ]* q0 ?
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that $ U1 |; U! O+ m3 \- d
price.. q( j9 e c5 {8 X5 t1 V& C$ ?" P. j
8 o6 A3 M# Z) i, A4 y& h( W* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 9 E4 {$ m9 r) p4 s
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, \2 n" B) L0 {% Fexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ Q( W- Y! Z) x4 l2 d& Uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 9 Q6 B1 X" d/ T$ G. T
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' J$ p- S; z# J8 U; _6 E! c' M
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 T9 w9 {3 M3 D! R: |* r ySince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ) X8 I+ m" [2 f# [
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
0 b7 H1 P G a4 q- \( Zyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the , \. D j5 A4 r8 S3 ?
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 4 J; M" E5 m8 M0 z2 s
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( z* O/ R; w+ |+ Smore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: E% I/ M& T/ v" t; ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.0 i+ R/ b; w% ^0 a( K& Q
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing / q: j7 C$ z, H8 O2 C
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
0 q% m' ?7 I* N! mwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( K4 z r3 B2 v$ Q+ Z, H; M9 d+ @' G
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. k7 F! V. {6 Y9 d: W- {# a/ ^. Zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed " A$ p$ ?3 @6 `
buyers in during the bubble years.8 X- Q) y' @) L7 O. }8 m, Q+ G
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
8 @7 c. E2 o- H8 u- Pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ! F- ]8 _- @7 @7 k! k
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& _ ]( E$ R% L8 q' q6 }he’ll close. |
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