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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 5 p O9 D- E: X h# I
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the - P# a2 }; I u! e/ Z- u, N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all , M9 a, O' J0 o! k5 @& v
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and P0 U- J6 \( |" _ P- d$ m9 a
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.8 b) x; _5 h: ^1 i9 W% |
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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 ' b: E4 m/ F* d7 d
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
: g* ^* A" H0 h3 [9 h% F7 |9 dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.) O# y" O1 A" _8 A
M$ b3 d- ?, Q- d4 ^* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many % i" _2 J4 z g7 Z' B
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : M: [5 s$ W" K* P+ S+ u P
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
: A! ^8 T. g3 w* J0 a# ~# F# Jget 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
( i7 w) S4 ^! b: \the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
* z$ X5 C: R1 O; r2 v, ]3 Jcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 \4 l" C4 ?/ A' ]+ D: d
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; B" w8 e9 i0 B5 ]" u6 [$ ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 0 ?% w7 }- H- o O, y
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
# ~0 [+ W3 U- D' W# b7 k1 j, v: ]the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 g( b1 x4 _; T2 [never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
- h, I" i( B' ~what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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% x8 J3 e4 a; ]. M! ~* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 |2 k% B) W! Y/ b$ gproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
# M) V) M' e' Q, ~7 v; n4 H0 Jthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 J8 g8 P7 }1 @price.: c9 Y2 g) [# ]3 ~; Y; c* k
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ j% y: t7 G; U. Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 i. P) A4 _/ S) r9 C# A0 L% y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 N$ _. l5 t, @ b) E; ], F3 u, [work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 Z% `6 \. y9 y# Thave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ G% n3 L3 E, M. X$ S# M7 lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 O. j! ^& Z8 X" y2 ]& d5 XSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ! l# U# n. m2 U$ _5 | z
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 z; r m) G- _* W- p4 i% X
7 U8 P3 z# F6 d3 Q; O* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 M6 i! r' I( j4 Z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
1 n- @; \# x( C C4 [price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: N: w3 R3 I% F1 D( L6 }4 D( ?* eyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The - v" ^0 b1 _6 ]4 C0 m! D
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
n2 n- @& L) N4 l/ _& Rbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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6 w, X% y1 K& {& O9 e" C* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" q, x1 Z( l3 S4 X- Pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That $ e$ l" a" M1 T( }3 J3 v5 z2 u
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 P; ]5 G% U! i, I' O$ B
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
, g' @4 w/ J3 T" M3 |* Vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
" r+ {2 Q8 w% q' }2 V) Gbuyers 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
1 @. C3 n$ z5 Y* d3 J1 adie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you % `$ [, y+ O( ?& r) v9 U& U% b
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
4 `( w' W9 l. \1 hhe’ll close. |
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