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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
5 U; k& V8 v* I3 m1 T- @% Efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 N: X# u* ]; j, fbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all : V( I8 F5 o2 ]4 M$ _
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + J3 q- w; z* k- d, B; ?, k2 j$ o/ |
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ h2 v8 b$ G4 y$ J% Z9 q& U" M+ x
0 D* z/ J: s( l5 K' j3 sSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
$ U/ x( m) ^* ?; n4 i- }0 c* \you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 j8 I7 ]/ R5 k( ?/ A& G3 hand 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
1 O2 A8 f/ |" b! S* O: A( jproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
_( X1 }3 a1 \+ N( E9 O$ @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' F6 W, `, D& A) {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
3 X# R6 y/ a: Ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 K( D- r) q8 I# ~/ G6 u$ S
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
$ ~/ T/ B9 L2 p+ V7 ]having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) _! z+ }- J4 y C2 E0 {completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
+ X; W- k; r( k( f. b* Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
. }* `% F+ D8 x! ~$ j1 s0 Zthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* U. F/ s a, m" wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( s; v4 }( Q3 F' o- t# `& u h
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 l" D' v- c- }$ p! e. p' x
) I# {5 g- @* Z, w% D) R* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 k; Z2 k2 m: z+ |property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 8 C9 A% w& ~* t; C, G f
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' p" ?/ p, K+ A5 \price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five g$ M+ l7 V, e4 Q; v
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
% l4 {0 Q5 {3 m/ Q6 ]expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 c0 N, \, V: T$ G% ~work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , s6 B2 _% G+ c
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of : i/ l# E) z2 S( `; @* ]: ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- @, b0 V6 `& A m* R+ zSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : D5 \! m) E& E6 q
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- T) I, C) o- _' y0 I
1 u' ~$ }4 i. ~1 S* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have }0 a' y8 }& Q9 |: V$ a, Z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# Q5 {8 m4 l$ t/ T7 Nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # _5 j$ z# K! P0 |- \/ M' j
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* u( H2 M/ }) Z* d/ H- L# ?8 tmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- g( g4 e4 ^6 b2 X* y zbetter 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 x8 A9 ]7 n8 k* V. C9 f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
+ m8 V/ r3 o. twill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 k8 n8 x K8 [. r3 sto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 L& S; L( r0 o1 Gconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; k# Z# o1 W5 T, P2 I, Cbuyers in during the bubble years.
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" a: s/ U/ A" [7 p, W3 k/ ?# L* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
1 r6 f2 I3 B+ Fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) U+ `5 L" o3 R+ e% y; D
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
* A7 d1 x2 ~0 V$ N2 Ahe’ll close. |
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