 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
4 f4 w! C2 P3 v- ^$ k, rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
# I0 D. v7 X$ ]bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* W7 o+ R+ F% rthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 I0 c( B+ y! a9 A: t* T1 lbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.7 P3 j' ?3 q# y; [! B
+ ]4 j7 C. N h! Z+ tSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
- w; E, A7 ^( A4 R0 ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
+ | r1 q* @( Sand 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 0 ]( M( l" ?7 k) S$ R. B- b7 k1 M
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; K8 `3 d) X9 p3 z& vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; K# S! |; ~' K& z# B- T- L; ]get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 H" T. }: Y7 {; O$ e1 m. ]/ ^$ g
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 G8 h: H, h7 ~: i- s0 c% _$ j/ N
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ D. F5 s( q% B' q
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
3 ^: V2 h- [; k" |, |having a powerful psychological impact.( R3 v/ \) }. t
( U% W+ ~' Z1 {) G8 ~- |2 s* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 u d, A5 i* d) V' h. n8 j
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 1 u+ r8 a8 C! i8 u3 A1 |; f/ z! y
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on " c* e. \) y+ K: K
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, H5 y0 e2 ~2 O# F, B$ `+ mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) S% [% i$ z2 p- C4 Z, i" ^what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.: _6 O3 D. d3 z- J' x1 \
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 I/ R2 Y+ J& W& U
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 9 U8 R# [( Y+ R1 C6 _9 R
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that . w( p8 j9 R) Y7 C+ [# V: B0 b7 K
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & e# H% d6 J& A5 G) V
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 L1 d4 p( i" l0 mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 [2 v( h4 S+ v& t+ V; x! [
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 V1 `9 Q# i+ lhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ y% h! |- A4 Q- I4 T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ; l7 N! r k7 j8 v5 g3 B- U( j
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ! v. I9 R' w1 ]; L# {
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 X" B/ B: r7 @( N" n+ R
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ' T( u. B" z# s# w: @: s; z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
8 E* j; @; Y6 q6 Y) D. Oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & O- _# G! I# T0 ?, h
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
$ ~7 C4 A( h5 r8 ~more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ' E' r" L3 n1 L: K& I* J
better chance you have of securing the best deal.0 u% Q9 T1 w8 B" v! |
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
. d4 R4 ]. w0 s& Y; }* lproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; i8 a3 J3 R4 M. Z4 K9 f
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) U# W) d8 _$ {; o( J
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* ?4 A4 e7 O6 r. j& m, d" `2 gconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
/ v% o8 D+ y+ W6 g* P: Kbuyers in during the bubble years.* H& p/ Y" }/ ^2 M* z4 O
/ n$ c0 S0 g5 E+ V$ h* \1 X* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it + j. ~$ x' G, C' F
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
6 f; s+ ~9 x$ L/ S/ S5 Ywill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / x$ H; {6 U. T/ E. V, Y
he’ll close. |
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