 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 2 j: G7 e, B8 k1 x
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
1 C# h, ^4 T3 _% }bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all / ~3 b& x9 l, b
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ) V& u* q% J$ {6 G2 k
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.: @7 z% G" @3 H6 s
* g9 o3 G* L& Z5 I6 z1 ~/ V
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 5 I) v! U$ u+ \$ o: U/ x' N6 s
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / |' h9 S$ D* v$ H
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)& K2 L! x) q& p& u. w
* C; X$ ~, z) ^" V! U2 E% U* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 F. o, p. z6 P7 rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- F8 @: Z9 y6 F9 c4 vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
7 ~! i; Z; J3 R8 C4 t' \get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 b; k8 E8 E% g5 H. V
; a8 z+ U* A2 U* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ) R' y, J- P6 b7 Z2 O
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
* O! s; ~' J: U3 X) M( ~cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while # y* X, c2 \2 W1 Q. i& b3 p
having a powerful psychological impact.
/ L+ V4 l+ j N! l/ h2 ~
! r: R: U9 P( r* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* \9 B2 S# E! z( S1 i. O, hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
1 D8 d: H3 h, f1 n3 {" o8 Qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
4 M9 Z% Z) A: |' i xthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! M# C( w# o7 t' S8 \never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 J' ~+ Z; v6 x8 _+ p# Y: ]3 }what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 t1 M, s) \! i, j6 y6 L
+ r9 }7 f- Z# D4 k
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 5 z7 r$ j& M5 O: l) m2 Q
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ! m' ~( y1 p" r+ y# c
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & x0 o: m0 G: W* n! ]# O; f9 l$ I
price.
( o, }# y, j# Y, G& { M# b8 p; R; V; X
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ i2 x; R$ A) Pbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; o8 D1 [9 p& K2 B: A" |expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of I- D3 B- o* T" v: B, K0 l
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ y; z5 Z7 v1 G5 w# ]
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ N$ d) H5 t- w3 V
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
% o8 T' K1 V( v1 C1 hSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- u8 S* q7 w* l9 F7 B3 wdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
! Q7 Y# o. U. a& ?; H3 v/ x* V8 [- P; ?* [8 J) n- q
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ! k8 n( S* J0 o8 |
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
4 ?3 D# `1 }/ }+ f; Z5 R0 D+ uprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
! M% X: e* T; Y# ~9 o5 hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The / ~4 ~- f; s0 f9 S/ ?4 @
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 f( {7 C! M# j0 E& X! n3 f; q
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
. a& ?) |( |, R4 ~3 w) @/ X4 ` L# s5 A% N
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing + X* b0 r6 a/ W3 b5 N, Y2 k4 ^
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 3 V: n) B) d4 U7 s9 o
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , g" D5 O' p7 N0 m# {
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
' N4 C- q, {: v/ econsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # Z& V8 W' F1 w
buyers in during the bubble years.
9 N/ B" f. Q1 S4 L
, u8 K' Q+ n% z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; X+ E2 f# B i4 m7 mdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you V! v+ W: i1 f+ o: T
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& [9 l- W( t8 D9 Ihe’ll close. |
|