 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 ; z+ n/ ~% M$ P# K3 c, k4 e. u8 A* M
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the - P4 R" G0 h3 w% r
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 4 M# W G9 G; ~5 y6 q# r9 m! e. ?
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' R) B, i9 h2 t! A+ M
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
9 L- B* [: r" M9 w& O0 E5 K* s, C( V
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ) ] o+ J1 f+ m& U
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 s* W& _. x4 B: z* F
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
) D3 ~3 o6 f9 T1 U# q; Q
! D# Q2 G1 i& F' p" v6 R- U: O/ |* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) q# @. `! R* N
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 9 b: Y. l% G: H5 L3 L; g
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
9 i* O7 ]* N# ?. ?+ Jget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) x; f( X/ N; e8 v* q' ^
3 f5 }) S3 j$ z% M6 g4 ]2 u* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on . O+ l( t" F. ^: q7 V0 P. T
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( l" N' [9 D2 k' x. X+ lcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: K) U1 h3 }# V& [" Phaving a powerful psychological impact.
" A2 f% j: \/ J& o6 _6 V
" g2 @) Z8 Y z9 b( {1 q/ o* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . c$ m/ {9 f* q/ W4 H K, X; E6 d
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ( C4 \3 V* U1 S4 h7 }3 L$ V
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 S$ F, ~( U1 M: l# E3 ?' l
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " V. P+ _5 \2 j
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 T" t, W) @- R4 F7 ?, [what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
% x0 R: r" S+ E9 ^ P8 Y( b( X
: P( N9 w; f/ |& L- m4 e* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 a" y% R/ F' [& K, C1 H* v4 Yproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 e: u- M* G5 e8 c# Y. R# _, _
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 1 ]) b! r. U4 ^ C
price.7 ]7 y! J! ? e. X+ f8 l7 P- J
+ L. ]; w w8 k. ~* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five : s: T6 m# h: ]* b1 o& X2 G& X; y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ' \1 p0 W- H$ \3 @7 H
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 3 G) q( E3 W5 F. ^% G
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( [% }6 m/ q( g
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
. Z0 {. A j/ {- \4 Mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
1 j1 ?( n* w& S bSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
# J# U5 m& P. H! o% O7 Cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
6 O6 W- u; f% ^8 ^' u$ o" r& c3 _4 L5 V8 ^
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 4 y, O8 q3 {/ p2 m" u* \0 N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
a- f2 D) n- [1 i' R, Y2 sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into . R7 `# [1 b0 y9 c f& w( {" k4 j
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
7 v: M0 D) b- H3 X& m% vmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 `* r) A+ n. k& Fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.- f6 E3 {) w$ o; B' W: ^4 c: X
' F+ H4 r2 g) W) v/ A' ^6 G9 @9 x
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing + O' i+ F2 e! u6 L! p" ~. w
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 m8 P1 N; j3 Y* `+ p1 K' n4 [6 i) ]will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
. R5 [; c+ ^+ R8 }: e! Kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just w1 i0 v$ y9 y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ! a1 R/ H& U. s/ F- r
buyers in during the bubble years.
4 V; N$ R. n3 {; [8 | V2 h. M& C( P& V! _& I U/ f" I" C1 U: U
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
4 {; Z4 ~+ D1 Z8 pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- i$ S/ f7 k5 {" A9 lwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 1 a' u- W* `% W7 {- b g
he’ll close. |
|