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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a " N& \ _* y; i4 g
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the $ n6 N1 \9 a/ I2 A- O
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
* w8 F+ R+ Q+ othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
3 w; s- t" z* S% j& C% a0 @begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.7 U( e& z( w! B& Q
: }/ U: s$ F x/ k8 K) L9 |1 f6 uSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ( J; b- @8 ]7 Q v2 v7 s
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
5 l$ l) Z, G8 Q( R3 W( n% l- sand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* S- B& ?7 f! o8 m5 d/ `' d
( J! }: e$ U. _3 K! ] x* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many % ?, f1 H2 ^) H7 Q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 \0 b% U9 v; wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 [; ?+ M8 a! j4 u' [1 @get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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. n$ k9 i! f( T% Y0 v* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on + ~- |2 `' e' n" U" g8 B
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 7 @0 j$ W6 B- R6 v- \
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 k, [6 G2 c) y
having a powerful psychological impact.* C3 v) n5 _: |5 N
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , M) `* [* o& k$ a( `
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; N! h$ L4 _" j$ \ J: a8 @/ Horder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % A4 c4 _ z$ ~1 C5 `8 k
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 v' v. i( w2 }! Lnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 `- Y$ P$ T3 e- w# O. u6 ~what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another + {& z; ^! }8 r( d
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
- n9 u( g/ R q2 m$ Hthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* d% m# o1 @0 z/ i( {price." V: r2 Q8 h3 x" ? u4 K* L
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
, _& |7 F2 ^' Tbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! @0 Z4 G% D4 e" y3 q
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # j3 q0 `$ T0 ^- U( ]8 y0 G& b
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
+ y' H# V0 @) L' n" W6 [ whave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of + O8 N) X) J5 C7 o6 _0 E$ F3 ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
/ P* P% V2 a3 T i5 q2 B$ ^/ eSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
$ J+ b/ f2 H* p1 V w5 K9 _& sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ C( {7 v/ }& F2 G4 F
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # u' i w, \: p0 T
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( T' u/ D! A) L6 U3 |2 |5 E; ~price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & C+ E( o" j5 V9 R# h
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 u2 M, V5 j* B4 g+ b4 L+ s! {more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 S' L C; D- B* I, M J" A
better chance you have of securing the best deal.+ S, t4 N0 \. ^5 ]" ?
# R0 e; } s3 J+ Y" g3 r" x8 |* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " a- N& h& S f; s: @. D/ |* R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
! V8 ^/ i* K& r2 Y( {9 ] P: cwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * H% u7 j6 E, n: m- I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - a& d$ [7 C5 B+ i& D/ D1 O
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # T+ T: b; D f' D0 Z% g( Y
buyers in during the bubble years.
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, r0 S) U$ \$ }: H& l' ?1 \* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
# Z. g w6 {$ C7 t3 j. odie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
/ a; t4 u$ s4 uwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ E [% E( f; s( Dhe’ll close. |
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