 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
8 r' G( y- A' S% u4 ifalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 8 w4 G) Z$ e; v- \; ~, b" M7 k6 J
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all & |( C- ~) `4 d2 l7 W
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% J# f" z6 G! q9 c4 I& Qbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
: W% j7 q W% T$ L. h# x) z
7 n+ {; ?7 \, D9 I. a" `) m- XSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
. x Y2 }8 a8 O# c. O4 ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
2 B& g8 | f" [+ j( S* T: iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
9 f1 I! G) H$ V C# }
6 T ~. x6 A5 G q& O7 b* ~5 W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
/ _* w/ W: t6 k: K8 n# E& Hproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 \4 ^8 ?3 V2 A5 |seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ ^( D0 k( z6 c) d& s* u- M; j; Xget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ L, U, V: j9 H
6 C8 D: ]* Q4 H+ {. C: ~6 ~* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 6 V8 J( u, D7 Z9 I
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ e& S1 m: ^& J: R: r& _: r3 U& D5 Icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( }1 e: }1 X% N- Qhaving a powerful psychological impact.$ c+ b: Q; {6 ^0 E; p6 Y
5 {. U7 ]# s+ s! |' ?; E0 B! B* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is {2 P% M K- G) W
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
* S3 l% w& e" |6 I+ yorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ' l" o8 Q6 D6 _! T
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you # L A# o, g: X9 c$ [
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 9 V2 R, y, H. {# \- q/ E. I, e) B
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
- n( p5 b- m! K/ _% T ]- @0 Y. A% y6 T( y* \
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! m* n$ b) B8 O, _8 s5 }% @# s
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! z0 ^% X6 W( {$ A/ jthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 3 _1 C: M7 y* W3 ?( E
price.* _3 L/ b' h) t' e- P1 r
6 {" A0 r7 d3 R* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
5 \" q5 P# i5 ebusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / n& o. b" O+ s
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of % m c& ] e) A3 Q1 W& n# `! z
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 X8 L% g, P* F1 @) X: phave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
$ S- `6 \0 U' w1 F, Uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
$ d) I9 `7 B4 E1 ~ oSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ Q9 s* s, A2 H M, B) c
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.. q6 t/ G9 ^( i6 O, ~# R
a3 O4 K! b0 P& u1 J% T6 q8 L
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
2 N( S( x: Z) M* a: W* N' B$ wyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 [& u. N+ M; h: Y' ^$ ?price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
& i7 f; @2 a/ |% w; |your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
5 n! i+ T ]2 @more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 d1 k' t! M2 T
better chance you have of securing the best deal.2 ~1 }( I' f2 W; m
, M5 e3 }& H) h* Z5 n4 h
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 7 Y" d. F/ E4 @& K+ D5 t! m
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , l* t) y" z( G
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 3 p, V3 z( J' @8 W. H, X" \' _& ]
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! [7 t5 |$ X2 i; {7 y3 i
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 |/ [0 g# l9 F" Sbuyers in during the bubble years.
% }7 K0 b( Z- l, T* ]* }" X* _" x0 s6 }6 C7 V4 z) u8 n
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
1 i0 [4 M. L1 `( j! ldie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
& C) k& h: ^$ K" K2 ]+ awill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 C2 w* W( I( N2 n* Nhe’ll close. |
|