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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 7 {/ ^" w/ I! H
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* I1 b* Y; @" H3 {bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 D4 s |5 i" O8 D
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # L* G( Z0 I2 q6 w
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& t i- V" v; [9 m+ D
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if . v2 L# q9 P8 X, S/ g6 E
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 2 W, g0 t$ j. _" T7 u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)& z6 V6 E) ?- D7 f
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
; R" I6 c6 O2 h8 zproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , d1 v/ b1 o) C6 e2 a
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
% ^, n ~ Q' P/ X8 Fget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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2 u. ^- P R) F( K. K' A* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 m; B9 d9 V' T
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
+ ~9 w( ` F3 Z$ {2 k' o( Icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ) I$ a4 C4 H; @& P
having a powerful psychological impact.
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. k4 [( k' J, S/ ` g6 ?% S* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & _% R$ Z3 C% \( ]9 x- p3 p
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - u( C3 m5 e. U3 K
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % _# H4 c" y( I9 L& S' y2 O1 _
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 L1 ~- t/ T3 u/ T- D$ Bnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& C& U- [' l2 n1 k% |what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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9 P( m! O v; ~1 l# Z; u9 C3 i* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 F! G! C( y2 |7 z S
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: A% _% f8 @ U0 K' hthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( I8 f8 f: O1 c8 {8 F! i- v( r* Y+ Oprice." Q, O7 A9 I, W5 n2 j
7 t8 ]% A; O% B. B. F* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ ^ N/ D+ m! ?/ z0 W2 Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# k0 u! \7 h% [2 mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
* D6 B( h$ I" {work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
2 Z/ y8 [, [) n. Q d0 \9 Nhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
7 g* j2 l P% Q" K5 Nthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( y0 q7 d8 D0 R$ z- dSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 d& ~8 J* F/ M3 Ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' N# _9 @) R- z3 P$ e
4 k2 ]# s2 W; Q) {, E% z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 4 f" ?3 d/ }1 C# {% B- F/ H
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 U. _+ f, s/ U6 M; B
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ f" C( o& m! Y4 [your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" V, S3 L! N3 L# ]more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / n$ t& j0 y. W7 z
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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$ g' {$ L! y* ^* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing . h0 p7 u# @ B z
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 T9 m: z& R) z% i* ?2 n( Owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, J3 }6 a; _) T2 E1 A8 `$ Ato save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
( e, T8 \7 l! N; M8 x G! lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ t# ^ r- ]" u6 |; V: Xbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; S( B2 t" Z+ W+ E! ~# X$ Ddie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) ^8 o0 o1 D( h/ A
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but . I& n3 s0 o9 G9 F) \
he’ll close. |
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