 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
3 Z8 p2 Z5 X& _/ f: ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 6 `# J5 j5 n% [( M
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( A- e" x) n, F- { ~$ A9 R
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 4 b/ p# j# [- @/ k2 @" O
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 `- F2 Y! Y& L/ u1 z4 h! z8 \
+ I% @& J( [/ P: C
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
8 r- l3 h& O P! Ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # \5 ^3 }4 J% O" A5 M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
" ~& P6 R1 }: k2 \' g* p: ]: H" B2 I2 D2 F; G/ A7 e
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 7 _5 \' d' m4 N- E9 o3 n# _
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) i( a8 K; J1 j; p- w$ \6 tseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 r% S5 b$ B3 E: n1 j6 w; cget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.: R1 H8 T: I6 o2 i
8 |- p4 I5 r9 C; e8 V
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
/ N) g2 C% ?- p) g$ i: m2 Q* Athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
$ S4 i; a' D5 ^5 N4 Wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- ]- N; X0 @) e2 G+ R( P" Ehaving a powerful psychological impact.$ ?) s# F. Y+ m4 L7 T
5 y0 }$ A6 h- j" x. \! W7 u* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is & R# ~' r4 B& Y6 C
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " i( D/ _# J; j1 L, N7 z
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
}3 S# X* z' Fthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
f0 X4 l6 M2 s: P& D _% F& ~never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get % ~# ]1 ~4 j" c2 G
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
8 t( O# O# {3 O7 z: o: t
' s0 W8 t) f4 Z0 I4 \* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 z& S' h! P& C- T- B8 ?: F
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 f. D }9 V5 k8 z& H
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 3 S' F$ x) m) R2 u9 U# }
price.
( s. Z2 T1 Q! h1 x
D* N3 Z; t0 Y, D& X* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ; O) s/ E) m4 A' J# v) z; a
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
8 b7 P* E& ^$ s, I8 [! Zexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
# ]& V4 @, w5 f2 P/ d9 Qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you , d8 W/ t6 E/ A/ d9 {6 M
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 ~9 S: H- X4 p* w1 V4 b
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 h& ?. [: @7 C) _; ]2 USince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ; t0 U2 h2 P% L& z& F% ~5 u
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 E; B3 K3 d- X8 o m( a
: p# s3 J. W, B, T4 \7 |% I
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have / ?+ F7 a+ a" p) l- _+ [ C
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ! [+ R2 u$ _. \4 n i' R3 O( n! A
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) h( o+ q( `! C/ {! cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ J* y! Z2 ?" z( p7 t, xmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 7 s4 t" H/ z# C& Q o5 k
better chance you have of securing the best deal.8 B- x. F, M9 @
" ~$ x6 _: w0 \9 u% u& y1 G
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & X' x6 }. l5 ?' ?7 |( V
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 f) p: M+ b+ [$ pwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " r% K5 I) d3 f5 w( Q! K6 K& Z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 6 k. n( [2 k1 l, s+ J ^# @
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , U; E5 N1 R( u! Z; a) e% r' N
buyers in during the bubble years.
/ u% H; C0 n7 ]
; l( v$ Y0 }' n3 v7 B+ m' o* A* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
8 ?$ a- w; D8 r6 s& u$ [" Z! \, zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
9 {+ m6 I; J3 Gwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but {2 W! D! U& ^2 j8 \4 {5 h
he’ll close. |
|