 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 - r I5 @7 [) \# z- k
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the m( ?1 H8 F( z3 s ]" y! C8 f; n
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, z% F( E$ R( Z, _8 }6 Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ! C0 v) [* `! v7 E# X% G0 `
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 F: ?' p5 m& k8 v
* D: T7 c6 L: q, _' H% C1 ~So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 2 t3 b0 c, c5 D% ^
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . _ g* D6 J5 ^* s
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). g* k! w( A0 O, _: n0 p# j. J
# j# K7 Z# w1 Z0 Z* ^+ B
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ A$ l1 m* }+ [: X; _% i; p
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken $ W+ i' L; x/ Z$ C1 u% }
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; B3 S% n( f4 p' C! L/ {# c5 L A- aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
2 s- Y/ v* J6 b: T& B6 G7 X# g ^* I. U- j5 |4 q; p$ L5 d0 I
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
4 j; s% v: O& A% b+ T7 Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
/ z i% g7 z* b2 Qcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
% @& ~: q; ~- o, `/ s& J6 B& p8 n9 n9 Ahaving a powerful psychological impact.
% g% s2 { g f; V- Z! o+ p8 E& r4 r0 Z/ ~
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is `) L3 d1 B3 o3 D' m7 r
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " n: Y$ Y* y v
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
, e, X# \5 i: jthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
1 j# N% I, [7 \! a$ Hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get $ r' m: b# u" M4 a6 U9 Q- z- U
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
5 \- ]: T2 E4 A4 C! F; T9 x
; [/ }1 k8 _! x: o) |* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 8 V+ q& p: g, f- U
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ' _1 _8 g5 k3 D3 Q, g6 I. }+ ]
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
: v3 z: u6 |$ ]" ]price.
( L- B4 }0 Z) f+ {9 z
, o/ ]" S4 p1 O9 O) n* s* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' U( u2 k- j! ~; K3 Abusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
$ |) k2 d c% ^3 Y8 e$ p* b1 @* v, cexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of . c& ]* s# y0 P4 t: F( Y
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( a" S" q5 Z# w
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
O/ ?: O. d9 f5 L! ?+ ^the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
! d% C7 q' m! r/ F8 VSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 |# `1 c3 _) Q/ p& [1 l+ J! Qdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
- b# h+ w% x- u: {8 _$ C! m: L
; W/ ]3 N# s) A8 c$ [* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 Y) i- x B K7 V# z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; K* ^' s9 j! W$ S p, r, y
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # ~- v1 n& S6 |! B
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 @( ]9 i- [; m, }1 Qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" x Z9 \; Q1 u Z9 ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal. ~4 x9 P6 | L# l
# L$ T1 d, J0 a3 ]; V1 D$ W) Y* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ) V! P% ^ ^0 t2 v1 f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That q( n( B! t; r5 L' X1 {
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
3 y6 Z5 |2 @$ I6 l# _3 e* Mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; C( I5 T2 m3 G% M( Kconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 M) y4 E4 F' Ybuyers in during the bubble years.
/ T5 e' x) Q8 H6 B- t
' t8 ~* i, Q* [1 T" Z A4 x# t* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ~9 k, Z- Z) S3 J
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 |: j7 r& g; G9 N
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
2 v. L8 p# ~& q; @; l- H8 bhe’ll close. |
|