 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
+ u5 |* @1 k0 `$ H/ _* q( Kfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 R9 F6 A, n- v4 f4 M) V. U$ G/ v3 ^
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 `0 l/ A0 m6 O" e; x4 fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : P2 P& p2 Z9 G; B9 S Q% B
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
1 Y; X# b' _3 W) _; `4 E. X' E% c: J; N
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
( T8 V- V# k* u1 D5 Q5 dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' Y+ p2 F2 J i* q5 N: Pand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
" f( Z: @ x+ o
0 H2 f0 f, i( x1 Y9 A7 p* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : i) {* g; [3 t( V" V, N* i- f
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( \% i( c5 k# E6 K/ ^- H- [4 cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( v9 w5 M- |! C5 ?6 i
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
0 J ?* W1 j' B
9 i4 o% r; ~3 `* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" W$ G$ `2 l- [" tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # l8 v& H9 l8 L9 V. E' @
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 [* G' Q U. p; J& D0 g w8 bhaving a powerful psychological impact.7 m# V. S C: d9 `6 |1 e+ q6 i
. B5 O W, v9 L9 \# t* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: O4 E- m5 Q( k/ T- C* tcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 G+ [& {& t4 M& Norder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ' T6 R) `) \% s+ i4 a
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* I: B* T+ G1 S/ O5 n* N jnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 S" W3 Y. T8 p2 I
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
{+ x* T9 D& H8 {6 m0 f" {% d( \* n8 a$ w) d% h
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ r' L! w: Y7 vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know $ F2 M7 `# L7 c( q/ ?
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( i/ i' v) r# c: {. l! Pprice.3 n) b" X$ n `+ V
% ?" W( k" h2 X* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
+ \7 L5 m* y& F; V$ T0 j8 Q/ b/ Mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 a$ Q2 o( t6 `4 o( Vexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of " N0 Q$ o* K- a# ~% u% b2 n
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 U( E* q/ D9 @5 H
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; X) W7 }7 G- l/ G) hthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. : k4 A, x2 H3 m9 j0 v/ L
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will # K: Y5 M7 l; @ T. |% t2 ]; Q \
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 B) L/ e) |, d" O
1 X7 n# Q/ K- B6 i, w1 M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 x0 s: r+ A; X+ fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
! y* X3 d8 }4 rprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 r5 h, e, O! N( o0 y) ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The / p& j- L+ n! o4 d7 W( R7 w$ E4 c
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 6 B* e9 v7 f, C q* y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.6 t8 ]. v7 `/ l9 Y, }' g
" a. o$ ^1 H& `0 e* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing k& {9 S9 z3 f, `0 \
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That # q$ M* R4 Z& Y' o5 v
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 2 o S; q# Q2 A$ c
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 S/ w) L5 I4 e5 y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 z$ B9 Y4 Q/ m' z" Hbuyers in during the bubble years.; q j& m- V. G
; X4 `- ]% u0 r, T8 L* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it * j( x) {5 `1 ~) n
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you - f0 A S5 m( F+ _0 [
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but & Z& N. s- O; W% ]- R4 [
he’ll close. |
|