 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 4 n+ w1 V& a* K! z5 w0 M; t
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
- B6 Q* s8 Y% Ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 ~. C+ [/ q, l0 ~
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
( e! Q7 S# `' g* P2 obegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ l, s9 T3 g `" ~
+ W% y, m/ K+ n7 }; ?) ZSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if , Q5 r" U! W q3 m8 u
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # w& O5 \+ j4 P8 z5 A( D: M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
7 d' j9 y/ Y- y/ B1 ] i
# @ O2 i8 _0 r* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
& X4 Z& q; U2 }! b4 V* jproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 6 ?" |: H+ L* J- e2 l/ f
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 r: l- W; g1 o/ u- [5 {7 J% O, j9 _
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
' q& @3 d5 R1 s$ U& M# J V8 g' d1 Q$ u% G
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
; k2 g; X# D8 V$ N& Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 H9 S1 c' M3 o6 Y, o$ n5 Rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 l3 }0 U% _" N; t& t0 Phaving a powerful psychological impact.6 S$ p4 q' t) w* _: W: u5 L
4 n. Z( m% d9 `) [# B! f
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
- F5 U* L/ }5 k) `% M, ^" P3 tcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # {- {2 ?2 u- Z% L* [) i
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on : U$ J' H3 I: i3 e" U
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# ^1 ~: D. d6 p$ F' y$ {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 6 w/ v v4 D( F9 G' f
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
. |( K6 c# X" i% i- w7 ]$ O. E- d. W" K# z
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 g; Y! Q X/ Hproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 C c8 m- T" D4 ~! uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
9 u/ g/ {. {1 d1 Dprice.
6 G+ U' A2 I- K* z7 l. v( g6 ~3 d+ T4 y0 _/ ]* n
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' x3 j% t" C2 H1 |7 rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( H1 {1 Q1 E1 j; B+ g! z; R1 vexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
; b. O0 I3 J3 j* u3 E. Wwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
7 i8 M, j; r- C7 shave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 N5 A; p/ @+ pthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 s- |/ D) N+ g- b1 U9 W& z$ {
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will / y& {2 L% _8 H+ V- p
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture./ N' z# A9 c/ m( ^& r/ s) ^
% I# |% R; n( _# {' \$ l
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
6 ?" J" S7 O" T# myour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ) p& g) k7 G# l) J) M
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
i; x% p0 P6 G! U. fyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: \# ?: I2 D1 ]/ a- W P' Nmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
: E( W& Z; H! ?) _better chance you have of securing the best deal.
; G0 j6 Z1 \6 B, w
) Y$ @# A7 v' A* p0 ~, x* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * `! a& f0 {! j, Y9 A+ s9 f& d( m
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 \5 v, U! i$ k3 c! E& Z
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' j$ Z8 b7 b% D8 C7 d
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * D% Z: p& W$ \
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed * R; B! B7 _& b: A
buyers in during the bubble years.
+ G$ M) a: N! c: m8 u5 j$ d5 b9 n L6 i* j+ m2 y* P# C# n9 e
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 p! c3 W K1 c# [1 Y3 Hdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 k, N% Q6 }/ S. `! L( l
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 {4 c$ w* J k! y. Z( E: vhe’ll close. |
|