 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
2 ~! u* m/ y6 N. W8 dfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 E4 K) m( w( z; z: `% \
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! D" h9 s! U- A; V, |3 j. f! ?
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
7 l4 Z1 G. w& W5 z% P* w3 [begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
! R! X& V+ b2 F9 y9 f& Y
8 d) b; W, R7 fSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ y, k! U0 B- T+ f: f4 x( R: U; v* Ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
5 M' c7 {: `" C, hand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- O6 F8 y( C5 l2 ~* Q$ J
* L' w/ F, D" w( e( C/ V) G
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many " t- t* g) Q$ f- r, V6 C# I" |
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
6 w. q: n( \# r! @8 d' l: eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
6 r, Q/ b# Y. ?! Oget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
) l9 P& c3 V0 [- e6 C5 Z$ f
6 I B' @$ ?2 O0 N# q$ A* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
; K4 N- ]* Q/ F/ t' cthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 3 I. k( }* G# } H4 N( W
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
4 w) b7 L9 B A# G* z' e$ y3 jhaving a powerful psychological impact.
! K7 d, c. k/ U, X. i/ W/ J4 b* s+ V. S
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is : }( D+ i6 n- R+ F* {& [
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ o4 m D/ D; t V3 ]* [/ Rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 G- k$ P' e7 `5 F0 E0 q
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 b8 l! K, m0 Anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
@7 ^6 q# H- a( l, |7 C4 m7 kwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& |4 f$ x4 _- N/ V7 P, g2 Q
! Z: v! g& C8 C9 t! t0 Q; ?* [
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 a% c4 V- N" w$ F- B, _" J2 J& ]property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( c% f4 A8 o5 ?# a) o9 B( Dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , V8 a% `, e, j% ]
price.& E# `5 i: h. R% O' W7 w- r8 Y
; x/ ?5 X3 K/ C$ Q) R1 y+ V& H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five % _9 k9 C0 f3 n6 G
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " j9 \/ t" X3 l# k& ^! r, j
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. M6 x/ [- ^# h/ }0 D5 T5 A3 @+ G) H* Uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
" g8 w Y$ G( L% l4 Vhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" ?5 v7 Y# l5 F1 P5 A( Mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- f* J/ L) X( X# D; G' W* \+ BSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 5 S; D7 O8 Q/ a/ z( E9 @ s
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.% q8 P) e. [5 O0 r; }$ O* J
+ A% }0 k9 T8 G. d( m+ j) {! n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
H" K& g0 }$ }& i3 E# H Syour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
7 v$ Q& ^, _# |7 J1 M6 {: qprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into , R. b" a6 ~8 x! z2 c4 F5 X
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" e; Y F+ l `2 p$ O' ^more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 M! ~. E% x: a/ w; J6 Obetter chance you have of securing the best deal." G9 c9 Y& o$ i! k# @; w1 Q
( I% S; q: Q* E
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 x5 }5 h" e2 s# J" o. Fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / w+ m/ p: ^* S( u$ K. c
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
j1 ]$ x5 P# q: p7 x% v. Y+ Mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 4 |+ H0 u% I& W# h0 o
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ \5 f' f3 g+ ]7 a9 s: Sbuyers in during the bubble years.3 H3 o4 ^4 I1 z* }1 G
3 H# @0 D0 g# t
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
$ z% \4 z( u, E4 {' _/ cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' K |1 N" o' I- m5 J4 c" n
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but $ Y) X1 @& ~: a* V
he’ll close. |
|