 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
) Q; b: V0 |' m5 x" @2 S$ ^falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the " P G Y5 K% k, [. l0 s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) e. a% K: `8 ^: H1 jthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 V8 s3 K$ u, P7 R
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.7 J4 W' E' d" X" E9 _3 d9 I+ A
$ ~" Q; b. j2 a1 Q, `So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
2 {, s% S/ T6 }! i1 W5 @& Jyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 Z. v( C. t) X! C9 ~" l; Y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
2 N: ^* h6 B `; O e* e( p9 U
2 \1 }0 y% Z' n5 G- [' _$ w& l* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ; m4 |/ ]1 s1 w7 A; D
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 4 M( B! f Z& q' F9 K
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you . f6 q" K( k1 _% ]
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
' O6 U. w7 f3 V' i' Q
* d6 f( s _6 w0 M7 o" I& x* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on & F$ |; O; G! E3 d! z+ C) _6 S
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
4 M' R1 f7 B) x/ x* b: X6 zcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* ?2 Y7 d$ l! w4 ?) i' ihaving a powerful psychological impact.2 g6 R0 e8 u R Q- X4 O
! y& k3 J- H6 c2 F! K
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. V: p' k1 _* Fcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 0 U1 `' |" p$ J; a5 U
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 4 R7 K5 ^0 w! ~" }+ n# r; ^
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " a5 I: I$ V8 [0 {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: Y5 G* u& {! X2 t" _2 Swhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
0 R+ L- T7 z( B! R& K% p
- T5 ^/ j% [8 g9 v# Z* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ L' U9 c- e F- o9 J1 Aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 b% Q3 Q& [# P0 W% M9 Y- [3 `that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) R' Q8 \+ T4 B* G9 U7 j. E: H) @6 Tprice.! l$ J0 Q. R$ A' J& a4 p7 H
( [4 Z" q6 i. }% b( G
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% X; I1 p, [0 i: g' b& b5 pbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
0 J5 `; o; Y/ p$ j; yexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ' r3 W7 |$ O) ?6 Q
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 `) d/ r5 b( t& I2 nhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of " e: @% j9 e/ P4 v; n% J( C4 K
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. r* @$ n/ M& _8 g" R/ [" y6 d# W
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
0 B3 @% j, }, c. u' [) z) K' X/ B! g% g) ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
9 L" ]6 H7 O2 P0 ^; ?0 r
- [+ Z1 w- Y- e4 d9 p5 V5 E. o/ B/ s! l* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 X7 f% U6 q' U2 x- \your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ a& f, e; S6 B' H
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( C; J, L0 P% k! G9 T
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% P* _0 ]% [0 w1 Hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : K& L. f. r7 n1 }
better chance you have of securing the best deal." ^0 O5 m, V3 V# Q5 |- A7 n
7 b! o. N# G5 ?. }' D
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
- J& _1 y, q' H& H" n$ N$ Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
; w# Q0 ` E) \* U1 P4 n" [will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ( m6 G, z# ? M3 I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 P1 s4 M& J2 h% g- X' e9 M fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; j3 N% ~, v! g4 h4 T3 @5 |buyers in during the bubble years.1 f! V0 S" |* l9 o2 P' [0 i* d
. }7 T3 P5 l6 `
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) [6 l- v# e$ o; i- Hdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
8 X& ~ x$ H9 L' I/ Z! y& H1 M: pwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 c$ X9 Q+ d) E% B9 c- K& i- fhe’ll close. |
|