 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
- p7 }* h+ q3 F; ]" O z( k' R6 q* o: Ffalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' |9 Q$ K3 T2 m- X& r8 O# Abottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 N& Z- R0 I8 p) e5 h9 z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" ~3 \7 E8 o, S5 k4 rbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* H2 R- u% K. A% \' @ L
1 ?2 `) g! r, hSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
+ L. v" c& M) @+ e4 s; myou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 8 }* ^' x) A/ l/ F7 ?/ V+ a4 n
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
z* p! A5 n+ k0 V S8 [1 {0 B) u! H# r7 X, d4 o( @) y& n
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, a3 L! v# T; d( f; Wproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , A4 Q9 I6 i( S) m. ?0 |1 c
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 @* M5 C6 _) V e+ s& h" `2 Y
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
2 Y' @3 C* L# y
" D! ^, P P) j: V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ) U' q; c' y1 V" f4 Q
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) g* y2 }( |% {# Ecashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / q$ O4 U7 i: X. w9 y
having a powerful psychological impact.4 L, f/ D$ Q6 W3 D& v& }
* w6 Y) u1 d3 o& r( \5 H* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , H8 B$ y. ]9 ?& \8 n) q
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 9 ?; Z6 {# k4 p3 j J; n
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" H' P4 \/ L2 Z/ G: ]the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ! Z T% o+ U- z3 u, S9 b7 s
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / m6 y5 G6 S) ~
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
$ C% }1 J+ _1 c4 K0 m) }7 ]& B/ n' m2 w6 i$ U
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 x! R) S7 H5 Y/ o/ N
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! g! K5 |0 |8 j% Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that e5 M0 R3 w3 q1 C. f3 r
price.* b: L9 Q3 v% _1 @) J' X% t& F
' R8 h3 W! M ^2 S0 p/ v
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 5 m( W! X4 M) [
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
/ {/ E* D i9 L; \! `6 Pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; C2 ~- N8 `2 M1 F1 `- B; w
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
8 N' |" u5 y j8 u$ mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" Z2 A* z; T k/ v7 othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ' i, Z, Q; O2 b( \+ C3 ]
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will # R0 N. f6 }0 X
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture., g9 ?% |3 U0 S$ t4 c" W9 Q
1 j! d* C: J' G$ g8 e* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 5 s2 i( n' o0 a
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
6 V1 R! F9 h s* r& P/ nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
* K9 I+ Z# P. q; Y) Wyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 t3 q' G$ y7 ?4 \1 s- F+ `
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the * Y2 d/ `- r+ I- b4 A8 \
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
2 c* j7 {0 G& g4 K- ]
; S5 G5 a8 d9 Z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " R7 U4 u8 E7 x( Z; ~- g
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + B" {, s) e# m. C
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# w6 @# X7 j6 Yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - F) |4 K& R, N. f; |1 Y; [ W
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) i ]0 A" f( I4 C) h/ Z
buyers in during the bubble years.* q5 F7 t6 W: B0 ]5 B# m
/ a* X3 X8 p# q* F N
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
9 r: i# ^+ K" G8 ?: R p- |die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you . M: }1 N" q3 e! [2 k; p
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
6 B: H t! Q/ v4 Ihe’ll close. |
|