 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
& N" g1 ~& A N% tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 o4 z$ V7 U9 A4 l Cbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 u3 K: J' B4 v' y( d9 P) jthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
2 e0 {8 j- }: b4 x; e) _0 Jbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
5 h$ D8 G& ~% z3 T) | C `, O
2 ?% e; m! C3 y% I9 Y" hSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ; G1 A0 D9 d/ m) G9 U* v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 0 ]& _8 A' c2 \& q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)7 M2 d* }5 a7 Q! a) T
$ n9 e. `4 j. s' R# E+ F* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
/ _* ^$ B5 [" m$ Aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' L1 b5 G% W( e7 Z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' C! z" F# V7 M: t8 C. \4 m5 \
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 M- J# ` D, B5 x& B
( a5 k# a0 P9 g6 _# X' w* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
3 t8 ~$ @: e" p. \, ^5 e5 ?1 rthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: J6 m# ~8 c0 T- W5 i7 _cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; M5 x2 y4 o5 Phaving a powerful psychological impact.
0 L, j5 Q5 N2 [) ]8 `
) d. g$ P% i: x) [* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
/ X7 ~3 N3 G3 ?; |completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% t4 C( O, o/ e4 Dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
+ P) O0 m+ h' u: x! t" z3 ^3 L7 s* f: Tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, v4 B ^( e" q% p# R' wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ g( ?% E) N) S" L/ x- S6 b, Jwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
8 Q" d; f1 }: h. V0 x3 D% U- F# b5 T% b" a/ L
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another + c# [- g8 z3 ~5 L- Y+ @3 Y8 h5 }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * R) ^/ K8 V8 _4 ^
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
* E& a- t! E4 Hprice.* p' X; C2 A1 D% }
3 G7 J9 K/ H! m
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ! j2 [ l9 R1 y. ^
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 8 b& ]7 ^% Y+ @9 O- L. ]) z3 b
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 [& b) V- b1 f, _2 e4 M
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( i V- o9 X/ R. Q$ z4 P% K' \$ K) T
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 w8 d$ G2 c" u; d; N
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 7 h1 e9 a( y$ G& F' W, E1 F
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
U1 Q1 f7 j6 Y/ t! v* v1 E6 kdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! n2 z' `" v! @7 _
6 w- d; e7 C7 N8 R/ D, u, k O
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . Q$ Y' ~7 ~/ E) Y# s' H$ O! D
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the I# J) Q- R) \
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) ^! T2 J i& ?8 ^2 w' y5 [5 T# vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( g+ h. @2 ~- y& y5 j9 x* Y& Z- i, wmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the + b# G" `: }( z% T7 \5 W
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
7 O( h! _3 I" k- c7 Q W9 e( I& J( [: l6 B4 z
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
' y, ]# K1 a5 {2 g( v3 Qproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' O* B+ u4 k1 gwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! |2 K6 c0 x( q& t; _
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; v0 S* g) D2 \" a! M) Lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ K% Y/ _% x7 C
buyers in during the bubble years. {/ d5 N# v2 {6 F" O* z
! `- X. F" k( T1 u" X* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: {9 A2 w" C8 _; \1 ]die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; I2 w! w8 y+ q% |) e
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ! Y& S4 B! u1 A6 C# H$ M, F% J0 r0 m) o
he’ll close. |
|