 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, g) J) r* F0 w% m% q/ Vfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 4 x' z5 a v9 s
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, C* L. D% l9 B3 `2 `% F2 E! h- n2 tthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and + i/ a' }! {/ i" s _5 ?
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.2 D- s7 W$ T+ f
" A2 |- E. i5 ?( F+ H4 J' MSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
# O3 ~: N1 f! Q( ^6 kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
O% G8 B) G' ` F) Kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)9 p: `. U! J0 s* f% i* r: G" _
: |: R( f* c4 [' d& O: O
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ! F+ d; x ?2 j# ]; m! b
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( t' p1 X! `8 n! a# F1 c' t- c7 r
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
. |& r; p% c1 i9 I: kget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
, y: p3 `. o. [) M6 j) C& P- H* n' l2 H# l3 G
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# _/ g2 ~. _. z# O2 B# Y; E5 ythe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not * v5 `# k. }# j* ~6 r
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
Z' g: c/ ?% M5 p! |; \having a powerful psychological impact.
- j4 g) v- h V, a8 m/ r2 |' X h! M" @4 ]3 r% m$ r: l
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( B5 L' \! A* {7 wcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; p+ Y6 s- T( ]. y4 O4 t1 Z
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on " g6 i) C9 Z' E2 S% O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you " X% U) I& \% v# u' A
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get * r! R4 B6 Q4 G. g3 @. w1 V
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
* l9 p- z0 J& N6 J: q7 Q; O3 ?1 c' ^
9 r) f$ D2 _* g! P! s' F* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
) c, w6 g, V+ s& m* gproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know , ]6 X" ]/ v! p) P) E7 }
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( [4 B! }* @) L2 U: v3 L3 z/ Bprice.
' Q) _9 G4 J1 z) y8 P+ K( S$ v5 J+ O4 z5 A7 m! M* ~% `
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' z4 h! a6 C* Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 Q) ^0 D" a# \9 Q. I( [# nexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
+ i; U- f: D/ Q" r# A* e5 F K: pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, c8 ]: l0 {# _( r9 Q+ ~1 ]4 P) [have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; E" E8 F# e. H, ]' j0 Q3 Pthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
$ r; G9 \% ~; ~ K& S9 x7 L2 PSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ ]. h0 t7 U. ]4 F
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ p* t/ @7 s$ ~' }
$ `" D2 Z4 c$ }+ M9 O, R. E) Z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . v/ J* q2 n" I0 E9 y; c" U+ M
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 {( F I! Q! q$ Y+ j# L- B
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
\' C _" r- U7 P6 |( Zyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ' z# y4 T; E( `$ {
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the % `4 j7 a/ [5 h; g1 l: k
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
2 F6 j5 z& U; p9 k5 W/ B
( s( ~ ]$ p. A/ O; Q* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ [& J) e" E! {+ X7 N7 c5 `- uproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
+ x+ d J3 E7 u8 G8 Xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
& J* J8 z1 E* O% ^9 ?' ito save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; ~; m0 k6 a9 Z+ N% I
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
9 Y9 ^4 [; U: h0 w4 }( z- ]buyers in during the bubble years.
% k* p2 i$ | r( P9 M
. _' H' C: L- }( J* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ R" |: N# l; H9 l1 C/ }8 O2 jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) N' T- N3 S/ d6 s; a; r
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 e6 K% M+ U- t( l. W
he’ll close. |
|