 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
+ y. H& ~+ @ Z @; K$ K1 I! a2 cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ o# G1 z$ I& t4 b) K' H$ D$ a0 Dbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
( `% s! v3 L! D5 d( n6 s4 Ythe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and * [; R0 R; o7 C5 B
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 b) h, e4 \3 R2 y7 v+ L! b
q1 I. f! I% i& ?
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
& H0 q5 b( K. x, f- zyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ' z( F5 H; J0 |% Z8 T: @. Q$ R
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
9 r( w% y% E' |6 c: a5 W1 `0 r% T# D: e B2 d7 f+ W
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many / \5 v. Z1 O9 c& `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
. n/ h- ?9 i# @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& C2 x! b; V8 Gget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
& g) b% B ~; \9 L+ O O
! S. I2 N5 D& J; U( k$ T0 w9 i* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
5 P6 N, @. d* K: jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 3 z# U' g; S) w6 X2 y+ h
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) {7 ^9 S, h9 g/ dhaving a powerful psychological impact.
6 |* V& g1 E5 a" ~$ W2 t j" Q! \8 P. v1 z7 C% j) N
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
0 c H1 q3 ]; @9 Zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 9 E- c' C' w6 c; b
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
' r# T' I4 e$ c0 ^9 w6 j- tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 y& E. X1 p5 }1 a
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
! [$ H+ k; i+ q1 w: ?2 s4 S( Kwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
: g m) m% {) w# l7 g9 c f- h9 e. Q2 H7 K8 l
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , g$ X3 _! L( V& K4 ]
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( ]" h( g2 M5 d: F1 B; j
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ) S4 {" v9 w7 a+ ^# O' H' N9 V
price.2 C, J8 R" `4 X0 o u
2 k+ }5 H8 ?- o# H) n+ z7 g* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 D5 E: l) M S* M9 U- @. x2 |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
% r o0 e* `0 i# D: v6 mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" W* ?- s/ C. e1 T8 nwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 0 c+ [& @# j% b3 |4 |; F a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ^- i; j! ^6 ~6 }. v- o
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& d* T, t: G3 R# H cSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 S3 H6 a+ f$ Z1 tdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
3 s9 U0 N5 ~0 M( U. O/ ]/ k9 a4 A, u2 {
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
1 o1 p6 n! k' l( _/ O2 E$ dyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the . r) v& D# M" Q( G% K
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into % z# ]" s x6 x$ y2 j
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
/ V6 t4 Q4 i+ |) [% S1 u; ymore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 T3 @2 _ D- T4 h& y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
( a s) Q% y+ h/ {) t# f! v+ s6 N j0 H
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
: K% N+ G8 R4 t9 M% S/ G. q0 E) Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , m/ R- |7 Q2 _: x0 z# ~
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : k ?. {/ Y. x( w
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 3 K- k; z3 ], |4 J3 w9 I0 ?; a
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ T9 D! |9 F) L6 }9 d
buyers in during the bubble years.
0 R) b- M" \) e# v, G( d$ X) k( R% F; w0 {
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
$ [8 X; v- A& r+ V9 \5 y4 ^3 Idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
$ Q* y$ O& f1 J- B; j8 h( Wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( S. c( a% e& z* o4 H6 Q/ i5 a) K
he’ll close. |
|