 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 `% j! `5 @ z
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 R: Z3 I* V: h8 A) F2 P) ~: Ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) x0 ^% {5 e) l' D; w& C# I1 Uthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! Y1 C0 s2 d9 T( f2 E; zbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% M1 C+ Z; ]/ k( B c% K! s8 }* p1 m
, w7 ]# B. ^, \3 F1 z+ w
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
& ^- ?& A* e2 _1 j. Tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
4 s) b0 y( }: C0 \1 gand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
5 g- n" N6 ]. I+ B) s
% J3 a m2 G# [* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 {: V. P( P9 Y9 J4 y1 U: t. Wproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ; F4 [% n3 Z. y8 l3 @; A% g) ~
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 X% q, n- N+ Iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.% u" j( `8 G& H
0 Y) R& h4 U$ z+ J, V' a6 J* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
e% g# q& s5 p* Z9 Q' g+ Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / T# G% V5 h0 P$ m# }( J1 z4 F
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
9 Y" L: _. G* ^% _having a powerful psychological impact.
1 D6 v4 h: @0 K; Q9 ?, s
7 V6 l+ p/ Q" K6 Q! o, s4 ~* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# Z7 w, e+ e- @# _- u, hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in : _$ @( K) a5 @7 U6 \. P: j
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % O9 w" j+ ]5 ?( Q8 A
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ q5 N: A! k' A0 }. H0 E( ^never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & r' D" c# M! V5 C/ g k6 M9 N( w7 r; T
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
/ g) e8 u1 c; [) [+ x0 l3 C
3 ^# T& ~6 I6 L# V2 ^* r y, s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another & K' e& ~6 X+ U" D7 M) v& K
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
0 l& l& C8 J. u* Ythat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
0 G! r* K: @( c( `$ n) vprice.! o9 c# t# Q9 j: x) Z' Y
. m' q* Y3 E& Z! T* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ I# h: V# B g5 ^' M9 U* Z% |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
' k, Q7 b9 P' s, ^expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 B! K- S8 H. S2 m
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: R7 h N& G# @have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% J% u! j- O: z% U( lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 J# w9 m6 k) s( h& K$ ]( y4 }Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; ]' v/ q8 k$ e( Pdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
. ^2 ^, D2 J9 B# x6 B5 z* W/ }1 d" h7 I! k. F) A3 b, O+ S
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have " n( o2 `5 R! c! Y0 u7 c$ ?
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the , B1 h6 t, ~0 l. b) N
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
`3 A' |( e, i. D6 W/ p! Xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! x& K6 k7 \4 U- U
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
! `) S0 r3 ^& R2 O/ ~better chance you have of securing the best deal.# f: Z; R; O+ C; R+ Q1 j/ D
2 _; i0 H" e* [6 f! @- D& A C* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 z3 S- H, E7 j
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
6 |6 z8 r. p* X" ?, q5 cwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 3 L, ~( F4 r3 m6 m" \" _/ B1 O6 b" f8 |
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 L; Q+ l& Y2 W( h! j4 d
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ I: l/ ~% H7 w: t9 A9 }: N
buyers in during the bubble years. L3 ^ J7 ]( k( Y( X
6 x( B4 u; L/ t5 B6 \7 N* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it + S0 `2 Y% N9 H7 B( L
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 Q0 d0 D' m( Z4 {' mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: N ?$ |9 V; I- `# P, i. k! @1 n0 }& w' khe’ll close. |
|