 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
. C* M- F3 S6 M4 T, q/ C7 E z- jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 Z6 w7 ^) _" a! B0 A( h! R$ Ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
8 m4 ^+ K! Y% U+ A; Kthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ X* @1 X( @' A8 g7 _- m* _4 Ibegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.3 K1 {" J1 F& U. S
2 X6 O3 H; v+ b- o- R
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
5 I1 s) c7 [% Y$ Gyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, Q& Q( s; B4 T3 m' ?and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
+ R. ^. U1 ^( D$ j( P/ `' k0 U. {6 B( P# Q) V
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many , H: ~' F' z4 x5 Y/ \
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" Q/ c- d: Y F) w1 yseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
3 u3 C0 h e9 n! F6 n6 {& Y7 [7 Uget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
- @( k( L- B4 t' x- v3 n3 l% Z# U& N
+ K4 t3 e5 u6 \: O9 a; F! v. l* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
. I9 j5 @$ y. W; c& \! j1 n pthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not , D* w6 I3 u* ]2 O; u4 x+ g6 T
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 7 Z7 [) p+ M$ k' @' z+ P. {8 t* Y: i) B
having a powerful psychological impact.
3 A7 S6 m1 } c3 i" C9 S* l2 N- {+ r7 k; s9 }) b; r1 D2 s. |0 b& b
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; s% G- x6 ^3 J- @) j2 hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; s4 t+ v ^9 |* ?9 f8 t* Torder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 1 e, z% x0 \0 B3 h& S1 l0 f
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( r/ ?' P% l" gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& f" P @' d- k4 T) x6 {# Q. ]what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 u |2 h _" {2 E; M: t" A1 T) ^
: Q1 s" r* ~ v' I# \; L. b& M$ h- e* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
~" O$ r& B( S0 G& A- [, pproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 o; q& h; ~9 ^4 `" D' Qthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
7 D8 L/ S g4 {, i3 rprice.
" [1 h$ ~. U/ L
: b2 E' |5 ]" M1 Z% w* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 t7 |. o/ ]; J7 Q' _1 M2 Gbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
7 l) Z" Q" j! R' ?+ Q# xexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" m2 [$ x3 J, y, Q: y9 D# Q0 k4 S2 Pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 y- q) V- p! Dhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% X6 i3 g& [6 B" othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& \& Z1 w1 c( K) N8 O) qSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 b# P' ^9 I% M' C6 l; Odie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ o5 C1 W6 X* z9 }) X7 h
2 s N! N' Q1 c% D
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
" ], `7 O, c0 L s2 U, lyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + R. C5 @, c) _% K
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
5 p8 K2 z7 k$ @3 H/ D9 L8 Kyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 0 u" S$ V! }0 A
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
. ^+ l" Y6 \6 `% {% Y% b$ {better chance you have of securing the best deal.5 @; T( V6 b% q
. |* }6 k, V4 B* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 6 B4 h% s& E7 T5 N) m
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + d$ A0 \7 |$ w2 H
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" D& N O/ X' Z1 Oto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 d# O$ v* c# s6 @$ x; S$ a1 u, x hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed & [+ W/ ~) s5 Z/ c* H7 s
buyers in during the bubble years.
8 |( W* S9 {0 O2 b5 N- H/ l/ m, ?
7 [' @- y% a* `& O f+ M/ m( k* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 5 U$ o8 P. o/ O; L6 b' F
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you f% t: {& N# k3 Z
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; B1 N; ?& F& ]' V! c9 vhe’ll close. |
|