 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 - V# g! i* G# h7 f* d; }
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 @) J. V) S) ` P: a+ n2 F
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 0 D$ r# a7 G! t8 [6 O
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 ?: f0 I. D/ `* o
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ k9 e9 c7 e' ^# l. T
- \9 S+ a" ^ l* WSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ ^5 W) F Q7 A% `& Dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
1 H$ ~+ \% A* kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
$ D' K9 _; K$ P. i; h' R$ b3 w y1 y, d, @
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
6 i, x$ A1 n [ g, Fproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 W) w2 b# A+ Q% H+ ]" {! Sseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " f4 _9 O7 n( v7 W5 T
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
' U' @1 x4 q: H# f; O3 i" S% o$ q+ G& F) Z4 y# I
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& Q( n0 X6 f! r% ^the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 2 ]0 d" F; ?, Z
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 U1 V' ~& R' J: [" x7 J# X& R$ Y5 B+ chaving a powerful psychological impact.
( L1 d0 J) x/ \" E8 h/ _2 Q n. G4 b0 ?( h
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
4 T+ q. S5 [# G5 s0 J& U( Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' u) |: [& S" r. }9 M
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ! k% A3 L) h, c6 e1 a2 X) p: [
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & ?+ ^8 B: K! `+ a1 u j3 P
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ! E5 d+ x: }3 }5 X# U
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
1 I0 l3 d1 C- Y7 [
$ n1 r9 X- {7 D5 I7 ]6 l! s ]* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; |$ T* }0 j7 \. V" w) W/ r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know P0 \" O% [; @
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
: k l* ?& t8 s xprice.. f0 |8 v" d( t3 y
+ @- y3 x7 V: D' M2 Z* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five : h0 W) o! n' R+ m7 ~
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
`8 V: l$ c! mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" u9 W- r% D& S; P5 p$ s* gwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . T2 h! |1 ?& W D+ L3 J# M
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
) P9 R* P" h( u+ l/ J* o: Hthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 D& ~( [/ l! E6 X9 w# {1 d6 I
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* F' o& A* Z! s! S# y$ M4 _die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.9 K7 x0 O" i: G f" z4 D
; w. @. ]' E+ B3 C% G6 z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
- p) Y8 _ I( j/ {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
* S, h2 m: c5 L* w9 F; |: s: Uprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into * L( ^3 g) `2 T% x
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : A+ }& d% Z5 _
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ) z$ e/ Y1 B; O( v5 C
better chance you have of securing the best deal., r$ q9 f/ v4 h% G& V, o- N
' f6 Z* B, c9 o9 {$ L; j; l; e
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * e3 p- R2 S9 Q$ g. {& g! ^
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
% X+ m0 M/ ]3 x" W& L2 T+ swill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 ?6 x1 K- n' w; t/ G4 Y: ^% X }to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just * p; f: O# ?+ j) _* R. S- C
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 8 q6 d7 y8 u, d: ?& c
buyers in during the bubble years.
5 E6 r* B& K# @2 u) D8 n* u9 q3 {) J2 ^0 m0 z
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / ]( k! E: n8 ` c7 ]
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: r" u% H I1 o3 o9 }will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
1 _) a" [, f1 a& ^5 e. uhe’ll close. |
|