 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
% e* M2 Z, E9 yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
$ k/ a/ @2 d6 Mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
4 n' @5 o! S/ A" T$ Fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, i! |# b" ?9 x$ y3 w5 @" w% f: D% ~begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.1 X2 ?% c! [& w( m9 |
3 n% \; Q1 H6 H$ k% K+ b
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
+ y% N0 p- ]5 o1 N# oyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 K+ B' u1 g! \& v8 u4 c
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 `: @( A. I* S' F1 @; |( \
+ k/ q B2 @+ |0 _1 W: C! I& z
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many * L2 S, u6 C G) b6 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 y) V& E9 P. Vseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " o5 j. y: I1 g3 B
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with., B* Q- b; \% [" k9 S4 P
3 i6 \9 d0 e6 @) s9 P! J2 I
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
* } M. g8 o( ~2 M. `5 |" dthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
3 R5 ~: N: b+ k0 V* @' kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 0 B6 |" X7 j. M+ x# u9 l
having a powerful psychological impact.
' h X8 C! ^+ a$ ]6 n
$ P) z- X! L' y% v$ ?% N* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
1 _ N# s" v1 mcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
7 }$ Y- }* i3 p& l3 O: K0 M7 Jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
7 M2 q( Q4 K" b6 i1 E2 Sthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
) o, Z" z( d6 P. m$ ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 M: g; w* C3 rwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 O. L- |4 |/ M) [( |; I4 V
0 I% n! [- g! v* h0 o' N* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another / Y5 @8 O& H; [2 m$ b5 C- a4 G7 _
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( I) U3 \; c5 G5 y u% R% Q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that H5 ^- A; l* X3 P, g4 W$ X
price.
1 R9 m" V2 o4 [! [7 x
0 u7 k9 g2 A# J5 l0 \* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 A2 N, ?' t- z# [( B9 n e; w( tbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) O/ R; w: ^7 `% p) M) x sexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
, L9 b& z* [" `7 i2 V9 Kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: ]0 V& G$ I. \* E: B% c# |have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 0 f% O9 Z0 T! V8 [
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 p* g! s |! S& d1 E8 C2 p* N
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 J" i! q7 V0 I4 R2 B$ e0 kdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: ]) y8 Q) h' S! d5 ~0 N/ [
5 N- O" U+ _4 _
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ; }3 J3 ^4 O) c( g. b
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - W( h, r3 Z( R
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
/ G! X5 e, w, [( K4 Lyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 O& X2 a: b9 y& [. Q* Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , } m3 K5 }- y& P; \
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
; H$ K# e9 y% x3 l" C2 ?& d6 L0 k. e: u( X- F
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; p+ t: s4 C1 H& yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 x. [% Y' L% z+ `5 Qwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# Z1 v" J; N. K% C/ gto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just " a9 Y4 x- P8 ]/ O; B
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
8 k# d4 {# i1 V# e Sbuyers in during the bubble years.
6 f- l. N+ W: U4 Q$ x/ Q
* h$ h; M' n& ~8 L2 z( R( ?* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 |3 ~* T$ _4 o# H9 Z' |
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- r. `: V% y& ^" X0 t5 Cwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
" G6 ?% l7 l) {7 R4 ^3 ?$ Nhe’ll close. |
|