 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 g7 H: p% Q5 T% h+ _
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * c. L3 I% P* Q2 `; y+ \ s% {! N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ G- K) p3 S0 W- gthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
- J6 l. G( |9 T2 P) d; r) ibegging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ O9 ]" r; V" f
' |* I8 }, i" _ ]) i: B" `4 `. U
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
: D+ H; G' n- K4 D* ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 7 N: z- u1 H# ?/ J3 V
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
7 G1 c3 q! Q7 {& z. g1 E/ V4 r( U0 k
1 A# W. l% N& a* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
4 J9 O8 @$ i+ M1 F% B$ Tproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" d# A O% b& w7 J% Tseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 o8 Q; p4 u- p) ?/ w9 v3 `/ G) @
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
$ ]( G0 ]2 ]/ ?8 u/ F7 Q
- ?, n9 ?4 v$ F; y( f; N* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
( i5 b( r) S. j8 sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
' e- Q% z1 Q5 F8 B" T( acashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; ?; O. d& b1 t' U! J5 shaving a powerful psychological impact.2 w% |1 o. k& q9 K5 o( }
4 K l* Y7 A+ T# B' p: Q
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 `( s! }8 l6 M7 f& e
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 3 a4 y4 ]% G+ a- A2 x8 }, g! Q9 S$ r
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * y" ]' @% Y# Q' i4 W( e
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 1 t2 a2 ]) P0 m1 G& b
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& u! F5 w4 J* n2 W0 E1 W; dwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
/ \5 U, z2 N; I) F: H6 n y; K+ o$ V9 W' P* M4 N) i
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 0 H4 a6 [ ~7 r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
& R( M0 Q( N fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) N# [6 |6 u1 _6 Cprice.: B' T' {8 m. j( Z9 N! V1 Z
3 w* {3 S3 h: e% D3 a* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five * a, m* T# M/ y9 u$ @% L
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
1 w# I5 Y- _) R& n/ {2 G" ^expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + n7 s+ O ~2 n* |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - k, H' M# F% J7 P3 I) N
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * B* ^3 E5 `4 i' R
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 5 O. H' a( I+ P
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will & N& h7 b' {0 Y1 k, i3 H! e2 f
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture." a$ \0 v; y2 [& O+ u: n
6 G# f, _3 l# L& K
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
+ `7 Q# l g0 }* Y; |your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ C& e. l& L2 M
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 f* V# h% R* g+ |8 S4 byour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The # `& v$ D/ ]8 @5 P5 u( W& e# v: L" X. j9 R
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
1 {( T2 q* T- [6 u2 tbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.% u- F/ V) m8 R, ~
/ J0 T; L1 s. B5 k
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 _& k' c9 y2 Q' m
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That . h' G" d( c9 J
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ b' A4 G9 ^( C2 ^3 Fto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 3 F5 o' K& b0 G+ E& K) [/ ?8 G
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
9 C3 ?0 Y1 h- S' K8 ?buyers in during the bubble years.# n4 |! X, s$ S7 H( R
. T, `9 _( b- _) q5 ?9 F. u" ~4 s* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it - f3 c$ E0 U/ k0 K: n
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
u0 X7 `* {( L7 P, [: @6 Pwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- l: } L, ]' uhe’ll close. |
|