 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 1 M* c/ g0 P% C) u, x5 K
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * e( I g1 e6 u3 x0 w
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 S$ ~8 m( f m$ [- P0 }! R% X, @* gthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : E3 u2 n. m; M* K
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
; ]- X' B8 v+ N" I" W- x* W; y- B4 W2 I7 B7 d# R7 W' Q. S7 C
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
" v' O5 w A, G8 Cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 6 Q$ a& C6 [ f3 K, r9 @6 b" {3 r
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
" `3 e6 i- p$ v; }
+ Z9 K# ?8 A* N8 Z; W8 G" V* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ; K; }, O/ e4 f+ N' @
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 F% G* j% ]; i$ o- V. o2 [+ n% e4 nseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ]0 r! u V& \$ y$ k
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
N3 L/ f9 t- V. B1 T
- s9 l i5 u4 s9 y8 b1 s" V [* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on - Q, ]2 S0 Y' b/ I9 b
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
- r& k5 i, f5 F9 g( Ucashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 5 C) J1 L2 y$ @+ O
having a powerful psychological impact.1 }; y/ k9 ^0 M7 S6 b# E. r; p
4 s4 m2 Z+ T$ e N
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
\9 o! B% `% _- a4 dcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ _$ |' {$ d# ^. Z; H# ?% Yorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 N# b! Y1 E Tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you / I$ e- @) l# C, c) C# H
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , w1 ~" S& a0 A
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
# N' V: |" f2 X. s4 U2 B4 ?" B( n. T* [6 r/ Q
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 2 U. S# A6 Y% V2 Z* b5 y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
) d- Y4 W$ T6 Q6 E; B. fthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) S; e Z2 i9 _$ u1 M6 Yprice. C. n: k8 x8 W7 C) {! y) e4 d# W! l
& i; j& a7 R4 ]9 C' X% G
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ! c' E$ o3 m6 X! ]
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
. S, o7 t( i5 E# x* ^expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( j8 H2 E( F0 b. Z5 L/ m2 U! {work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
) n7 U( n; W a3 W2 i+ H8 jhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of & l! L! z; J& D
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
* O2 P5 L, }4 J9 `) M' Q! YSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 j! X6 v. f: `9 z
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
! d+ v4 Y6 F4 |9 {: ?: N& p9 q4 \, }) H; ?5 N9 J/ T
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& E5 n/ t+ I' w fyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# [" ~* o% T$ t* F6 D, L6 p. r- \price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 k5 I" W" z& k/ @% byour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: Z& x' C$ N' c/ amore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the , G) A; f1 m, X7 f/ F
better chance you have of securing the best deal." E' [9 Y& u. o" l2 b0 w2 `
9 z3 Z7 U2 D) J
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
1 G( S7 w) I) A! d c9 s( Q1 Cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 1 g( I7 R. ^! L7 g b, s& i1 I9 Y- L
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
" Y4 F. l: y0 e' uto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - B- `7 M6 y8 y9 p) N( `' z% S
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 p" U3 h/ @+ o$ F0 ~buyers in during the bubble years.
( O7 p( [, F5 l, y6 i
- T' u" t3 p: _! }( B% C* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : y) o/ j K/ o) T2 A- i, e
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
8 G4 Z0 N' t3 J# @0 Q0 J% Jwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but $ \ a9 `5 p/ u. q1 C( m
he’ll close. |
|