 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
& x8 B& o4 d. U1 O: y2 @! {( f, E$ jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& b3 I$ K( v! ^9 i, Sbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
+ x/ V6 k$ f$ A6 X+ xthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 4 x$ \3 l, j( q. U# R( X
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ j% F8 D$ ?: f. ]5 w7 ?7 l
* ], J9 N' B2 ?! {) N; e3 C+ W
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ?+ Y' W, @1 w
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . n% ^& C& m. t; n+ K8 l& [1 a
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)$ t! x3 x0 Q# b
6 ^$ `* x. i' n
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( \* d/ i* Z4 U, r! V% D: @
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; A" d+ U0 ~5 w' ~ l$ I7 p% xseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
1 m# c" ^, f% D) v$ K: dget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 p: g( ?1 `2 E/ V
2 m6 b8 g& u, b1 m* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
! F+ O3 o! D; w+ ?4 R2 I4 Fthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 4 n6 G/ z" y# s" n, G
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; I4 c% @3 K2 y: d
having a powerful psychological impact.% F! o( L" C7 ^# Y( O& B- ? Q
$ G% ?9 U5 L. K$ a: m
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 1 C8 c& V; d7 x) b" h$ O
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( |8 V* n$ Z. ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
9 s5 ]$ L9 k: z; ithe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ ~, P* K2 h/ O6 D5 b2 {never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
' B1 W# i" P- J' z) wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.- u: Z. y Q. W" D: ], d2 t! l
" M/ l) s$ D* e8 ~+ a1 D
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 W! H" K( n+ _
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
5 g2 i/ W0 E( A" x0 }1 lthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 t2 ]$ \; J" U! N
price.
. z. j+ {% s: z1 c; v, y* r9 K( _7 w* p
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- @5 B' r- F# v# mbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 { K5 g/ C4 @
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 Q% e9 X4 d+ V& q: P- J; dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
( X# `1 U# X& O7 d; j$ b0 Jhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 |- \0 A3 d& e& h" G% V7 \2 o; z
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 1 } a$ l7 C& K1 Y# ]1 E7 y4 r
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 J9 ~/ a3 S e- j; l
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 p, U8 `* U/ M3 F) _ q" Z
W' h1 P: ~4 E# c% [+ L% j* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
* e% J/ @, n5 W' T. R. Tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
, c$ D% k! _; {$ V4 ]& W: Yprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " n* u( Z- d+ j+ v
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 9 B( G0 S0 I5 T. D3 S
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 `4 [( x, u, j. E' ^8 H4 ~" [& ubetter chance you have of securing the best deal.( w9 q1 n# j9 Z/ o6 J) c; t
9 K3 J: O% }" j+ B( x) Y
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
! Q" ^* f$ l$ F6 o9 u' Fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 ^5 J4 p* J& Y5 T* k9 x9 `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
- [1 n. ?4 t3 L8 Y2 V/ wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* G6 v# g4 n$ X; C% fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
8 s B+ Y$ ?+ o s# \- ebuyers in during the bubble years.6 D# U$ b$ A2 S; V. h
+ B9 G: [9 z- z/ v( i
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
( S+ Z, `/ b# G8 e( w: s9 fdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
. [$ ?( e# I$ ^! O u$ u; r/ Ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but : g3 R3 }; d$ ?0 t, ?5 R9 X
he’ll close. |
|