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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a ! T0 {! T: x8 j) p
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( ]) S" c' K% V# e ubottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
4 p# h6 `( F# p) Dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and O& u- u9 _# a$ I1 {4 j
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.0 S- p* m% @, H
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ) b% p q6 _7 U; e0 @9 y
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " M2 q7 R" e- v! I
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)* @( S1 j. m+ |3 W7 _" H
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 I- d! A& @6 G* k
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
: @& z" ]% i9 x4 `% kseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' ^9 T# [9 X, G0 j4 [get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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4 ?2 x9 r5 _) T% p* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
3 `8 m; `1 l4 x4 F2 Z! w$ d7 n# Ythe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
+ x' T+ d5 v, |, {cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 4 ^; S# c- k* g3 l1 Q' s: X
having a powerful psychological impact.
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# C# z# C5 `4 }- K+ e* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; E+ _3 O2 \8 f1 w- G; y
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
+ H1 X0 y' Y rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 w$ E0 @3 p+ i$ w. y4 @" x. n4 a$ Fthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 N/ e; @) h6 x3 wnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
9 j: q& F5 X, g9 pwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # C: b% E$ D" ]' Q/ z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
2 F- I- Z/ b% kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 ]) a! ?9 ~& x' C/ _) O
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! v' X" j8 o* vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 7 J7 n4 {5 k, a& r
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( h9 n% m; H3 P# Q W. ?, qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you & a- ]' x! ]" B3 W/ E+ L# m
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
5 _" M; e: t& e; j4 L4 t2 E# ithe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- s5 e: U3 _+ H; |Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 D3 W# o/ W$ j: K3 Y: xdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 4 C- y) r* ^7 a
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the % u. }' u/ y: ~1 J
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) S! L% h$ V* Y$ Q% J' H& R' K9 n- {* `your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: c q# k- l9 d( Jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 9 c- d, f: Y: i/ j S+ h7 \, z q; ]2 t
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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& s, X T! I6 ~* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " b/ B" _! y3 j
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That # a z" j% j; x! g
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ d; h; H. v: s1 ]/ J* sto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ Q5 \7 U7 l8 S% ]- L; V
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
* J8 z6 H6 s; E( s$ mbuyers in during the bubble years. ]) K* T4 c, \/ Y( c. A
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* W& D0 n1 v. L1 F% |. wdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 1 J4 A& ]( {+ D. B* u
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
0 T7 O2 c3 r7 s% Q3 h! A. ` k; f# Mhe’ll close. |
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