 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 ' |: C5 G% ~0 R0 ^
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
5 O2 u" g* Z! Kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 Z, ^6 x+ k0 n8 b/ t0 [# o
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 4 R5 d$ s1 T5 B9 k1 [. a
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.5 R; K# H1 S* W
) K7 p4 K$ e/ Y& Q" x" q# v# X1 W p
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 7 I( p2 ^( l( n5 O; N
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
7 C- z1 g% i- Y% \. C$ |! |8 Rand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% x" c; Y P# v) M0 l
$ G% ~8 E7 g" E
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 h4 o9 F1 Z7 @$ z' P. e' X
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 t I( O8 g! xseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 v) \* _( a x2 Q* U) iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
& y: g5 y$ D3 `4 }# p6 _* G7 h: K7 }2 ]
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on * ]) C }% K4 W1 K# f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( n8 [! _1 j0 n6 z5 c$ pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. a: {7 L! W4 g o- r2 ^having a powerful psychological impact.
; D! W. w( Y4 f* O% Q9 Z+ b1 f! _0 J+ l8 ^+ Q
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 G+ M, D! C4 {* C0 a% Ycompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
; N0 q. A8 _8 B, @; d( iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
1 p! i' U& N, X2 u. ]4 @the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 @: \7 O# A- Y& _8 [never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 5 [4 e2 ?1 Y6 ~% M
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
' b0 i3 }: T) O; k: X' g# q; v/ ~, ]3 K. S
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another $ z y' h' `) P8 v8 N9 ^) B
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / q! y8 u# ^1 s4 z
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , u1 a1 Z5 @/ l8 w! {& z
price.
# H' G0 I3 Y5 w% {* ^$ c1 {
/ j2 U/ P+ w+ S+ f& W* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
& ^$ G' R# h% s- Pbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s - ?0 t. N' s# z5 R- C }) ]
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( P$ Z z. s2 w! e/ r/ h$ }+ X8 Uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
1 h8 k% Y8 b; `' Z* ^3 Chave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
8 `9 M* V5 p- u. V6 Xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. m+ H7 K$ l( H7 tSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will . k' X0 `6 T, G3 I `- I0 V9 L
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
0 E3 }5 Z: E$ s# }$ T1 \
% E9 g0 w' l) M. R! V) j* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 P1 F! D6 p7 l; K; e) L
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 1 N' `" O; ^0 s3 K( b; z8 c& D
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ) k; C, B+ i2 _* x4 o9 ^4 l" p
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ( K6 d, Q4 @9 N2 u
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " }8 f" x3 ~( u- |$ y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
4 e& \ i2 `3 k6 o5 q- q1 Y( ]7 Y; i5 ?1 P; _
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
1 R3 R9 X# T8 e3 Cproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 4 v$ X% ?: I5 n2 A1 o# K- t, V
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
0 e; Z. u3 k+ D6 o. J {to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
' S( @ s+ D- Z% j% G5 pconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
( E) q: {# K5 ?% |buyers in during the bubble years." ^, ^8 K3 U2 Z% f8 _3 Z7 m
" u" f, o$ U/ K% G, x7 l
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : @' L* X! i$ l1 _; c: n) j+ s9 Q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' w/ l& p! S2 v Z3 B/ ^2 \will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 j: J4 H. ^- a% D
he’ll close. |
|