 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
9 e5 n% g7 k1 K* b; p* I# `" {2 Qfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 [ @' o; r& f3 a% C1 X6 u- J
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
8 ^: q- W% o' tthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* @+ g1 r$ L6 S a2 G/ Ibegging for mercy. That’s the fun part., q6 F: l% Y0 j' [: Y
. {# e9 I1 P) \0 H
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 8 z( P8 ~; M; W; M' @2 s
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , S5 k7 j* r1 B0 z1 Y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
/ a$ C/ p( o. v8 K' m8 W* X# B! B
" O# V5 M1 Z* q4 W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 9 \" u, }% _& a* K0 p5 x; `3 F
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " Q/ o1 N. P# R3 b' I4 q1 n
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & d8 T. L1 N+ u- D6 e, h
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with." X. p3 B# A! ?3 r# r4 g) Z
; d: t. u4 d7 C, }: W- y9 F+ m" Z
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 1 B$ ^, d/ } c- k; ~
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. b% n3 H) R2 [1 wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 m2 y3 I5 S) v) ?
having a powerful psychological impact.
2 l$ e8 i# d% J# G+ A9 F/ ^! C: J- i( U# O+ l/ i: ^) F
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 4 i, k S; T; w- H) o4 t3 B i
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; j) Q9 J- V1 c4 N& ?
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ |6 p6 K0 b2 ?- K5 Tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you * c5 |8 F# K3 q6 y/ L ?' i9 [
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
! a3 I4 x% J) C$ ^ E" qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 _$ t9 o ~ V }9 p! @# O
8 a! [- w. e5 e. C* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
+ R* i4 ~' u& G- v6 }& Bproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know , W$ L, n- g/ i: H" S- C
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
: Y6 n2 ^6 s; hprice.7 \& T. D3 `, Q( I
! K% f# ^* `7 Z. \/ u! `
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five + a/ z% ~5 r! _& s0 n% `2 f6 S
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 6 k8 L, K' ~. n! z4 m
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 x {/ B" g- c3 @, N) dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
[; \& d5 G; X* ^! J; Zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
9 A7 i: L, A9 f, }6 [. ], \% Ithe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- u; a! W& ]8 l) fSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- z- ?1 O" I8 D7 J' `- Cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 ^6 j* @ e8 Z& }& T0 U
- U% m9 }6 {( J- M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ) w" I% y7 M, d7 q! @7 R7 t
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ C* ?9 i: F2 G& d$ fprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 A" p2 e$ o' g7 Z: C
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
$ k L m9 y8 @: S! G+ ^3 Emore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
/ {) g# t7 x. ]! L7 @$ nbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.: f% K2 i' F& K; Y4 {; u, ^
% J" h* D3 t; c2 w- M S* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
9 f$ `; t' L' N6 a1 Xproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
0 Q3 `0 R2 l* s! }& l2 zwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do - b' U3 H6 Q# K
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; }: [$ K& E9 P
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ?. O( P, e# g- T* m
buyers in during the bubble years.: i4 ]% c4 b- T" _& y: t/ U% i
3 C1 N$ W% q) S; f6 R
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 9 ?4 R, O' |" J, s6 u0 _) ]: z- B K
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
C- l4 A7 i7 {9 M' | owill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; B( L+ v/ ~5 yhe’ll close. |
|