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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
1 l5 ^6 B2 t" h$ n6 i* Y) M7 U, E. Hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. `( }0 w" K) ~, ibottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
% [; p; Q6 f8 j( D3 E) u6 u9 wthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 R3 q n. R- j8 I
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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5 u+ T: L* A. i$ U" D, FSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ p% H2 K7 C% E7 }; Y# iyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
# i; `3 _. M. z" v land stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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; l7 d {' y% w- ?7 [* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ h0 d1 a% J6 v x4 s
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
1 ^9 N* M# Q0 lseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & L! j. N' ^+ s: b
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) B* {4 R, G; V/ W8 S4 c
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on * M. ~8 b3 D0 C, j$ u3 v
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
* a6 u1 _& Z5 L9 I% fcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
& P% n, N9 |4 A; v* x/ W& }having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ( l4 v1 B+ p0 b. r
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
) m5 p( i" v" u& ]order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on " u7 b# j, i4 f5 t, H& J& E
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : X+ ~" n7 _+ Q5 S
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
6 B& a; r# D7 g' fwhat 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 + G- W6 g: M1 k
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 `8 l3 f( W4 H6 y# P+ uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & a; |; v" S0 p9 F
price.: R/ n: _+ C- T1 h
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' n- M$ X+ b8 u' M2 S( B8 j4 c) h/ s
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
* H: f$ Q% |7 \1 o, ]expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ; T! q1 E, }) S5 f1 P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 h7 t. J9 g! E. o* h0 i4 J" T1 v# Vhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ c; I% v2 Y$ }0 v9 d: Kthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ; Z. Z; H* @% t9 p4 o; V
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ G8 b2 H6 H: X) vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.) W k0 ^$ H! J) ]# P: H! u
% |* r( X* J. g% Z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
" |7 v( c9 j# ^* D) S2 k* I5 Yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 z: x# I; [0 E1 g& K9 w9 r [3 ~$ A
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into , o8 Q; P% z: W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 m7 N* t4 z: ^1 J6 [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
V/ U& d; T+ q' S; N& E* `# sbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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1 m4 \0 W, H- @& [* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& K/ M4 h1 X- U P9 \% o7 Kproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 s0 h% C8 Z& Y' ~/ Z$ J# ]2 ^
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
: h4 N B5 m1 X2 ~7 jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! x5 [" Q; _% U- ^, {0 o' kconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
8 ~" i) i+ {; e) [) D. obuyers in during the bubble years.0 \. g. M7 }6 v/ B( p/ c+ M1 I
) W o# {$ v& {6 a* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
) \2 A R' c! A8 Vdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" |& b1 q% t& K* s7 ywill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
7 `$ H( W0 k0 h/ z/ C" Z" W _4 Xhe’ll close. |
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