 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 : i! w, v9 j- k y7 X W& Q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
8 e- B/ b: @( k3 X8 o. }/ Hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all : t- R. Y8 D" X+ t( _6 ~, x
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 q: X& I$ B6 J9 u' i, g* q2 f
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.& h3 n: ^+ {: M
. Q; c2 u7 q) w6 I0 }So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
9 Z R4 y, c, e/ kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
. f5 D6 L6 u( y7 ? x2 w$ m* pand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
' e9 Q4 R. B7 D4 e
' x. w" d& W6 s% T, W C- Y f* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
; w. N7 x" n) w1 I# Q: l$ vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
0 X w, u$ r- q+ Xseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 z3 Z. t5 ^7 n# X2 ~get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.7 N" ~! O8 ]8 v# V6 T+ }/ d
% }* c# d/ z& [0 ~/ `
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : a* B O. x4 t: }& p+ p& A7 _
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 h/ k! _' C* F; ~
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. j- k# F) g E7 }9 H$ h" _having a powerful psychological impact.
( ^+ V- m4 ?2 L# `( y( n) P+ f3 x! y4 n
2 C8 _& W$ S/ } l! L* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! d! M3 l) k9 E
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
. O2 ^& `, ^- @& iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % f. ]( n' X: r( x! g
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
4 }- Y7 v7 y4 _8 ?( Gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 Z, Z# n) I6 ?3 f) qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.+ o% q$ z$ [9 t/ t" y+ H) I3 I
1 f6 g+ \, ~, ^# T
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 q! Z$ u$ _* i& c) n m3 Pproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know # q4 a/ o9 D; Z6 w- J7 |5 a( U
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- \2 F! w, ~6 O# F# [price.: [% [7 x/ c; L
; f; Q$ g7 F- G
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 A$ B4 N* v; \/ R9 Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
/ q' B1 R1 A( u! }1 `expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
& j S& i1 J% G3 G4 g; G" F: mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ c5 S" @6 f) f' a. chave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of & r" ?3 n; h9 a. H: J
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
B% e& V; S3 y8 [, `Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 O2 d0 p5 ]: n3 I5 g! xdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.. t) [; R' a1 V0 L! V8 |
4 M B9 V' G. z5 G& s8 H! I
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 6 V- d+ R" @1 v) t* n
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
g! U$ ^" f2 O/ b/ \0 Jprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ; q; P! r; K# Z7 A
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
; y8 } f( R: V2 A$ V; b1 ]4 wmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ' U, k4 H. j2 _. s7 c4 S; u/ A* W
better chance you have of securing the best deal.3 N( Z0 b3 M: Q# T7 [: _% N
( S8 Z6 V7 k4 y4 M* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; g- g. G) X6 j3 yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
; J+ ]0 v! I1 x7 Lwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
% l1 n1 ^# n9 L1 @# I1 I! W6 _to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . E! h8 |/ d% A0 j/ d
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 q0 T$ }8 y0 P* xbuyers in during the bubble years.8 S8 G& }$ ~$ }2 n8 v% w/ b7 R
5 ?* |, K3 p7 G! u: }* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 ~5 R1 C- H' m$ ^: S
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; z" ]& b8 ^# W7 e! O4 n" R
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! C+ X4 r( ~3 ]8 k2 V' ?he’ll close. |
|