 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
" K Y2 f# G# {. S: Dfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , |% y3 d! k q ^& W$ S+ R5 N3 r# }
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, {( a3 a. b* `3 `( O/ i3 \the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
9 r0 l* J& F# Y/ p) T" \. [* ]begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.- C4 C6 U% ~3 V% x
+ M0 U1 o4 I, m. a: [
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 9 v( f! z3 H) t ~
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* W4 x9 M* s8 Nand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
' ^& H4 x9 A) D0 l2 N) m1 j2 i3 g' f
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 j% T- }2 `, rproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
}. R" Z5 z* u7 O D0 x" F3 m, Iseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
* G9 @# a1 O* sget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
; k0 v& G* ]9 u* q4 K# [* o0 d$ b! b) }5 X
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
6 v! I4 X% z) M* w3 gthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 B y; I& H9 ocashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 6 U8 ?' \2 m# \* V! Z; S+ D! l
having a powerful psychological impact.
. b" w9 I& o: n7 k' K% d$ M7 Q2 n' K# N9 f) K
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
. y5 Y; P! [" M, C8 T: {) jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' N1 R/ L0 e! g- x1 r6 Dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ j3 y, e2 @. G! |, e; ^4 {* Dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. \5 G2 k4 G. E8 Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
: x, F p7 g; o5 d8 Mwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
; ~( G: j! z! i2 M
; p z F+ j2 ]# N* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another $ {9 d$ j2 ^& B v7 h& z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
& h; n: i# O2 p: G& R | qthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 m* l" g/ r4 D& D) |
price.- B% x J! e: r6 k. h8 C* S9 c, J
& y1 |, v4 Z! l7 i1 v( f3 i# P* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . T R5 ?3 V" D( [
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 9 @) \/ X& {& w
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
L+ j0 b: |5 w1 hwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . x/ H }! u8 I* z; a
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
4 x. O% t4 i4 J8 Ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
9 w# G# \. {( h. P- qSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
9 m0 M3 `4 g: C. E& t5 cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
2 g! ?# R7 m. M$ A0 \4 W5 u5 @# t2 @6 f" P: I7 o' ~
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
$ O( X. j h4 ^1 T8 @# tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ g- j3 w' H# a5 f. J* L, b6 \price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ s, p+ W+ _. l4 d1 J, Hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! Z' ] S# j; ^' d4 w! j5 L, qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
7 [* U1 E4 c: l/ R' mbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.9 [$ Y% u \; J
" D7 S+ }5 R! q' K
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing $ H3 C+ T" M5 d; n# T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That B3 T1 z# T5 h/ M& \
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( {1 ` w: b" X8 A3 o" `. Y" sto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 l& A3 U+ S; pconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 0 m. t3 D$ A* }2 i; X
buyers in during the bubble years.
: x- @4 c! S- a* ], z0 z1 w; P9 `! O: K3 V% Y) Z; _
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% [5 v; _% ^' F [( i! p8 Wdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 6 @% k3 o, @1 d
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
; h; R! z$ i3 M* I4 C9 fhe’ll close. |
|