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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 ]5 M8 p' h
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
3 T* `! x' q. ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! k4 m6 ~3 O' N9 N. F, U4 J# T6 Z
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! t+ s; z L mbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part." a; S) M* Y9 Q, ^3 s: {
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
" a3 E W' ^8 R7 r: E8 Ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % Y) J! u9 m7 R' ]: b
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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2 o2 T& P- `5 @) O1 q4 p8 E* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# U6 j: H' H) L* @* w7 y Lproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' T/ K) k2 K M: H3 ~- Eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
) V& z; w4 I# t) E2 k# e/ aget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " C/ m% X9 f4 E# m8 W' A( W
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; v1 w. @# _) V6 L+ J& n1 L! Pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; l* f& K3 i1 i- M& thaving a powerful psychological impact.2 {! ~9 y4 B) ~9 w7 ?7 P
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 3 C2 n& p2 j& s
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
) b$ L) ~+ A" D' X6 rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" p. Q: P5 c1 v0 y7 Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
& I; H' Q1 m1 O( y7 R) |never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) ~3 b% J0 ?- q; Iwhat 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 ' C. B" [1 }6 O1 e+ ~
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 k4 W! J. b2 r% D/ k+ i
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that , D, O1 V2 p, P
price.
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7 n# A9 k" r& d" I/ ]: v* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ( Y t' V; \2 w/ G; N% g4 |$ w
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 l5 A4 i; I2 @" K8 fexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! F+ N1 \% ]& Z0 a x$ ^! Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# r& B: ~" Z- f9 T; v+ w$ V+ Ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of $ ^4 ^* _# ~& N O( X* T9 @ N/ X9 Y9 |
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' G" y$ |4 D& Z; d S9 X# DSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 e5 G2 l( A3 b$ p8 g- M" ~5 w9 Mdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 8 b: i1 n) G' i7 z( O+ L3 j$ g
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - N" M, q+ N8 w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " f1 Y1 J2 H8 g1 h* ~$ a
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The R/ Z8 D+ {: \5 J1 M' F+ i: b9 J
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 H, r. ^( t( G4 e
better chance you have of securing the best deal.( ~0 b( d6 d, Z7 P! J
7 ^- m* S/ z0 _1 Y. I* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
4 H. D/ V: Y: J) z* l* F+ Aproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 2 G* I% f1 o& J9 J b* b9 f8 Q2 S; Q5 b
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
0 o4 A0 T- g* p q- ^to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
, ^5 i: @+ h- u$ K0 g* iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 ~/ l) ^" J Y4 cbuyers in during the bubble years.0 G0 C8 f" B$ I
0 v6 N6 K+ z& i* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it . c4 a7 V0 N. D6 Z H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 3 e ~8 y3 F% |; p# h
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but Q( u$ O5 `2 @2 h1 J
he’ll close. |
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