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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 8 ] \9 m9 h% D' ~, f7 G8 ~
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 B' h- n6 e9 M# K5 k7 Q3 [8 }. V
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
% U, t$ ^1 ^2 z- ]/ y. _5 s% Rthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
% \7 Q4 _) R& U* M/ g; `& ebegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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 2 R% Y* z9 N% l6 v6 N/ @
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* t7 T! X2 C7 `: h% H) t: Pand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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( k$ h+ r6 @$ a2 B5 J7 l- H* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
& I% i1 |+ Q+ D% vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% l; O! H8 e& `5 B/ I4 m- hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 3 Q/ u" |* f2 x3 C- n5 e" j
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.& ^' K6 D t* a
! }# C. t# n3 r) b) G* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on . \. i( ~0 |) v: E" X/ e* v4 n
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; M6 n' ~: S& n4 vcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 {- I! b T- J' M
having a powerful psychological impact.1 e* c/ q/ i% O- X0 h* x/ K
1 i2 P! a, ]- u' p* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
3 r; X# @6 @( \- ~completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 Q' Q8 K+ _- a* Q6 G, d0 s( Q! V$ Z
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on / ]& C8 f% b2 ~# Z* M0 R
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % x7 R7 ~0 }4 w6 L, m
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ [( ]" D$ g- X& j$ ^ awhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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4 q( C% u# \5 e% F+ q6 N* `* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
: q2 F" n% v8 q- n: nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
' n: X" T3 [6 o: r: t. J8 _that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ k$ M- }3 P- M7 r3 d" g; Q6 c5 O' Cprice.
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4 v- O- n3 I3 R/ ?* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- }& A Q$ ?$ Q& I2 q F' Nbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( Q1 k$ v& p/ c! w& zexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
3 N: w7 Y5 m: x# Owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 D+ U% S8 {7 Y0 {have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ X* t, M3 ?1 G! y, R$ xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( F* B; a6 S% r [Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& T# A+ M+ \' ~+ ~die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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- W- M7 l0 S4 p4 }1 s3 b) P$ n. e* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
+ H2 u; |' T8 E/ y& ?. Vyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the . c& R9 Q) [, B: M4 l; m/ L) r- w+ {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ) |( J0 l* q, q& e; W
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# \' a- p4 l/ Y6 n; amore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
* q! C8 I3 b6 C' m3 ]- V3 lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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+ S3 Y) `4 T# [* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing % o4 s' O. o. q) Q$ B
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 y) X4 h6 m. v' a& m
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 H# ~- ^% `' N, m% U. ^ Z7 @to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
$ g% D& x8 R1 Vconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . H, U) i. _/ I" d! X
buyers in during the bubble years.3 s. B1 b% I Y; z b; k) i
% g. g A- e" l: e4 ~/ L3 q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
1 |& g7 Q* [. d- S7 bdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 }* M/ J3 Q6 I( r. d6 o6 ]+ o4 J
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ' v* c/ ~: @% o, ~
he’ll close. |
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