 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 " ~2 i4 D; i: l% N! W t' e, ~9 T5 ?
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
- m* I$ r1 e# ]2 e" Q( kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
1 t6 }/ q4 p; Y+ h% Q r5 `3 H Rthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' k* x! Z7 ], y5 h9 @; i0 o
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part./ i5 ^: @& {, N( b- [4 R% ^
2 C ~5 U9 p9 o3 WSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if # O) z. C" y3 H8 X5 Y8 f
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : v+ C4 V" Z6 M: f6 Y& M0 L
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- s a% i6 ]4 Z: p% z4 @
' C$ f) H; T# k( P# b" _3 c/ w* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many f4 f9 ?$ a) P
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
$ y% m5 S; C" n, X1 i1 dseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; ~9 `( z E; c5 @; ?% W+ z
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with./ q( J* \0 b( g" H5 O" e8 _
9 K9 _1 S5 [/ ^6 ]0 b% O* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 _! A0 D- i1 n2 ~ z# z& ]2 uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
! O ^$ r4 C' W6 tcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ! X/ P/ t- ^2 G0 o0 a
having a powerful psychological impact.
# F8 N4 r h& ?$ }8 h3 X9 W8 e- G/ c8 \" v* a. I0 P; } y
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; o% v4 |& k4 U7 p* N
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ I5 N, e# p! Y+ T5 Dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * F9 R% {6 N0 K% O7 L( K+ _
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you , O J$ k# V, G
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ~: J3 q' `1 W: l) k/ f
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
; A, Q6 X4 y W& |! S& ^' t; K2 ~0 n3 P( r
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
5 K* _8 f+ x) ]; w6 O2 qproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 M- n3 K. k% y8 ]7 }
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- h, e# x: c# E4 R( Y; N' yprice.$ H% {+ Z: R1 g
+ |$ P( ?5 r# m4 Y. _3 F. J {+ l* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 3 T n8 p# w) N, l
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 ~. M4 h( s( @8 ^
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of & i/ v4 _$ J* q! X
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
( x+ N3 @1 i: {& Ehave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
3 z1 g0 ]1 _. s- J6 ~+ qthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. & @8 l) g- \* u4 b
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 R) o4 ^6 c2 o0 ^0 d" x
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture. a1 h; O1 k4 r1 W2 k- |' H7 _' h
9 P( V2 r, T6 p# V2 _) y0 |
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 h5 r/ Y* T4 Y$ @your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
$ g2 D2 o' j, F; i+ B$ p$ `price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
( W( M( k2 r9 p# Vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 s3 N6 M2 X& Q( A2 E) ]# c- J* hmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 N! ~( y5 q4 m6 n1 o
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
6 D8 t! f4 [3 n- ]0 v
7 s6 G& t0 M, j5 V* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, V; T) ` }& Oproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ?& k1 s1 W3 Z5 i' q8 W% P
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
9 d! r: E9 a+ F; ^( Rto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
) p- Z/ D) [0 S3 c- Tconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ u, `, |/ A7 ]7 L, hbuyers in during the bubble years.5 l7 G) ^. P- g B% A6 T8 |
8 ]/ j9 S' T/ V- j
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: O+ d: u5 ?6 l) [die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' i, E6 e7 [$ C4 P: Q a# Xwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 r) V( z! s% c6 ^( e, f. k' h
he’ll close. |
|