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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % s% R' Z7 z! s' y
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
n2 W* s9 t" Ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all . @7 v! W+ ~ `4 l9 H" {1 f
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - t, }& V' y3 Q7 r+ V7 _
begging 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 % P( D; p6 W" {7 c4 F2 T' n' N2 q
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
8 Q9 G* C; m: |! ?/ i7 I* }and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% F( I$ ~( ^5 h" K# a0 m& e
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
' U6 W3 z' D5 `7 E3 b! Oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 s" N; G, P. {- rseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
. y, Z& \ \" Q. n, u, Zget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.6 A; A, M, F9 w' Y
# k* h* S4 j- Q- w" \* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on $ f/ N* U/ P0 K% U: @; X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; \! I: U( k+ ?; bcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while . C$ p6 | \$ W) G1 L8 l
having a powerful psychological impact., X9 i; Z; A* |% p1 \
" l* M0 z% D' }4 X! e8 q* t7 |* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * Z6 k( z, m) P& Q. c
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in . b8 d, \4 D- C$ H2 [
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * h4 e ]- Y. S! @
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 y5 `8 K: {$ fnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) _& I% w+ W7 P6 Y8 hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; I- j- |/ s2 D$ \2 |+ h* B
8 Y5 m# p% e0 F9 J* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
, e0 E* g) D6 W& a1 V4 H# x0 Jproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know & J' G4 b6 T3 g
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 t$ n2 U# @* Mprice.
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9 r' y N/ _) @# b- V- t' O0 ~ @* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* _6 M9 m. h$ R8 z @, `business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s , C5 K: T' T$ ~# o/ Q5 U
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! f4 @: m. N5 V! V8 L% m, ]1 Rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ c- e! U. d) @9 G, S5 p3 @( Uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
' Z6 z1 G# T5 o Pthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
! n) G) D- T* _4 N9 m# xSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
% M8 S8 \0 ]( |2 O. @die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.0 \9 ?8 g; D5 r6 U" a, \
0 f. s/ p( @+ o6 N4 y* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, @7 t: Y8 ]) x1 t4 Q' Cyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
$ g) U! `* e4 z* Zprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ! W" ~+ ^; ?2 `8 g6 P
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ( N' ?/ d: c% H" B$ G) a
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
J4 S2 P4 Q$ X. x. ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing , U+ h2 v2 N- {$ p) f! k& Q
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + Z1 o5 H+ ~6 e/ V' j `" a
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * Q, q# A6 t5 o. p9 E
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ Q1 l K# N. i. u6 I/ iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) k5 G3 w. e% E0 R( b
buyers in during the bubble years.
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) {1 s7 _' N* T- b+ w* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 8 v& g1 g6 M: G k" E; C1 A
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 Q, e7 W: S' y
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 l% Q* J( m# C5 y& hhe’ll close. |
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