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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
" Z* i9 ]) P5 @; f; ~ {$ Tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ( v) j( @% s/ J, |: z, g$ a8 N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
" Y5 ^8 M$ b# P% ]- ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and Y" {$ ]# p" p- D o9 P8 r
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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2 f! N | a: B# h" Y- uSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
9 N" \* s* I) A# W# Y( L$ y+ {- Nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 Q! T& o' i& x% Z+ ]5 u
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)3 q# ~. x; r4 A6 o! L: _
+ }) j; d( q ]$ u ^& b9 p* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many # J4 i8 @9 R& d4 H( _8 a
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 4 J4 l, [( W* i2 H B; B9 @
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
( X2 R& w5 E5 `' rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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& p7 V+ x* H4 o9 y* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : R- W9 R8 x$ i% G% T$ ]
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! ^8 M( ]" p6 X5 r6 { b* e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
, f+ K" {# N; ^7 B3 q2 b2 c4 thaving a powerful psychological impact.! V8 w) t) ^( h& b2 B) i, J0 f) F+ r
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! V y" G( U& ]
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
, `+ Z! E8 Q( l# h8 ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on M3 A* r, ~; V* q% @; x
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
$ h6 A4 |( S7 |9 A& S+ R' anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / h) C. @9 Y; o0 F/ @- y
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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: [! v$ e; _, Y* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
* x* l3 k' E! @3 d# f) s( Q6 n; Uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 s$ v, z- Z0 Z7 J8 p
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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. x5 s1 \" P. Z$ j4 s* W0 j* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% p, F: e7 {7 h$ Q# L) m% S: [2 ^business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s : A& d2 `) \) ?- {
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( v0 J$ C; `' Twork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 v. j e- t [2 uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; o& E S3 b0 ]6 u; q( Hthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 2 M; u% Z R( j& j) K! `. t) n, M0 T
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
( C6 a2 y! q' P9 u9 M% T a$ vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.7 E, @/ z4 M$ ^/ t& @
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . o) d6 @; G J) Q
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& j7 o+ X' T' y& }1 sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( B: ?- F' Z& S8 o
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : O- |/ p7 Y! g) \: | Q' w# B
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
9 I. Z8 v% Z! |8 _- Nbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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& @" \* n0 h- i/ g/ m3 t2 k! Y* F* z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing . o# P+ U0 n5 ^& a5 l5 b
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! ?3 V! r7 j/ c( f2 s
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
1 ~7 U/ \: n2 y( T5 Eto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ?$ o: u% P# R7 m3 S* n% W; P
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
6 |" h( u1 ^0 O; [1 Tbuyers in during the bubble years." B8 @9 _) C7 U6 s$ |
' P% v4 e: P" N% `% \2 o: p* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) t2 X' j& N( v, [8 f7 B: E3 y7 w
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- @6 @) J( a7 |' J1 @will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but W3 ?; s6 |% T8 f
he’ll close. |
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