 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 ; C: m- A$ o- n- F, }0 q4 q4 o
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
* N' f/ t& x( K/ X6 L+ g6 |* g2 Tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all $ T$ d( O9 l9 l# R G% @1 o
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and " u/ P4 k3 L# _3 D' I8 ]
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part., F& m1 |" ?2 W" e4 v$ }
2 e; S4 B9 P# ?So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
7 Y' m# ?8 P& Y/ m- Ryou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 V' O C- k2 y$ z( P
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
, X3 y3 h% V' p$ ]# |
( G' V% N& o$ I3 Y* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 {$ \" H) P K \1 L+ O" V3 {
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , m6 I# Y: A! n: l3 ]* t
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& G6 W% J3 @2 @* ^$ T- Rget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
/ m) N& @5 q2 g0 Y
! `8 j( q% a8 k% X0 }! t* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ; z5 O% o7 h1 x* M8 l
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. \7 ~0 c. N$ P. {1 _/ Ncashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 9 \- L9 ]. l# g' r1 r( b# J+ s( P9 R
having a powerful psychological impact.
% F X" o% Q' v6 R; j( Y+ A+ t& m4 K% P3 s3 ]
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ( K" P4 H( S8 K8 K; J/ |% N0 V
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" Z1 M$ q1 {4 V, ~2 V/ b u" f: l+ Jorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
5 \! M' {, E# m: j; I; f/ ithe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % s* V6 p2 Y E h6 \9 ]
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : C0 [4 u {# L* `3 d. G. C: X4 t
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.& \) t N5 P+ J l) s+ E6 R$ U1 n. {
% A0 i$ m1 ?2 j
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
' f- e u( I, }0 w" jproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
+ p- ^+ b5 R, ], x3 N$ r: ^that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& u& k) n, t) {: k9 hprice.
" ^' \: v0 D: i3 ]7 d
; T; ~7 ?) }% U4 Y8 ^' ^* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ; t8 m4 U8 b2 s9 O4 L( {
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" ^4 e9 I% D# m) Z* k p0 Jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 w5 W- T: J0 N$ ?) u* o: D; P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / K, C5 h# n" [8 \
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
7 F. j" Z9 z1 m7 o5 G! w$ C1 lthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& D( h4 w! Y3 {3 |& S; KSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, |6 g* S! j+ x9 J6 ~die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ G( g2 r, T, J( y
6 C1 }' v- X4 I
* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % U- J p" F9 o) o- O$ y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
) j9 g2 o$ o1 i3 f8 Aprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - X0 J7 M2 b6 |
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . P! T K, h0 ]) c
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
& K2 k0 y4 P( b& G7 `& L) Q$ q: wbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
* K% v! B! n+ E! _. i) H _+ x' A& ~/ b3 ^
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
% t; @" g z% R9 d1 |% h8 e! D: K% dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 1 q. V# j- Y" |+ Y; m) k
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! |* X1 c) Q9 O+ ?- k
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! `/ n5 c; n) j F4 T1 Cconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) S* q. Q. Q% b
buyers in during the bubble years.
/ U2 ~) C1 ?; S' \8 A5 g F
* B# `3 N0 p Q) d! F* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
$ j3 }; {/ @ _+ I3 f+ hdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 f/ h& w3 q6 H, r
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 i; |- q5 `" q; j% l6 m* ohe’ll close. |
|