 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
# _) X1 B; p5 ~+ w. @falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ; |- Y! t% Y$ s# c+ v. U5 r" F
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, m; W, M! q4 c. V( M1 _" z1 G; mthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ! a- q3 o) Q* B$ E. f$ x3 g
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
: F, x% S3 z# b) V6 T/ R7 g9 yyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" m! h" ] l/ t" ?* Dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 4 P& ^$ p' c2 m- z
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken * E2 }& I6 O7 D4 T
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! R0 O' m3 Z5 B6 k
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.8 x# S. Y# ^$ Z1 f0 b _6 O5 R
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
) e+ I: U4 A: L! Rthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; Y( t1 }8 a9 y( U- c
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while , P6 |: a Q6 k& F
having a powerful psychological impact.
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8 n# @5 }& N$ ?- `% R( X* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! X( |2 {* B9 f& [9 |9 ?1 V
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ' c1 W+ ?6 p8 h I) K7 h
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ v' o8 @4 j( t8 H$ B* Vthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : p, ~1 x6 a7 s! [4 y' F7 M
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
' s9 A, t2 \& Z- n0 `7 a# ewhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) W9 z4 t1 b% W/ |3 P$ |, f7 l
0 W ?3 i, H4 a3 z5 C* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ( U- I5 q" S6 x9 R% I' E' e- p& Y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
6 q( Z7 ?1 P, dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that % D8 x$ J& M& w l. G- }
price.( R. o5 ?2 t0 n7 a( R
# V" O) [( j8 F1 r! B# D* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 H( ^' b" u: K* n D5 ?
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s u* Y8 L: q: Z, G2 M0 c/ i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ' _" J# G4 U2 h0 h5 O
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: B: e" y, ]$ ]3 Zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 p9 B; v/ v$ |
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. : O; R/ i' Z1 e; y( Q! w
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
. U7 m1 `# b6 V* I% B, A/ {die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 e* {& W8 C1 j; a. k
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 7 c6 l9 D: Q' |( l+ z* ]/ x
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 8 M( V. k4 I! D4 e; T [
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into , {" g7 c& F( f% w; B
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * ~2 g. m3 x: a# I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 N8 x; g' w' x$ H! N) fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal." C+ |2 R+ k0 h0 @$ R4 L3 |- |
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
$ ~: w5 k8 \1 S9 A+ j$ Z" Zproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( b' D, ~' U, L6 s) }( f5 Twill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; I6 \ ]0 ~6 c m% Wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 [# A0 W4 q1 e$ ~ o, n- ~consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ f4 T. |( c* t" O5 C9 W& rbuyers in during the bubble years.
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1 O( G1 Z' [8 g: n9 i% E2 ]+ f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 0 A- M1 ?7 v$ A1 D, p2 s
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
' ?6 k! O' m" P- F* {$ vwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ t5 M+ q& t+ dhe’ll close. |
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