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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 1 K# X5 u& a, ?) m" a
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the & K( P: h+ ^% e0 ]# a% ] _
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 f# S! | m W% l0 \the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' e* s z" \( K$ t* ?" k
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 ! C2 ]6 \$ A3 I$ R3 w2 w, z+ |
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; |% B6 J0 k/ L9 F' xand 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 3 C# t) w1 {3 m5 O. V2 k$ l
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken . a8 R/ J; {6 d/ {, F1 V
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you . N3 z/ s" s! U1 P8 W( w7 y+ Q
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' P! ^& V9 T5 M
/ E' A' v: e4 f! q( j1 V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 0 v7 h- Y# ~. ^ S, k- o
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
, _( F+ N: Y/ \cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 A8 y' [$ H$ S4 _" R) f& K7 L& O
having a powerful psychological impact.7 Y( j- \6 O* ]% y+ U
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is / \0 N, k7 e' R* B/ g: q) ]# }
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % ]% z7 V. A, F, z6 P( ]
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
f, E/ Z+ x( i7 r, }$ c% Hthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 E% i1 R. U3 Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
- b7 v2 ~1 A9 W3 l, ]what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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( y$ L5 j, u6 h2 k* j% g* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
( n! W7 F: X' vproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! ^# |+ C; s! p! a5 k( ~0 ^that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( n8 i9 }, N9 m4 p% {$ J
price.
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# s3 g" m. E7 J/ _$ r+ I" H/ Y* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* j C8 N2 r9 c5 _business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s / |* e# \: s1 W3 s5 U) V
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 |1 z$ x5 G9 {6 lwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ) S- [( K, N) o
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
- U) N. B. n: V' f/ sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
x( H/ a7 ^. {5 r+ C: TSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will # b, a1 f( k( b
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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8 q( z3 u* l4 ?; T& \! W* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 G6 F9 T& R9 yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ' w: h1 y6 e/ G) n$ y
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 W ^6 B0 A* `) V$ n; g) @4 ~0 Y- Qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! y( c& }/ e0 y" [
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the . v% F7 V; x! G0 j0 F& |" D4 l
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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- S( @ J7 K0 S9 V& z' Y7 D* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
6 ^; }# s+ Y% R7 @/ Mproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : v) D1 V1 w# v* f$ T2 {) X$ c+ _
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
' a3 r3 x9 r$ l3 a$ T/ b3 zto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % b3 g9 b1 V3 E, F' P+ D
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed : f6 d4 v. A' }4 ~# e3 Y. h
buyers in during the bubble years.! t; Q3 ?! a. y5 S Z
+ E2 G p0 G4 j& J1 x' l* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ t+ p4 F0 D7 b) V( D% O9 cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 B+ {0 |& a5 C, S7 hwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 5 ?5 D8 K0 d8 Y8 x
he’ll close. |
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