 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
, Q1 l; F t- c. I# h/ @- \falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the # f9 ~0 e& u) G- i2 _. Q/ R
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
8 O! s! G* V8 w$ lthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % {1 h/ |! [& l C0 t% G
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.% x$ I$ g0 j, V9 z, r3 |) s
0 c" [# k: C5 n5 f& T+ JSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
4 r; J& F% j2 N( c& v% U0 kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 U% B/ a4 _, t( C" }
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)" Z+ f7 p% d+ n# q/ f- U! C
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many . U7 K) k# f* _& H5 M. F& y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ; |1 L: i: L4 a
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
- k* K- `- S- p5 ^- r! bget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.1 b+ V% ^( a, X. S5 D% `
/ P _/ T j$ R7 g O+ j3 a* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
0 p; ?. r: v* }- rthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 1 F/ S# e7 b R- m7 W' m7 V2 N e) e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / C `2 Y5 @1 Q& a) E
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 J4 ^" o4 Z% r. I4 c- @1 }/ {& O
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( P3 n) B; ?2 d: z0 j4 v$ ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
k/ _% }# L8 N/ X$ \9 Vthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% o) I: A9 Y0 a) _- E( Inever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get O5 r& n; ~8 D8 F$ B/ h( U9 N
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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# g4 l7 c* A t* c5 t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 a' j7 I! Q. I
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know [8 w t# M9 [
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 w' p, |% _0 S8 N& _* Yprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 ?! D0 C; ?/ l3 v% l. `* f( i! k
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! k/ M2 q/ `. _$ b/ h5 r1 Jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 f& R/ S' E |6 p; O
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : ]2 G* Q( M0 N. F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
# v* P, \# F! `5 ^ Y; @7 J! ]the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
' U& `1 B/ k9 ySince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 a6 ^2 ^4 q/ ^" t
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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5 o; R& o0 Z* H) T3 w p* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
. X# F- g0 k) n9 Byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
$ D2 G1 H0 o) Z" p- o( k5 jprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 d7 D9 F" b% g9 {- F
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 3 V9 W! H" i- j: |3 F
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 }3 t( d* _3 P3 R
better chance you have of securing the best deal.) h8 I5 q# d$ O% F7 ]- e
- B( g9 M6 e; a; x6 v6 s* W* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 3 \1 h4 k O$ O8 K
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 b7 ^3 ^" O4 o( j! o! \
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
. [: u: y" @9 s! K W R+ Kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 8 {4 t* k4 Q+ J/ h
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
7 [ q. N/ d5 ?2 [buyers in during the bubble years.; K! x& A) K% \5 T/ }& x3 a
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it , y) } P1 l. @* p H( Y* B
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # A1 e; _& b9 x+ [; l7 A# L( `1 ?% X* m
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
( Q9 F- Q/ Q' @1 ghe’ll close. |
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