 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
; c, ~# q+ t$ f; N" K. i; Q( Yfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( \& l0 E5 X; H* ?9 wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all : H9 b/ H+ k) A4 a. p8 v
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and & p. |, w4 p- p* Z' e
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 Q+ ~1 f2 ]/ w# z2 \
L! ]5 ^' x+ r" `So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
0 h2 i6 K& y4 y% w) T6 J# j- e- l' Syou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " u4 |4 t) `1 H7 k3 z8 Y0 ]
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)0 ?: a' l% q8 u3 u% z) x# G
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) N) E* u% u) y& s0 ~
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 O( i& T+ x) e+ N9 J$ c
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! m8 s! A& c4 Y) F5 {9 h! X' Jget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) ?2 T W& @" @6 n
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- [$ o& N1 y6 p8 ~- F7 h5 L0 ^the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ U* f# W' h7 W- H- B! c
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
0 {! s4 r- Y% D) E0 `0 Uhaving a powerful psychological impact.( G0 C5 ?7 w, K3 D& m" u
( A5 R1 l. O' A* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ) Q+ c2 T8 K, F3 K
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 [# H! L9 o h2 t: a$ G9 H7 o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
+ [% ^. W* s7 ]( H/ P) C) e: Rthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
2 b! [- E' N% u% U( G7 Onever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get - y. Z! t3 x; z \* B
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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' t/ P: _" \/ n* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
3 Z4 w1 Y* n- t6 Zproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
B5 H: L8 ]: ~5 ~: m6 Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : h. P0 ]2 I# f1 j9 w0 D
price.' J0 ^& _. {) X
7 d9 {, E# V2 U/ H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' ~6 ?+ R% F6 Y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 0 K; |; s; I- b% ^
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
! f. m# n2 g! v1 }' t: [/ V- A* owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * T. I1 R/ o* Y' K8 p0 D
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
& ], S* I# q# H Y+ @3 w* t0 _ Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 d. c. }* W4 G W+ Q: O
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
# [3 [& g- |6 a) x a# Cdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.9 f' \& H' d; h$ O
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 9 Z# F4 Y) |* z+ u' {9 J0 B' x& p
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
, C( q- R9 j8 oprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # g Y* ?( ~) V9 h
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! v5 S; e8 k, N1 w
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 0 g5 x; C4 r6 b0 T1 b2 Z$ v: G, U
better chance you have of securing the best deal.% N/ J' b( t% l! t ~; E$ J3 L! T2 D
- C# `: R3 R- q0 n: e0 C* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 3 ?! Q$ H) `( V' y1 {6 Z5 `2 f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
' E* f% t7 Q$ `, j( s( W; fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 g6 u$ X/ X+ F" y( R# d
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
: f4 C$ }) V% W0 g& ` hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed % C% L5 h' B* B8 P: D6 B
buyers in during the bubble years.1 X% x' {' B! A
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : c7 e. l2 o9 z0 g1 M
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' [% O$ r; Z i& [$ Z8 ~
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but . w) `9 n) i( k6 H. w+ N
he’ll close. |
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