 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
& T# R( m9 B6 Y6 Z, _+ Sfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 5 b! b8 } `4 M" e5 Z/ N
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ) i0 t6 w- v9 y) T: q1 @& k4 V
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % U6 ^+ {8 p O. G# U$ f# |
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.! `' i* f H! N
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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
/ D7 T& p2 a+ |you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
( x+ J/ ^) p+ H) land stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)7 y, l& [# F3 w' P
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
( I# a( L1 V, R3 n; I8 s1 C- xproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
0 a: ^& A0 e" N3 Nseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
j k1 `5 z& P" ]/ d+ h9 nget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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\# Z$ U1 a0 V9 w J/ v* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
; C, h9 K, N( U3 Q7 zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; ~( s7 O8 A# f7 O
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ' `: V; E# g; k' G" F6 X$ r( r, t
having a powerful psychological impact.
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5 s- I7 r- G5 Z* U1 q& c4 B, h `) [* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; \. E/ k: O6 S
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
4 y7 q# W ], n0 Worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
; M9 l2 Z+ I' |7 [) @ E2 @) ~the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ _/ [6 M# C+ w. O$ O. y2 l
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
0 r& } I+ a2 o/ owhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.: e/ l% A& A, o2 f0 r c7 E7 q
/ ?" T y) n4 u1 m- ?( t/ \* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another % `: c0 G- W& R; M6 H& {& m
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % T7 n L9 ~1 P" @6 F
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; ?9 V* d. M, F1 K% `
price." D$ V7 W5 N. w' n2 b" t
! Z5 X! a" ^' g3 N* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 s9 c9 H8 f0 @$ t# {# j; X( p
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, q- r) E R8 f, |, @expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ' `, ]+ R! K# W( E
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you L- A+ m' b+ H* s
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' c1 F' y9 H! T- n; V7 V( I3 u9 u
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 x6 u" f( y; ~- A3 @- {. YSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will * J) B7 P6 J- I3 j' {: _
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
8 k8 A; L1 ^; V0 Z `( E. P" R- P( n* yyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
- R* \5 k0 B7 n1 @price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
* e c1 {& w# Ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! [" e0 c% u, H5 X: h/ f. ~
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ S! T( _) A6 v6 }$ D' Pbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.1 G6 \ x5 z3 O! q, `2 p$ ?& K' Z
, M8 k4 v3 {$ q+ Y; b0 i/ t* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing * t3 ?: E3 c5 R2 Z2 q/ U; Z: g
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; g! W0 }& Q' w6 J& B. W% N
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
/ K' J. N+ M1 E& g6 p) ~% mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just & Z! \0 }9 {; o- }! V% [& n* Z
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
$ T) d; U. L3 U/ ?; @$ ^$ O. D0 Jbuyers in during the bubble years." T T' S- I* h7 \3 A
5 h3 \, Q8 Y3 ]4 v+ f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: r' r7 U; Z m( n* h% c) Adie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 T5 X3 D* l; A( ^1 ?# Q9 d; ~' J
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ) C8 g2 O) G; s# `$ c2 Q; s7 d
he’ll close. |
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