 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
; F4 q0 `% L; A* q3 a, \9 _( C/ jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
5 ]/ q9 o" d( C: X. H6 E, Mbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 V- [8 f _" B# a& Pthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 8 i I0 g5 l4 O, k: P% } U
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.' t8 d6 g( h9 R; G3 r5 i7 m
5 }3 d2 y) [$ L/ y5 LSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
$ A; r+ A5 j4 U% `. ~- y8 Hyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% q4 _/ z7 T5 F6 u6 s' ~and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)) |4 Q2 l( R* K3 y' ?9 {
" L. v, D5 Q' z% T; j l5 w* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
3 D5 s0 `, k8 i. r5 w9 L8 iproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' `4 k9 X& F e# |, x7 O; P
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 1 O2 ~4 k4 g( O
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
: c9 V" V( j; l; U [. O1 W( |9 T$ w' Q1 k' h( K: i2 \
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on " M" T" R$ j! W" R& T/ E, E
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ) k! k$ l# k: R. a
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* N$ }( F9 w- Q& P5 A" Rhaving a powerful psychological impact.
. Y' J- B1 P4 z P0 v. d2 P. S" I
; j2 |1 X: P" n+ O& G) l* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* f9 k e$ V5 m3 a5 ^3 scompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in . P& H: Q! _2 V& F; Y
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) _" D8 t8 Y; P9 s3 F
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
( O% m% E4 V( x4 W9 [. @never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 3 `* c; A, v6 `
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.9 Z# W; C8 P7 Y, w* {
9 j( _$ \! S/ d$ a( m# s$ u' R* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
7 y- _6 n1 a8 Dproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: S2 u# y: R/ y& j# A9 pthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
. l8 \. v- T$ C2 o; nprice.! a1 L7 g' d& x
* h4 U9 p' y3 r1 X* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
3 }1 I* l; _) D1 vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
4 r6 i4 Y. _3 P X* T$ wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
4 C8 M p+ N! j* L& p, @8 D# ^' dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 6 l% L" W6 [3 w$ R
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , Y$ n, e2 ^, Q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 L' O) q8 p* Z: W0 x
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
; F1 s9 ^7 R1 N4 b$ f* T/ b+ F0 V* E! Gdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.( J& E" V! a* d! V- _
0 s: @- }/ c# e: Y4 ~5 l1 A$ k$ Z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
( y* b" v3 I& ]4 |& M3 D1 ]) iyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
3 K3 ?" r1 L5 U$ Q- Bprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " F2 s, @ R9 \) U& q+ y+ J
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
4 l" Q" Q1 H" J3 N) |more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - H1 D9 H. X$ ?" Z C5 q% R3 Q) [
better chance you have of securing the best deal." g2 a- ^5 [ A
; X: |! A" T" a0 i
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing / v( [+ Y: p$ ~& w3 ?
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That . b$ U; }% C- ~0 h# w: ?7 m; ^7 i
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
7 _7 Y4 K3 b5 n* h& jto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
3 \- X+ {" p/ W& k; Hconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) Z8 O! t- H, w: P- `) Z
buyers in during the bubble years.
7 F0 e. l7 i$ J, c
' M2 ^2 h6 K$ |) K* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* I$ f/ O# q/ E( m$ Jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
" _$ W& b5 D$ f: `) _will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 3 K1 z+ ^5 W; P. {' c- ?) [/ c5 T
he’ll close. |
|