 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
& Y$ o- ~6 \# s5 D; Q% J+ { Hfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. @$ X3 T2 C' \/ \: ebottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; m0 P0 _. c- a& wthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ' w4 N+ H! H0 K3 U
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.8 C( b2 P4 o8 c: V' i
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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
; R8 x1 J% K- M$ n5 Eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ! r; j1 Z. I$ @! `
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% V. D! f( _# W9 ] Y, P! W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, A( j5 W- `4 t" g! e/ k( wproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
; T! {5 d( K3 D9 A. f, k; J2 C" jseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
4 b) F4 {6 O* s9 o5 Kget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.+ K2 R& O4 u( P
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on b, ~7 h1 o8 `( ]
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not * e. }% ^, O! d! b# m! G8 {
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while & k( d. U; ?1 M
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 u+ M2 p3 h9 N( U! O+ r; |. zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
/ l) R/ { _* I8 V. k5 v/ ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on / D) S5 B m( _# E. H. x1 s& Y
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
* J5 K+ ?' M* dnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / |" d9 g" d$ o4 E5 M- o
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price./ \. Q5 X s' r
2 v- ~: M. V5 C1 N: C9 @ s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - |0 m& s: t3 A( Z" G/ w% T
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; H. m/ @1 E c
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 S# s! Z, |4 l. d+ q" O: B6 O
price.
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5 [' W5 j4 @' k+ A* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
0 ?) D" a2 l/ w3 T0 Rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
) P( F2 T! X# r' k& ~$ ^expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
; T0 \ k( B# z4 d! Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- d# @5 t% S4 @* t; t4 U( B N9 C% ^1 khave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 }2 s [, i) {% l, Q# q2 P, {" Kthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
" e' p0 z2 I* j' ~1 Y b7 DSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
0 ~+ t. i0 K0 b- j: C5 Vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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7 i7 L6 H0 n, g% `5 B( n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
5 ~; N! E0 ^ p, q4 {your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
* G' N0 \7 H$ ~8 W. b1 Fprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: E! e/ y2 p1 G3 \5 L* w. |your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
3 @( `/ ?" t1 _) `0 M( M) Bmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ' [/ O4 L, {8 c+ h- }. S1 H# u
better chance you have of securing the best deal.% j* x M- u! V# X# N# b
( L& \0 b9 }% H3 h/ h+ A# r* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing / Z/ S/ d. X. o& n4 w( \; |
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 Q* b N8 E. V2 Z, F/ T
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
$ N: s/ N+ [; lto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just $ N2 t! T. Q& ^ T" ^" I* m2 }! i
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 0 F) @' q& ~. l' k' {1 p* b2 I
buyers in during the bubble years.
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$ z: P4 t7 h d6 f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 j! e5 T4 C' p6 G5 @die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 2 j/ B( }7 M5 ~1 _' m6 M& N |+ {
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% D+ J+ R* z) k5 _he’ll close. |
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