 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 + D& ~, j% b$ D+ \- |$ p/ k; }9 ]
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the # |+ t2 @* W+ X, X$ o
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 5 S$ U' M- i5 @1 i( n" e9 r
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - [+ s, X( h4 A6 ^9 f
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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 ! \) ?6 q; n( r" z0 g4 m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : N; C0 C8 t* P2 l6 V0 R; [4 t
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many & K3 P- o3 X% l7 n0 l1 N3 w
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* A8 w" {2 s6 g* g2 pseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( W- U1 G1 X* l. O( y/ C: e
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.8 R. e, x5 @4 V7 c5 D- `1 B; u/ c
4 t7 Y8 e! l9 u& a8 [4 d& x* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
$ ^$ P# ^+ F* L* x1 Jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # u/ B% h5 `* p" j; {
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- `$ Y) ?" r' p; I4 l8 ?6 Phaving a powerful psychological impact.' R. T5 B E% D; Z& z8 R
: w7 }" o. t* L$ U* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is # s& r) _# z d y
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ P+ r, E$ C! p" Q' F3 P8 Korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ' d: a; }% S9 y+ X! W
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 r1 _% s5 b- y" n
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ F2 z- ^/ Q, J4 z5 R) g8 u; E0 Zwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.- I5 G$ i$ t& _. ?2 ^. B
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another & S9 Q: K" u3 E. G2 l% `& v
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
% J4 n1 k: i r0 S3 Sthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that $ P0 \7 A4 u& S1 A
price.1 Z( F2 o1 p1 I [5 _# a+ B) ^
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
2 L4 p0 P* l7 w; ~6 V1 C# y* n ebusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( A9 z4 i* n. J( L; h+ h# qexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of $ f) n9 J' K. k [4 l t. R, Q0 b
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 3 G, l: {' C( w0 [& n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % y; }- V% v0 Q3 E# H5 [4 M! g
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
2 P2 u: a) a y$ u0 @' R9 a$ K+ |Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 |4 M( \$ u+ u m2 C. n! udie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- s" w& B& Z# t4 R1 w+ M
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 6 ^" z- t% N$ c. i, s7 d) r
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
N( T3 t; `! Q# |, qprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
! G; j! T( u0 C) d# Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
! U1 ^0 k9 a1 F: u1 ]more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the * ~' H: ?7 E1 H3 s5 g
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
5 f/ ]6 D* l$ Z' Q; v n! j/ H, I! Pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / C4 N2 o6 z7 s6 F0 r
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
6 i: F+ h) b$ [to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* }) k. Z; T+ \6 uconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ f# D3 I; M0 l# x/ }; obuyers in during the bubble years.( `; g- S" Z" n$ ~! Y
" o0 m1 U- S$ o2 h* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
$ E/ u( V1 {, _6 S8 l( |0 `die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * v8 M5 J; t2 a/ U3 q) g( N
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 ?, `+ ^7 T" Z7 `
he’ll close. |
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