 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 5 O i# x- d6 P1 B/ g9 }
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
( \2 E% |% I6 P; S: `: vbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
! _# L5 k& g4 U" j* Y+ H$ Zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and & O% d4 g" i, P1 c, j, _
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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7 G! r4 o! W+ j) } XSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 3 U) I1 c2 W3 T0 s
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this - R, V( S1 `% E- W
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% a. f2 J5 p5 M! J/ _" _: n$ }
1 @3 y& t# u8 g3 g* |1 e$ G" ^, n) }. ^* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ A/ {3 H' ]" j, U
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
) V& I t4 x# e% @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 A' @' U7 d( k. a* H, X: @9 Nget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.% ^) a7 ?( n( |
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on , @9 A) I" G. F/ r
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; W4 p! C; D0 [9 k8 }cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 1 }: }( U' u4 [' \: v) f2 ?1 J
having a powerful psychological impact." l( ]0 d1 v' I) q* \' V
4 S& |. z6 {% q5 z: E! P9 j* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
_ j2 ]' z g5 T ncompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
6 B, E% [9 c K: t% n8 Qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 `0 ], ^8 r- P) \/ O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you + W. o; ~) B q$ \# k. O
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ' z- @' j _6 Q& U; l
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 f E6 r; f6 H+ Z2 z1 t M5 U+ C
4 e7 _/ Y. h5 z1 N2 O+ ]: ]" {; Q* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 g0 s+ o, t9 g4 [3 ^; M" |0 u, ?, qproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 L- K) p& L% r4 P( P0 o7 }7 G% Z" Ithat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
6 i {2 h) X9 l7 t+ ~* d# V! Q# W$ Lprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five - `+ ^8 d1 v% v* ~" e, z$ M
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " u" ]4 @# s/ X& y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ t5 e6 x/ {$ F( s+ f5 dwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : u- s7 @$ L E: f
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 ?+ Q2 C% ^; P3 g) e
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. * l0 i2 Q) h1 @* G. [& ~
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 9 @- Q- K& L8 X+ S
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 x/ Z! Y& j( T6 G2 }0 d+ y
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have * l. Y0 y" D8 }
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + E6 g4 Q( y6 U I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
/ v" m# m8 R; l! V; xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: S* F6 ^8 B, y8 C4 z5 @* `$ r- rmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
a3 T Z: v2 t# kbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.3 |8 q8 T$ p5 R
+ G/ W5 K, V# i* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& ]( k w" }' b3 Fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That * @0 N# v- ?! C! m) B# [: }; b$ q! e7 [
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 o3 F7 m- h. @# q6 a
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - o7 w* A1 ~0 W' m5 y
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 0 D/ u) C5 Q4 O$ H& d
buyers in during the bubble years.7 T* ]' A3 g2 \" N* N6 t' _. C; ?$ S) P7 X
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : o( P; @8 I( g' o. \4 J4 l
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
5 C! \1 A4 F' X! A, w6 c* zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
/ T+ |3 e6 U. i$ M: _he’ll close. |
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