 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
% \ e% o/ B9 y% B3 T+ Mfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , a9 g0 I0 j, t# f
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
+ G0 @' }1 f7 c/ }8 X$ Zthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
/ m, O' ~1 k1 V3 B% n( ]begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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! h' b$ Q; f& M) F ASo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 2 N+ ?! }, }1 O2 U& V8 @
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this / Z; E1 L9 ]" t4 ]' v& |/ \4 G3 U _
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)! U4 X' g ^9 T. o
0 y3 H) y" u2 j2 H/ x* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
+ H3 p) q! c- _/ N: I$ p+ T6 A& eproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ l4 Q5 i X" Y. w9 ^seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " ^; g: B" u& o3 J9 D8 @! B; ^
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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# O! k9 t1 f9 f0 o$ k1 V* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& V% Z5 @2 U5 D+ C: J# athe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ' T3 C( R4 L- K5 d4 ?% t2 n( g
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
5 D' D4 d: ` g1 @# r9 Yhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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4 D/ |+ Z. Q5 F: e6 _3 N F* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is . ~1 v% T) _# v4 [# ~+ w8 {
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % f5 Z, V1 n g: [, |6 W
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
1 m* Z( p7 A" S9 t# D% N+ k3 B7 nthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & b8 n3 U6 o& P/ S3 t6 n9 R' z& V% e
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get % c+ ]; Q# b" U' u1 G* y. |+ y
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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, L S0 N3 [/ z" O' S' |* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 0 ], F% i! e- V
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
9 Q* }4 q7 o. L: o1 u7 Lthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
% u, F, E, B. K$ S9 g4 Eprice.2 d7 ]8 n: W. U( l' C w
{( R: u$ @, E6 Y* O* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
) F2 a8 p, [" L& _( t% Y- rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; l& m# |1 z' e, p) Eexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
* g- k1 Z) e1 v+ r, w4 E; X: Gwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you / l% {3 C1 j. h" A* ~/ i
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 t4 G, A) c9 M- D r0 B
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
- e$ H2 G1 j7 Q5 v8 ASince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 p5 j* _( {/ I; [: ydie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* w6 R0 b$ G# B% {% E% q/ |* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have * r9 n5 O6 U. _2 \( Q, e
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
1 \5 f7 F5 F. x/ R2 k# y+ N% ?price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 H" V' r6 ]! _# {% P2 X- xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* ~7 Z: m9 |8 K4 b; lmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - q; T+ N4 E6 D& O! D2 K7 y
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
! a; U6 x4 E1 o8 o. lproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / E+ X" D0 U( L1 q5 H$ X
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do & V3 O- k3 q, X* M3 H1 k. z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ' I, i& @+ ~5 b3 T/ o' d& X) S
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
' z9 \9 u+ T$ i2 v3 qbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 p7 x/ N! @; H4 qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 |% M0 g* n' }
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! q$ N* A* {# `: C0 H3 zhe’ll close. |
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