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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a " {5 H) r; B# Q" q+ }
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 4 Z: u' `& L* x4 V( Z' j4 E
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' t2 ]2 q0 h2 V& H0 ^the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and & O4 j% o6 y% D7 L% R
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 2 ?# E+ N" C L, o& w$ U8 \
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
9 C' }+ s2 V1 ? o2 w& vand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)/ F' a! K; }* j1 T
( F. e; j+ J) |# `/ @* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + v! B+ [1 U+ b8 q l$ o
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
5 R" o3 L, e) z3 w* {/ g& Gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you + B8 U4 J0 A2 s2 I
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.$ a0 ], o/ e. [' Q, x/ l1 z( ?
$ q' t6 e5 ~4 ?9 T$ @* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 9 Q. H( e6 {1 [! V
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 e/ s" n" K9 c7 {# G/ ]( W# e& j
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while " w5 L7 N9 g' L2 A' n# u
having a powerful psychological impact.
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" [$ V; |7 j4 v" y8 G* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 9 Q5 R1 @( v) P" z, H
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # f, S: p' t+ ~3 w
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 S2 O* L' ~2 _* d. P# \
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 o2 T) G0 @& ~0 ^$ e- W8 F# n
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , v" o& v' a% a+ [8 Y6 c
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.2 p! @$ V" X* p
) ?0 @" K8 \' c, F* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; _8 K ^8 D9 W/ `
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
% z- W" |8 m3 u' ~6 `+ Athat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that $ z. ]! H. v; J) j8 \
price.# n: b4 r1 b) T- Y y7 `
( }8 Z; e9 a9 M0 z8 \* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 v D5 f+ D* V+ r8 x
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + |6 Y; p9 z; E) @- A7 _; t
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 m% Q |: x; W: }8 y; T
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
* y7 p% s& g3 K- Q& Q7 rhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 j5 }8 u8 I2 Z8 k5 b2 bthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 6 W1 M% w! q! x& x% {
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % W+ ]; R& M( U7 y) V+ u$ F9 Y6 y
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.$ }8 h$ g( M1 a3 E* X8 z6 \- S# ?
4 \) L6 f! J! [' Q. {* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ' s& w" T0 |# v$ M4 b! u3 }
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" m( i4 W# R1 h; q9 w( P& p+ J' Fprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into , v; A8 \: a1 T$ e
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . b. [, U, s+ E% Y" P% H9 O
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 G9 _/ w) Y0 T6 y2 u3 ~
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 ' P2 i0 O$ h' K
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ' J- M! J# C V: G o' J
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : w( C/ Z' u7 V, b! M: s1 g3 d8 }
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just " f; \* V; V) P1 L9 b/ z k
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ) {! ~0 ~+ f9 F9 V7 I
buyers in during the bubble years.1 o6 U) N# @# n( l- F% G% z* E8 T7 c
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 0 E7 A% B3 W* O7 a0 G: E
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
7 i6 A# N5 L+ {- Y! p2 [/ h+ Z( wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
$ y) ~8 e0 V9 j. R0 |he’ll close. |
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