 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
" w$ s9 \* D! i- c# z* afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ' \9 I8 h0 h: C* `; U# S5 K) Y4 u
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 2 }; ]# `# t1 }
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
$ C2 `9 M, ~, m3 j% B9 c. W7 m% Jbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ ^ m5 P8 M0 E' N$ e+ A
) y; Y- ~$ i! VSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 8 s9 c, I& o6 N6 a( M
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this $ O4 Z( L- n' a# C9 Q4 y
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); J. _) H( M" j1 s/ [/ N, N/ K
" G2 t5 M+ Q9 p# k5 d0 ]) A) g0 L* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 d9 {6 ~5 F+ n6 u$ l+ R
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- a9 v( C$ G" p* j9 pseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you * L: @' O, a: {4 Q
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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, U" n! u, R5 G% J+ s* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 5 W$ P3 @ V. q W: g! {( m: Z
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 p" K+ z7 t; b& O
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
) V) A1 J) l7 S2 Fhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
d5 `3 \, G; ^; ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ( t. Y# A( p M _* s! H
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 O4 J i, c* \the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 t# f% [! _* O" ]$ ]9 `
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
1 q9 y% Q' }: l4 S0 y( X" s& c( |what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another : ~9 G& X& W9 z' Q& K% V8 U+ y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
% r2 B/ L- Q# u' e2 v% I2 w& Uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
j/ ? N! f+ b/ M3 g3 V- o1 N9 I) V( Iprice.: K7 Y# z1 i4 P! n% P
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' v. b Q& T4 h5 y9 P
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
! [, p# G5 X. u0 vexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
7 Q# j, T7 B) ~* Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( }6 e0 ~: K. h3 ^1 _6 Y5 S
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
* U. S3 z+ w, L: M. i2 g; ~the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. $ N3 p5 P% ^4 c6 e
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
) x: [+ M' `8 T$ f: mdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have " i) g/ v, u% j; X; p! E, _' t
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
. L& U8 ]2 Q) e4 ?5 I9 Zprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into / U8 u8 Q+ M h
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! W% e3 U4 y3 `/ }$ U; a% I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
1 j. p6 E7 j* }* e0 ebetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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# [2 g8 r: I& D$ u0 g/ Q8 P* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
0 d. [* a- [& T+ u6 O- ~$ K: q- P: |properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ! H+ O: B1 M) a9 `8 u6 p9 Q
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
0 Q+ P8 \$ i# m" H6 v kto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ; Q7 f, p" [5 B: c
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed + e4 n( X4 ]2 ~2 M! X
buyers in during the bubble years.9 y5 D' f5 F/ u. f
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it . x0 s; N* {7 m2 `$ |, e! K
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: \. G8 I" w1 h. swill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
" b; f$ x# \8 m6 J. she’ll close. |
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