 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
) |- |$ ]: g) v& P# Q' efalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ u9 A' j0 A8 D; k4 \3 L, o3 {bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( e0 t k5 ]1 t! F+ {3 d
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
$ C* P' B. ~" V. g; |7 `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
; A: N8 C- H' z, [+ Dyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ( ^1 p1 O9 \: @3 n1 S% w# X4 \
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
, k+ {! ?9 o. i4 e# S: Pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' l7 Y: L2 z% x2 V; Z a0 Z9 D
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 L+ @& F: f( o4 L
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* u3 G; b' `) N0 v& o" M
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 5 @) h5 ?) V- F, K9 _ }# X4 _
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ n A$ |2 [% @ ]1 }9 N
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 v9 t! @" [) mhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
' C( l# x9 i3 q$ _completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; R2 Z+ f5 W# O) a* S- J
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
% x' i- y+ C' y) x5 cthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
& Z6 S- {3 f* F9 @. I2 lnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 6 M* i" V; y/ C5 \1 U V
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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5 F1 |$ U# W2 C4 F# }1 e" V0 G* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
% I5 a' }8 j$ ~. s$ yproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know F+ M H) I# `5 o( v1 v# [& c
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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& H2 a+ [& \! I3 O1 ~' q& w* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
9 D8 y" K0 L# \& r( c6 ~business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s % q" g3 L$ u. ~- H. H
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 ?7 A0 b: V+ h$ [/ l
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
/ I8 F. ^) j1 O7 @0 B4 Thave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of # k! d; E% @: j( }6 k9 C' T
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. : L7 r+ c8 ~) i' b2 l: _
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
6 G4 D4 p! p1 A# Q* Udie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' v, U! T2 \) I! a, {. P
0 l+ ?7 ^! L# _* S2 D& j* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + m: V0 U' e9 M) l# K4 z
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ) u+ {" y: d4 G/ S
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ! o# a, B( x% q- Y, j6 j9 F
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 2 `- o; I8 Z/ `8 I
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
, N2 S& ]9 V: Y* Nbetter 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
" L6 j5 s* p; h' D. ?properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
! ]: T, k- h& b* A# M- N& I& ywill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 i8 J4 q$ ?$ X4 o
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 B8 u$ @% ~1 b1 G y9 n8 Lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; z% X ~& d; c2 ~* n$ ~buyers in during the bubble years." e4 Q2 S1 I! Z2 ^% z+ l5 T, R0 D7 D
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
/ f( o ?6 r! D$ h. F$ d: D" Kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
0 r4 g: q$ S# ^. v! W$ p& b( Xwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
4 c+ o( a" b R( Y& K; Qhe’ll close. |
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