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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
9 W# I* B1 d3 p# Cfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ! X7 a% u8 t' s7 X
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# I) n( q6 K+ ^1 z0 z; dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
6 ?' c& ~7 ~# h4 o2 Qbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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; N" V+ y8 u& v2 @0 PSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
/ ]3 z: u0 @, Y& M/ }you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this - f! b5 o! F$ b0 N
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)/ t* C: y! A2 Y3 m; x% t1 M& x
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
5 j' L- m" f; y" i1 h- }properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ' O8 M9 }. n" i& [ m) Q0 Q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 n" V7 D5 |* r w
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 g0 ?* ?; u0 @0 f4 p
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ) i' [& x% m% l# }% C; t& F
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 2 I1 h& h" y3 k+ m
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
, c6 P2 S# B. q) xhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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- F K# l7 m1 }! u: G* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* [" m6 r2 u# C( H: z" xcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 s4 w0 ^$ B3 {3 l3 ~ l
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * M7 a# V: J, O
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
' U& P1 w; N& K+ r6 r6 a6 `! G" Fnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ i& @% ~2 Q4 b/ J5 ewhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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- Z+ Q* V# p; r/ F1 c: \* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
$ O! F4 l- U: s. J( k- Uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 7 a- s5 `& w/ R( D9 n- [9 W* y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
, e7 ~0 S) K5 `$ Wprice.+ @6 b( s1 T) H( J6 M
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
( f' Y8 w4 w% G- o0 V: R7 f, ^business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# j7 P$ E: C( j2 S* Aexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 L U! p' B6 Iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ b# L4 o6 t; j
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" ?; I# m& E& w/ r9 j# Othe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 1 z% r5 F, F7 N1 y( a) j
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will $ M8 }' S' E* C7 H% P& K" M0 O* k
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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0 u v8 ]5 i" y$ f C* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have % N5 W$ B* @0 _' x1 X
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 3 H: Z% E: L' A, c* C7 X
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' u v! x9 ~% lyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( `/ r+ b* J% P# l7 Zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
# P' q# \% g j# y! z: Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.8 X `$ j" q1 R( i* Y$ c8 [
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & r8 e# M! `$ t$ t/ x7 M8 f3 W
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That * F @$ I1 u" i8 F
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
* e; I& t% M, ?, G L+ H1 Zto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ?( _ o/ O N; Z7 b0 E
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
7 N$ \* ^7 \ n3 mbuyers in during the bubble years., `6 D0 B8 U, j+ e( V% |1 F
$ f6 w+ X' ]+ @! C8 ?* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& n/ |: g0 ]: Ydie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
% j' U2 p$ v$ R) h6 D8 Wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 0 ^; X$ Y3 F+ w3 H; b$ r+ T
he’ll close. |
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