 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
' X7 y. j$ t4 E4 n1 Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the $ p' v" }7 _$ N' ^2 l* l
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
/ H6 X) @% H6 n: K% dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and * A$ y$ X- p) f# M1 G% D* t
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.7 E% {% `' A6 d0 ^
- g+ ?" k% a* O/ |So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
+ i" C; _( ^4 g8 C/ R3 C: Ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 B" [; }! h/ \( ?
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
$ l. h' `& W$ F7 z" _8 h" g7 t/ W6 S1 } Y
* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ S; B+ k) k2 P% M3 L
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , b$ `" q5 y( S) _" n
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
) w5 b' N# G# t: Gget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
J3 B8 o1 C8 W4 N' F/ r6 j o$ |! O' i' a/ c6 F5 N
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on % {. U% {5 m/ ?0 @3 w
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
6 T u: p' T5 T3 Y* P& h3 b/ Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
, w$ ^1 p1 }6 v& M8 Lhaving a powerful psychological impact.
7 g" S8 ~! b7 s$ Q% L9 ?8 Z' q8 d$ w$ T/ j `
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
5 |% K% b. A3 ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 0 Z7 V. `* U# A; @
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 r( q$ {! R& Y4 O5 s2 Zthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 8 Q) C# h) }/ g
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , q2 v& U, S2 V2 T \/ _) J S( D
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price./ V8 e/ u; E2 u1 H! X$ K, ?/ j; A
( R% u. W% ?; r9 x0 |
* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
2 a! r: `% q1 Q- mproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know . s4 V& ~! k) m7 u, n3 g
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( j# K: e1 I6 {$ S- e8 aprice.+ q7 \" Q* f, c- U5 ?
6 w! [* C9 Z, {7 W5 c* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ }5 I% X7 S$ L8 h$ i( Hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
9 W/ y/ [+ ?' mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 8 S* C, A; L: w, x5 W
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
\) p* E$ p# j/ Bhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' [9 z% O( y/ A1 f, c; v! x
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. $ _, M& ]$ i# y2 J T
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ z9 Z% E8 V+ [6 L6 I. ?5 C& Ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
7 ^: K- C, ^ D$ n V
! v/ }, u. T q. V! N% P8 T' w* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have / P: R( k8 ] ^: }% x# v7 B) X4 |
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 0 r1 x5 y: f+ p
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into % u) t8 R7 @, ]$ f9 `+ \6 a
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! J; z& v6 C q! m7 c
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 n0 M' K v3 d$ k
better chance you have of securing the best deal.' B% ~- X3 S; ^& G# U$ P' y# b" _
- y2 t: _; n5 n; b/ Z! e5 `) i* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
- E8 h! a0 Y- J& e- C8 D `6 vproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 j* @5 c, m$ q+ \
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) O. {- ]$ W W6 L
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. p, o/ I: N# }/ P( mconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 6 G* Q4 d3 I/ x! Q* h7 D# ^. C' O. r
buyers in during the bubble years.
9 L& l3 g, i1 \" p- E5 C$ d
; N( `& w( k' q7 |. U8 G0 {* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
- Y% ]" N+ |: L1 G- e. \: cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
2 W% p8 @* b: A! s$ Bwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 4 g2 T5 C: Y5 o5 P
he’ll close. |
|