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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a 1 J- u" J+ V; n
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the % P2 ^. `5 C4 A7 u% {: Z6 d/ N/ Z
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 y8 u q. D2 m' P
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" m( [) Z. [# X: c3 z, @" vbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 F2 d: ~+ J d" ]6 _' n+ s
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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 6 O4 V+ l' l, e4 @* |
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " c% G0 ~' R# g0 o2 m% V
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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% o6 O, ^/ G# [8 ]; k: u* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
+ m3 P# `* Q, q l: |; ~4 i% ~0 Oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 0 ~! Q) L: P X, F& C. o
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you / I2 F8 X4 ^8 G7 B' i$ o
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.( f! I4 z: B5 I! i# J; V6 k; K
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" A/ b) l ?2 R! F% h& s% v, Zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 S- Y2 U" i$ x# X8 v. Q! s
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
9 d+ k% M2 K* b# H. ?" Mhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
6 H* \! T1 R" q6 x$ S3 s' I ]completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in * p# |' W/ L2 U5 ^% t
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on & H- V5 y5 E$ ^: G- d, W0 U' j% g
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ; [$ S& \+ H8 ^$ d0 r
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 Y; ~* F" U8 B) y0 W. _( Nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.( @' |7 P. N; F" c+ z: t" l0 H$ O
- h$ F% h4 `( a: v( e7 f* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
5 R( W8 A2 [3 C' N: U$ H) iproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. y, g0 `- n" u9 c; T( J1 nthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ m2 c; k* F6 m4 w' ?+ h/ _price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & m: [* ` R9 x, B% V
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
" R1 p# O; l) ^4 P3 L \) Eexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
$ ~% Z# Q# s3 N3 z9 P; @/ d- p" swork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * @) l; P1 X& k3 A& G7 {
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 P$ h/ O4 ]$ m3 j+ n& g% G! e/ ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! F+ I4 E* W! o
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 6 S7 c$ A* `6 v u. Z
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.* O( U7 T9 d4 c0 F f' d
* K7 J) G: ? Y3 ~" a- U* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 3 w, R6 U6 N2 ~' i' ?' D& G
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
9 }( x6 U# U( W: h gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
; u, D! r( Y" D. l. ]7 Nyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * `$ I0 E. j3 X9 a. `, t$ f( M
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
+ Q9 _# J# }; y2 @better chance you have of securing the best deal.: q# {* {" m4 O6 a; v6 l
$ a( q+ w& n& m3 T5 R! `* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ' l# L3 z: x2 j8 Z: o
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 @: G( t! n% {! S& j+ N- gwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( Y6 T* J5 A* L, {$ e' ]' r) Uto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just , {7 j5 X4 n+ m/ p2 ?* C5 m
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 F' ]. ?6 w2 r. Gbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it / Y# t% P3 j8 _ k2 ]1 j6 X
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 5 { k: m! l2 k* V u0 o
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
V& U0 E: F* F4 S# ghe’ll close. |
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