 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 6 O2 ]0 w3 L* Q2 [: r$ ?" n9 U; a
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
1 _9 ]+ O, W* E3 n# [bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - T! q: u/ o) Q3 k
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
/ t* ^$ p4 D( J* D9 [begging for mercy. That’s the fun part." z2 z3 w# K' y; [2 T6 D
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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
7 {+ l; J ~: T' e W; S1 M2 Nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
* J* d# q& r4 U! X+ K. S7 iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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7 o! ?! h% [* g8 T8 m/ U" Z/ t* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ! v/ u( ?2 W/ `) Z1 Y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken , Q/ M Y0 y' l+ I) s3 |
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! g d9 P x; Y0 g$ m' f
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 _$ D/ H, p" D! O/ _
. @7 H- b& W. J8 X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on , s+ d, e( {+ g- D9 G K
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / ~( N/ M. x" P1 C1 l
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while & p3 y4 g, R( G2 j# \9 K+ ^7 O
having a powerful psychological impact. {3 A8 K! t% D) U
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( @" m( L$ ]( Z7 ?- i; T% `completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in $ L" k2 T! Z# J0 r# A3 m
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on . M1 s1 L1 I0 k2 h
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# K. y5 I1 T' O1 [# M5 \never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
4 U. j7 {; Z) H3 T2 Twhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 x( E/ {6 J2 c2 n }" ^
, J. N! k* T/ \# G* u' s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
' P) L3 g- d; w. a e8 Lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know * A5 x1 }7 `, R# R- Y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 } {' k% I1 x9 Y* v% `, R
price.
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+ W( n# ~) j2 C7 w" M2 A* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 ~. \4 a* _4 z; U1 x$ W K9 b4 W
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 F! ?/ S8 D2 k' o% Hexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 ]) G! l; R5 C: z/ i
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 o( E# o# k1 O) _1 u4 C' ghave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ; g1 B4 p2 y9 r8 j, u+ e
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
( U1 w- W6 R K' a+ t, eSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will Q+ U1 [# a) |1 l: F
die 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 . @. S* {# P* z! i& R) ]7 y* a
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - g' q( e# [5 ?. a6 R( ?' I) S
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into $ D$ K( `. u9 u6 C% q# H) d; b4 s
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : g7 N. \2 F$ @8 e6 O/ [; I% T% \ b
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 3 ?& f" h Q1 T
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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0 l/ [3 v7 S- b2 P) Y* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
3 ?. R$ j5 s, n7 aproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 \# u- K) c& z2 D$ z/ [
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
2 f0 m" z, k4 o0 h! M+ a# xto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! R x; h6 H3 J3 y4 h2 mconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed + y3 I( N8 Y+ r
buyers in during the bubble years.2 p: w# \8 o. R+ W! N% o2 U
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
1 a0 l0 U- L6 l% c8 q6 B/ idie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you * N& A9 c% w5 {* Z# J g" y9 O
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
/ ]! t! e ^! x( mhe’ll close. |
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