 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 & s, p$ m6 T' W: f
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 0 P! R# O% v9 y
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 8 X' K" t( f8 M: ~, s2 B
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; h1 R1 D4 E$ Q2 E- hbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 m5 {5 A# E7 m8 X& c& b; d- F* H
& ] T7 o0 R; M6 c. I$ a6 _% T5 zSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if # w% a$ c7 ]1 B# O" w% F O
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
Y' S7 D- [$ F, i* s* X/ u; F/ }and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- i, W" ~5 d- F; w0 |2 D
3 t, {* `2 f/ W* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ' ~( d- m. x# W6 g3 q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" Q9 R! j+ Q3 ]2 q. |seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
) L# @) B8 h4 l, A9 N$ _' l& y. A% ?get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
8 g1 J! P, u, o2 ^6 J* _/ l0 Z3 |, Y5 n$ z0 f: J
* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- h9 D9 o9 ?& @the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
( ?# W, r- f7 u% h) Kcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while , a( ]; B, _7 M/ G4 T0 G' z; f. E
having a powerful psychological impact.
3 Y5 B+ z* @6 s* ~' M n8 M/ W& I3 a7 f: C7 ]+ r+ o
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' j: K: m, Y& Y6 j8 S0 y; c
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in - v1 M2 b+ v4 [2 s: i# t, K
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 e8 B( w. |* G6 O/ }' l
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
% U- J7 A: K, l, _0 x) w7 Unever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) v0 G4 [ r" U% P" A+ ?what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
$ k& n! f# M# e
$ D; z* B0 P, a; U: j; k0 c1 y' j* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 d4 G& a0 d3 \( rproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; I' b( M$ X R
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- Y/ a4 ^6 n. [0 L7 Pprice.8 U( b- n+ @2 Y% C% E3 V5 T
7 G- E) [# }2 v. @3 M+ [* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ! X; S. \/ I0 q' S' I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
( K3 ~2 q# ]. Z. y! Mexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
5 D& a3 M" } X/ _* o S$ iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 7 u( ^, Y9 X& H6 N
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 [( e% n2 s, C% }5 F7 Cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 o$ j5 x3 W. k& B
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % t" m# `& ], `' I8 X1 g
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
2 A' {/ r9 I, s! P& _- u- P
5 ?. Z2 m1 a& [" A* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have / _8 D1 r$ d G
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
8 b5 v i, Z/ \- @; `price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into - F' T( r! V* K
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The , w. L+ G. I! w+ R0 ~. Z( ~/ J1 I, t2 b
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
# d7 M0 T3 g# lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
4 A1 {! M% E E6 B& `+ D \# Y U
* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
/ L. B A( n( Z) b. Eproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 t4 J0 M' y/ i3 Pwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
& H5 `4 V* e: V: H8 b# Tto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
& ~9 M- l/ X0 {consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( e* a; l. d; j3 [, w5 V
buyers in during the bubble years.$ z, T3 G+ M/ |3 K& j6 m Q
* N, \( a/ x+ g5 v, }* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ( X; ~: z5 O8 h. c5 x% ?: e
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
9 b# l6 T9 V% d. i2 ?will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
% [3 _. B- z4 o4 x) `5 `% w: Fhe’ll close. |
|