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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a , _& K% ]8 R( B$ B, ^
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the & _( X; i! \+ G' w9 u
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 6 \ z. K3 N% Z) b0 O+ l
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and : b4 w7 V0 o2 m6 c6 O
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
% J" o4 e$ F, s9 [! G( _; wyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
9 y0 c9 n6 Q! ^and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 6 @/ R2 R& }$ P' T
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- A7 }# L, H. g. Cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 9 T: r" N7 y5 G# {2 V
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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G; Z) q% i2 P+ T# a* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
6 q3 z/ ?# d# H7 vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not . W! U# t5 ^5 D) B: {! W7 W
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- G! m& p7 }( x/ T; h: _/ Thaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * D) z( o. T& Y# D/ `
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in # z' R: T; M! H
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ e1 ]3 N" n: d8 gthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ K7 H, o+ r$ K% q$ vnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& b* U# w. o3 @; t7 }6 _8 ?what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.2 s: @) l- z2 J/ F2 x3 w5 L, W
) d/ S2 d" Y& {6 ~( @- W& [$ R) p. a* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! J/ i; l( O( n7 ~& C# {! O
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
2 i3 G8 I& M- C1 ?* {: D+ W* `, `that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ! D( x5 t! q4 ^+ a$ D) B
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
1 }7 u8 O. Y" x% Vbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 M! W( h4 `# n& o$ j& D, m
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
7 ^$ C& U( k. H; d; v( A* @work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
9 J8 ]( l5 B/ P( Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 3 H8 ]# g7 ^3 _2 M o$ [
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! m4 y" I* |; s5 c
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
9 d+ x" [4 B5 M# `9 idie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! q0 _$ N2 z$ M& g. C
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 6 y" ^ v* T9 Y* l
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the , ~' g) u% }: n j4 v! I
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 5 {) n/ z( l; F. n! D
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
2 V* f) c: p. Y9 s3 X3 d/ ]more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - O: [* u+ D, \' \% K. G8 u! m
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
3 G) N& f0 s" ~. \6 x! Lproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ; d8 E9 U7 G- b0 a
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " a7 P" V2 W6 U
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ P2 b+ `" H% d' k* cconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
, B4 Q& T! |, P) \- qbuyers in during the bubble years.* W6 x, e3 L' O
. u% j+ y d' o* ?2 O3 m$ E! A* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; a! L M) n# r& G7 _6 |
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
# P+ g1 G& c9 mwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( p+ K( X' y" ^5 ]; h6 }6 t4 X
he’ll close. |
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