 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 ( O2 D7 z. X& c; Z. A
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 h0 q0 E, N1 b# Y! x1 B$ G
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
' d, ]7 y+ s$ |4 e" Y# d6 Cthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 9 I( E2 q/ l4 I* B4 S) z8 f, f X
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 & Q% y8 K, N" f$ [6 v9 h q, C
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 c' c8 z/ r! Q# ]
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)0 B5 G1 o; o: z6 W9 D$ |6 i
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
/ c3 w% J& I& y/ N/ ~ B q) }, D9 aproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 0 }/ F/ |1 x/ J5 G! ~" ^6 V- N" Q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; q, P! d9 r$ q/ Q
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.5 T/ }( b+ V( g5 ]
4 V! R% C6 w1 p' x* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
+ l" B7 P8 ^4 e. O3 ythe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) C. J) }* J' F+ F# {0 jcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 0 ]& b( f3 Y: {- D5 v# B& x; i6 c
having a powerful psychological impact.. Q" u) S0 U. e6 U! N" t
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
' f3 h- c$ b% m }4 i, E2 mcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 Z0 Y( t( \0 G0 v* x3 ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 5 t8 @- L) S5 q _
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ c) Y' ?! o6 `/ |' znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 0 D0 i$ {% R$ X7 V/ d
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; l; k7 k: n& c3 f& @4 E& N8 A, E
6 \9 k+ y! c9 q3 W; |% Y R* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
C2 @9 Y0 e* L! `# ?3 Z3 v/ E. P9 lproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 a; a, d1 b4 c; r0 othat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : @7 \- v3 D/ [( }
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
/ a* F7 x# @. T% T4 N& l! @business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s B" j) F$ e- z" u2 ]% Z1 [
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 3 o7 Q% ?( v" I4 _# S
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# N8 R# _8 l& H6 A8 ]have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of + B( `' n9 }' s+ r' J" ~& `3 \ m# b
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " U4 f& k" O* ]5 g) q+ \
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& P5 T( n4 \$ g5 z% \, T8 fdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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6 l6 u6 I1 t/ i: ^2 ^2 l7 q* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 F4 G' p" L" p9 {' C( {7 u. Ayour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ( z1 X1 k7 ]. Q M( O
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 8 S1 d* D' ]3 j5 M) }' R6 O0 C
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& k) s5 M. w; q6 S* s0 }; q+ |more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the - V: O2 S" V# Y" b x. Y
better chance you have of securing the best deal.5 \' ]/ l" r }$ q
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing & X7 z; l, Y$ ~( w; x8 W& G
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ( ~' A$ v$ D7 r# l) s* v/ h" o% g& I+ M
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' A5 m& L/ v7 X Z, k2 B! z
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 t5 X; t1 x% }* r, m- e1 cconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 O# V( x I* c
buyers in during the bubble years.
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9 J ^: j0 \3 |* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it , _1 k: [# i$ m( o# @
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: l/ ~) W: T& f6 v2 ^will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / B5 g# ~4 Z U9 F5 x3 _
he’ll close. |
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