 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
. E; B% ~! L4 w% e" @% Qfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 4 I6 O: c/ i- g/ s9 y; l/ v
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 F5 }8 H! U- L L" Q8 |! o1 e. _the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and % n% S0 y# p5 t, J; s* P' D0 g
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.( Z: ]% \* `; I/ c7 }
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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 * i- ^2 W3 P1 R/ C2 U7 A0 W
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . Q. i K7 q& u; Q! J J
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
* N! u: q; c) [properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! x. X4 J% q3 v+ g
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 2 D" q7 e6 p3 c0 u: v# a( n
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 q+ G. s3 a( s& t+ }5 C# d6 i
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ) { d. {1 D' d8 j: @
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
) h* U$ m( ]0 Y% c( ]cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while - L1 ?4 v: A4 C4 K: W
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; p5 P$ e( Y0 Q3 jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ k( X' p" m# @) Korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 \4 b' X+ l) @. x& L F2 Pthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 k3 c$ y! E( P& F
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get + }: J4 P" \" i4 O+ ]
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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) l! m0 x8 I) W1 G, o: H9 A: s" Q3 X* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
8 M0 p0 K) }! q9 p/ I. L! aproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ( N* }- T9 f# }
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 7 q5 k3 _; Q8 \# u" M7 M
price.
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0 ^/ E+ Q4 a0 o. u; h* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
3 \2 n9 j Q1 G) Z& |8 r* E' Xbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s * e$ E. a* Y8 W( ?$ r- y
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + K, m8 n# G/ ~" |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 d6 L7 @3 R) ~) K; mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . o' n( R7 v6 R8 Z- ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
1 h) \3 l! u' q5 jSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
9 ~' ]. l. F; w7 |: r: F* J( Jdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.1 b; {, H# `4 h P" d! I
) t2 @, O/ J7 u- x+ `3 n" ^* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have # y. X9 }% }6 k5 J. M5 Y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 7 d$ U9 f A7 s
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into % [2 S) L" s8 g! t- ^4 d, E: |# F& v
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * W! A$ M9 k; c/ H) U% o" l8 j8 y
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
7 e( @* F& I- ]" F3 q0 G0 Xbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.% }& k6 P; w; Z
0 s5 ?/ [- c" X( V! V5 H* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& T1 Z9 |8 m. X2 K, r/ dproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 x: ~5 }+ W2 H' K) [8 y9 o
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
; _% P+ r. J* Z5 N" Dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just & I' ]) F% e4 k0 k
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( M* f% E$ j, `, u% V9 S8 e' B
buyers in during the bubble years.1 \- C! \ Q- ~6 s! U: V
* t5 r0 k, ?0 } Q* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it E6 n7 q6 u0 q5 W6 X% ^
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( u2 h" X- }0 I' v
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ) Q5 v# F. Y$ ]+ b$ | y
he’ll close. |
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