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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a + ^ v: D" B' r' U) }* E: B
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
/ d, x$ T/ d0 E' y- e- `. ?4 h9 x. ?bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ! J* E7 a' b! W6 u3 Z5 T6 P( X
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 6 }4 n1 B- C3 {; R
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ H. g. N* x x
. v* ~7 [. Q D7 L5 KSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
) w+ I4 n" u1 h: X) ~5 m0 Jyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this & q3 X- n: j/ B* d" L6 v7 s* I) O+ u
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 " L: w% {, u. F! p
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 R3 N/ {; l7 @+ e, A% |: D! j9 m- jseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' a" W: A/ v) y/ Yget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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: C9 ]$ V Q# C( @; g8 ?/ g* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
9 X4 k p3 P. w; O6 Q2 Fthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 9 p7 D3 w" t/ X, x* t; z: ?
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
5 r3 K$ r# N6 q& j/ i8 dhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& w" `, v* ?7 y+ R3 Acompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
% m5 N% w/ u' ^- _3 O- }$ @1 ?order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * G& u2 s% }2 ~
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 6 ]7 p. x" I& e+ V; k) ~
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
+ M/ X0 F! [# P$ o$ R' hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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, D5 ], {% f: m. L' ^- t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ( W: p) Z i- Q6 \0 n
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know $ U- Q" I1 }' {1 Y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ) C! f) J. O4 r5 [9 F
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 ^0 V' R8 P" j
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
. c) U2 q7 k$ pexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
, b: F8 P7 ?3 }& u, jwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ( Y$ e7 P: |. m
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ' ~6 X9 W8 h' L6 m3 t
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. - M3 y1 t4 i& t! f1 z; ]4 S
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ E$ x' Y) c4 l0 D$ t4 e9 N- hdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! K1 ~) V( Q" _" w$ M, A/ r# [
f, O2 K: c/ I$ T( u8 D* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ) E" g2 H0 A p8 V
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
. S& t! V6 D2 Pprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
& w$ s! g9 d/ T2 u9 n% _; @% U% e( _your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
+ ]: L% a) O0 |3 `; Cmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the . I$ L( D0 y) P
better chance you have of securing the best deal.1 @5 G; n& ~& k8 i8 ~: Y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
' c- c3 V8 {% zproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
7 x' A/ W! N7 y' d' d- j5 h2 W2 Swill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 0 @% E, @. g$ t0 ^
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ C: u( ` f' k8 D7 Q* ^consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( a, a& A" U/ E* U) q+ p
buyers in during the bubble years.
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7 C4 D, |; A' I$ W6 z! M4 C* f* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 0 {& Q9 y/ Z2 I- a q8 K3 q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 t% u3 l+ K0 F6 R' R; k6 ~
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but F9 p& Q6 e: w. q# o6 M. ]+ Q) W" s
he’ll close. |
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