 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
+ v. w" A) ?* I" a5 { {2 Zfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% A- W. a& h; j8 h5 @4 ~bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
O2 ? G6 c# Z/ _the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
. R; M; H" J: x" q2 ]- Sbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 p" D2 N, B5 V# {* c) ]
- D: S; s; Z v1 G3 n" W8 \' W, i/ w
So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
7 y0 J! j4 |* \$ y! m* v2 a* cyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ( W4 |! |* E7 Y1 Q
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.); K4 d$ i! X" E( U1 k+ ^
+ }4 r3 x6 z9 X: w+ a2 ?" M* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many # X' `" ?6 @" y/ y
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
7 u% [4 m% f, m# z( Y: T- ~seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( f/ Q1 V# l, Y. X; z
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
4 x; o# y0 j$ M, k
7 F2 \9 J J, a, _* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 3 k3 d F$ H: I
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
4 T& n1 p l2 v/ |cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ; o1 k$ _' {6 ?, k: v
having a powerful psychological impact.
5 U0 _) h- T& P' c8 u! a. _) w2 t+ l3 J- U# B
* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
! `- E! z9 y: Q3 `& y) Ecompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in % B. t! ^% F' N1 Y) D/ l) H
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on S( d* R1 f& C2 g$ o9 h
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 }) t6 T! X; K4 t. @never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; k0 A# v2 b4 \' H8 [# D r+ x% E- E( ?what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.! T1 |7 G% Q; |5 X: [% E
4 J$ J/ \& i" x9 R* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , J2 v5 B( }6 n6 H+ R
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( J) o) b) O. ]. x4 tthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& S2 E7 Y9 h3 J. @2 g- @! yprice.- b' \3 n) [# t( y. ~7 q
2 m; h: j3 h: \3 _9 q* A7 L- }
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% ?5 g- H2 p9 Z2 ]- hbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
+ @6 ?( x I0 k3 I3 ]" Nexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: _+ M" c! o2 nwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 d, m- ? c1 D* X& G4 U- Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" ^+ K7 m1 l4 b( d& jthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
% c0 f- i( a& X; ~Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will " F) h" W9 D' n2 E/ ~1 I. o
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.; }$ o! x- G) ` I; T# L0 c
3 F9 _3 g% x- M7 S" h* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
2 [9 |' |" r+ p+ s% Z' gyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 9 k' b( Z7 }/ b7 C0 {
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
' n$ C$ }+ f( k1 xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
& Y: M8 F. k+ O! ~$ W' zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " O' d5 p) s2 J6 |/ b
better chance you have of securing the best deal." \" x( l# a; G0 v, N
' K a R/ q- B* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing % Q3 ]- Z; D( F: T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That / ~! v1 `+ b* j6 J
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do # Y. r# c3 W6 V( w$ m2 q5 e9 @
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 z& }7 o! w7 s2 [1 ~* t: }
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed + d( h, a `1 O1 y
buyers in during the bubble years.! I/ n) W5 f# J$ P0 h: u0 F$ x
, j! `+ H* L$ L' ]* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it - T$ Y5 i+ d% Q( w4 {0 G
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- d& j. E. z; Q# F8 m: ]will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but . L7 N: K4 W9 U. @( _2 c
he’ll close. |
|