 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
4 H) {9 D! O0 y. i" xfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 g- F" r, A Q! K: n
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all : [- U' G5 ]) k% ]$ k8 N* l
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ! n! z" _% S/ w0 X2 M# U
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 9 l2 f4 T) z) r3 D! ^6 f# i! Z4 y2 ]
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
3 _5 ?! c" _. D$ `4 ]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 3 H5 c) P! {8 Q5 Y( p" u
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 6 n. s* Z) l5 ^ [
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
' F) N8 P! K' D/ X+ Mget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. d/ j2 `+ b' n
! d/ H/ w( R/ g5 E8 o3 {2 z* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
* N, g6 j1 c! othe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 z) T) S* [7 Y7 T* t' m. N. @
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
7 k% _, A% S8 ?* t# R6 e% e! ?having a powerful psychological impact.) j5 |4 a+ J& f) b1 n2 f7 X
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
; @9 ~/ Y/ K2 k% R4 zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
" A, M$ n! F ? T* ?( A8 Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % l% U2 }2 J: J. p! z0 [) q3 s( U
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
# a0 h8 x( W2 i. y" Pnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 9 q+ s" E V6 u
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 b- ]4 b# Q4 n3 w4 n' m& ^
: @/ i* x8 \5 X! z* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another , X' ]2 C9 b) J2 X0 `+ D% A2 Z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know & h8 ^. w2 P! _2 _0 l
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
4 p9 y6 W! ?! [3 q, F, @; J. Aprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
^" c! n7 T9 @0 l, nbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( j, z M6 C( x: N
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 7 A' g q" E7 h2 f/ |% F9 T
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
% I& Y# I G! M) ~) Phave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of . N- z' a. q( C+ a* l7 E) S
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ( y4 ]+ s& F# M8 y# K2 e6 H
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
6 }- z% b+ ^2 p, x. z5 ]6 Ndie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ( l% E/ a% ~/ m- a/ N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the 9 C7 l9 K8 m& |$ ?+ E6 s6 o
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ B9 s' C4 X1 a5 o. Lyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ; t2 f/ q1 [$ E( {+ E2 Q
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the % o" l9 `* o i2 ^# z# [0 w
better chance you have of securing the best deal.6 E$ I$ l. y# \! F# s
% i& U8 T5 [7 [9 F) }2 S/ r* V* c* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
+ y. Z* @9 M/ A) A0 ~properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
" x( m; i* k4 w& Owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
: Q- {- I7 ~' _- f' H% }: C" Y* dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just - i8 G; K* b' ]5 ~8 B+ ]% G
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
; C3 y8 `" U" a; ?; Vbuyers in during the bubble years.
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8 o$ U; _, ^4 A3 t! g8 |$ q1 S* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 0 W9 }9 Y w% R% s- A
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 C3 f- }1 U" c
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 2 g1 u+ s( I6 G" E. y. p
he’ll close. |
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