 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
/ w p. h' K- ^0 ^( Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the : W5 H9 |0 L# q
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
$ p# }) W W/ z. m+ O4 [/ Othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ d$ U' E' i" ^& I- i5 M
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 1 P# A. Z, u! C8 r& ]) U4 \' W
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 1 v; K1 d, U! @+ ]8 K
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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3 ~, H: ^& C; j) R* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : w( ?9 b% }" q& t) o$ p. X
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken % ?4 H I5 v/ X0 {$ P: j
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! e) u3 J7 M" T
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.4 W6 E' n6 J- X. o2 N
. _% D# P, Q% y& x* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
( N- k0 F$ Q7 g4 B! \/ F2 Wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 }0 V* [, N- W- ycashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
' A+ g; O1 |& X1 {# O. ~$ @having a powerful psychological impact.
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: { @5 G6 b; n& p* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' P- V+ B8 l9 o# V" v
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 2 C1 m/ ^' ?5 z, w2 C4 o; ^
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ( G# M* h- P5 u6 Q
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 2 x( X# w' }+ ~& `
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get , }. U* n" s" Y1 h
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
4 g+ d- T! x0 L* yproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* y# @% E. G$ z1 ethat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
+ `- k0 y* a1 h5 }& W% [price.: m2 n. M1 |+ }# o4 S
+ J6 I$ ^$ @8 p4 L* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
6 Y; ~; k0 g) Xbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 V3 f$ K, e6 I5 Lexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 v# I& o% q+ T3 c
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' x9 h8 G6 {3 t9 C
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 8 l" `4 G* T5 ?( {
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
$ @# ?/ C. Z6 gSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 G, M1 O$ D2 {$ I7 [die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.' b7 e% f+ }) ]3 u( W5 w
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 G2 i7 Y+ g8 ~, s. P! I. cyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
$ W& k% e5 f4 Q$ @price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
+ v7 T. Q, B* o' m6 i0 \$ P8 f$ Vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
h' n* Q5 u- Mmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 C8 J# B5 b. I) |# A5 [better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
& l2 o% Y# |% p9 Zproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 [: j! {! O8 }9 V' Y; r9 {
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 3 B3 c2 F9 t; h7 v& g. m7 v
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just & P6 X2 e: P4 M9 e/ V
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 l/ U, M1 h8 G1 g+ ~, ^/ E3 ebuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
5 h' G3 a$ r; i$ F( z! s& D) R6 Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
6 v+ h7 c3 M( m2 v6 c. e1 Wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; M- U5 I% h# K! Q: d" c, J
he’ll close. |
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