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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a % [3 O; X& } Y* S' }
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 e. m$ Y. F( p! J. \5 d* i8 n
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all : `4 D! ]- y2 t2 P( ?, M: j1 l
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and & N" R" A: e$ r+ t$ v& B" Z
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
' p' u! S2 f1 \3 }) `" G8 ?you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % G; J1 Y8 b: x2 [: _
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)- \0 ?. `4 I o
- v9 P& t! Z4 _* ~* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 2 b5 T$ c4 W U, V7 q' D
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - w; K' l' r5 G) W0 ^: R$ N5 Z! Q
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you : C; x6 r+ E# K& I/ \/ H4 l
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.7 S- |' E$ l" _6 |2 I* M/ w: {
4 K3 P" H8 c/ O* ~* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
8 R# c$ X! N5 N/ I0 R. M$ ?the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
8 m) E) f2 q6 @2 wcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while * X( T" v) b1 w( U; x& P7 h
having a powerful psychological impact.% @$ B* a+ r3 z/ r7 y1 G, h
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , v/ L$ G5 y# K' d- R
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in * h% k; R. N, ]- R. v1 k0 M" l: t
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
Z" u: b$ a( a/ W9 _! l2 |& dthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
: C% o# ?( P( {) y6 q; snever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 l9 }# N6 ] Ewhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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1 `" W* x0 ]6 S5 r: p* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - p# R: Y' V4 ~" l7 ^$ ]( u* s9 L
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
* F- `9 X d uthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( b& I0 C. ?2 m; ^ z$ w1 d5 s! S
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' _# [3 I& r4 M/ o0 S5 q1 w8 u, {& A* n
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
' `: }% k: c$ }expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
1 w/ q' ^) G. L1 w0 ?2 Uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
0 s" K: U( m" J2 B5 Q- [have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 7 f6 P" W" R* Z% M4 ]8 |. G
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. , K& d: g1 d- x2 ~
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will : l; h2 x+ ~7 R# l
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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2 l" s9 n. ]! h. k* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + s8 \$ x# N4 M1 W* |+ v5 R* F
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the + v5 h5 x/ n1 _! \( y/ ?2 I: w7 Q; S
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
0 U1 W- D: `5 J4 k# o( ]6 Z# R7 hyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# w: J, a! a" `, vmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- r4 K& F: O2 x2 E' g' Obetter 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 H8 p: v# T' F
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That % W+ ?- t5 o" t$ h! F
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) J) ~; n) u1 f
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
0 i) a/ Q; ^# i0 i7 Q( {consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 5 l' e6 z- ^" \- T* I
buyers 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 * [" q9 K) A2 ?3 J- D0 P
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
, E2 V6 E `* a) z x; E4 ewill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
8 V3 p% a1 ^6 z( } }1 m0 K$ c9 a3 \# ohe’ll close. |
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