 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
3 b* q2 I- Y7 Dfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 8 z! \3 Z% v) c( R3 ]
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
2 J% p: f+ n# `4 ?; xthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
. L2 i6 [9 S+ G V3 Vbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
6 u+ \0 w( b6 b+ G# A8 h
9 s* v' w% }& l/ ISo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
+ ^ n/ K% r* W6 Vyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this . i" N; t- h% x, `. t; M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
. W9 N+ V6 O1 W" j
" l' V6 \, w( s9 F* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 9 z$ T# x, Y( W/ R. d) i. y! U
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - V7 ?% ^5 E: X
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you & v% R, t1 A+ r! Y& d2 N
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) I6 M6 m7 q0 \8 i: `
- @$ h& d) y& y* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- O# {# y; r- v7 tthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
6 m1 T) {% Y1 T- ncashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / ^8 C7 N8 v6 q; e/ H2 |
having a powerful psychological impact.
; [1 `, ?- W7 O( T- [
9 R h1 |. ^# w/ m* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 r. c# V5 L5 @7 m0 ?completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 7 E3 J' e4 x% n- A; h% R: y% A
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
! h7 ?+ i1 ^ j) T: @4 U) }the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
" k5 l2 Y( {1 X5 j# f; V: unever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
' \9 q) {6 c, hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
, _- X1 C: m/ b* s& a% B
! V. v$ S& G% u7 h% j3 d* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # N/ }+ z2 j- ?/ _5 ?$ B
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ' v6 L v. P% P2 p7 A
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
; |" a* k6 P7 x* Q, t, c/ w& d3 v( K, |price.
5 g9 T0 V8 m& w: ~1 i3 r7 p: L- p, |/ L0 [" @+ O% E1 p
* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ( D4 t8 p' _) Q I# A8 P% ~
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 1 r$ S3 W9 `4 c% n/ X4 n
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of / }7 S. G t# {9 H* _2 @$ R) G6 k
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you % ?* G! O% _3 a# B* s6 D
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of * a5 y2 s/ {; C9 v6 u
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! F+ `& e, F+ w% o( }
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
[' B$ x4 J5 o' S# sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture. j( ]) C+ q& D! ~$ W: ?3 P+ e
! S+ r0 n1 A+ b+ M* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 2 O9 H: @* h2 j) M
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the & l, ?+ W$ X( N6 i
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
2 t1 b7 w: Y3 xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) X: U$ L4 ~- B- u3 v
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
5 c1 i, b/ j: F% g# e6 T: V! Hbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.9 ^# H1 B" o2 m+ h- M! [6 t/ ^! D
/ n2 w+ C0 j8 m2 _0 ]# p3 q& U5 b* D, A* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 4 N; v1 d9 c* Q% T+ v
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That % f! k9 B) ]% R- d' p1 w
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
, O2 Y+ @% U& y7 s7 Y9 {to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
& {" g- N. e) @9 C, x, ?# Iconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
5 o; Z0 M% [: b$ `; Hbuyers in during the bubble years.8 T4 I# k: u" i' }# l5 @% C
0 z6 x. R" B! v7 s+ J9 A# T6 C1 h
* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ( E8 E% ^3 h2 T3 u8 @5 H0 j' H
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: {1 w. s. K: V/ Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but % Z, ]& e5 R9 ^! e
he’ll close. |
|