 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
9 _- h) j+ y! f* Kfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 4 h$ Q; B( P2 b" q: q
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all , L9 x* V8 P9 _2 ^! \
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 5 e% ]7 C9 m9 O1 \8 c3 g4 W5 Z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.; ^7 I/ o4 Y0 s" N( O u
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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
8 d4 Q0 C3 l% i8 h0 @ I+ Y5 v' lyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 9 h" ^0 p3 j, I+ ?
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' H7 I ?& X9 C( Y3 _+ J. n) Q
! l: C3 b8 h6 A3 i, q1 F( ?* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many - H8 y8 n$ t0 @4 ~
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
+ I. D1 k( J; ]- p8 }seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ; Z* c; F! ^- ]% O4 m
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.. y2 ~& u7 ]) c% Y
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
, Q( G; D7 N4 V% K1 ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! y" k& a/ }3 Q$ Y* t7 ?
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
- d* f% w7 k% u Zhaving a powerful psychological impact.4 U/ ~7 P* E9 `9 v {- k
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 4 O# z1 P% ~$ i# b; U9 y
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 S% |) Q0 U& F7 f- G, ]
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
1 h7 G- k& Q$ P' \: B$ f$ R4 i, Wthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : W# R3 D" T9 \9 u
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get & R" f7 e3 A9 T& j# L8 n, x
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 e7 V2 V2 }; x" U
$ k( K. Z4 d$ C X* L* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
. a( z% D: i; T P$ Tproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % C( h. R+ B# g" e& T; n+ ~
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
& _; U) ~; D2 i+ T2 o0 l+ I0 N: w2 Eprice.: l: k* b0 ?2 J0 d; ?
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! V, S2 o; b! F9 ] \2 N: W7 jbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + p& a, ^: c* P+ w( W/ g
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
Z9 |$ A( k7 e% |. j9 owork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 7 f- o% Z0 W/ s/ i* I/ l
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , d* s- E+ x/ m) Z8 N$ a L
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ! M v7 z5 t% x
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
+ v+ ?# T7 B4 _1 n3 k+ Ldie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture." P; T" j5 R' H3 I
6 D o0 v) W5 F3 h5 U7 ~( K0 @* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have & |6 n7 C. t/ I9 ~: z6 y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * w/ ?# n* X* A% K/ c/ A' @+ D
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 0 o7 ^& I; ]- ~$ e
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
8 n z; R1 H% n" H* ~more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
/ e# f5 r* [/ q6 W( W- @ wbetter 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
( Y) l# R' u/ Vproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
! {/ P# @2 R( I: ~will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do " R0 |' x7 a2 i+ A5 I
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. s- O3 G, D1 _/ x. o6 }. aconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
8 t4 T- G* A: E1 Zbuyers in during the bubble years." K/ g K# S2 B2 Z
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
- H& p4 O J) o3 P; jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you , Z( d4 G5 C1 D, {7 A* T
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' w1 c( |) I q& f$ n3 Fhe’ll close. |
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