All Topics / Help Needed! / Recommended strategy for my situation

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)
  • Profile photo of eltonskyeltonsky
    Participant
    @eltonsky
    Join Date: 2014
    Post Count: 3

    Hello everyone,

    Greetings!

    Here’s the story. I am involved in a complicated deal. I bought a vacant land off the plan a couple of months ago. And the first mistake I made is I didn’t read the contract carefully and pick up the special conditions. Basically I didn’t realize the land is off the plan. The proposed subdivision was to cut about 10% of the current lot and add that up to the adjoining lot, so that one more lot can reach the minimum subdivision size. Anyway I only bought the post-subdivided lot, the 90% part. I didn’t know that subdivision hasn’t completed yet.

    In the special condition, there’s a clause says vendor may rescind the contract if the subdivision is not done after 100 days. My settlement is 100 days as well, and the settlement date was yesterday. On Monday, my lawyer received a letter from vendor’s lawyer, saying Vendor is not gonna proceed with the subdivision any more and they allow me to settle with the whole land, but will be entitled to do the proposed subdivision after the settlement.

    We notified my bank/mortgagee and the bank disagreed with this. Because they don’t want to give me the money and received the title for whole lot now, and later be changed to a smaller piece. That’d certainly hurt bank’s interest.

    We passed on the info to the vendor’s lawyer. They express they understand the bank’s position and would come up with some options for me.

    We were thinking of giving some more time for vendor to complete the subdivision if the council is still working on it. I called the council yesterday and find out the application is refused, due to not align with suburb characters. And I guess there’s no point of doing that.

    So here I am. My bank is not giving me money due to the unacceptable post settle sub. The vendor don’t want to give up the 10% of the land even if the proposed sub is refused atm. And I, for the worst, can certainly tell the vendor to rescind the contract and walk away.

    However, with the hope to all the experts in this forum, I wonder if there’s any strategy you can come up with to close this deal. I imagine the bottom line of vendor is either keep their right to the 10% lot, or some money compensation and give me the whole land.

    Please feel free to advice!

    Cheers

    Profile photo of Jacqui MiddletonJacqui Middleton
    Participant
    @jacm
    Join Date: 2009
    Post Count: 2,539

    Hi eltonsky,

    Is there something particularly awesome about this block that makes it worth the bother of proceeding? There are plenty of plots of dirt out there….

    Jacqui Middleton | Middleton Buyers Advocates
    http://www.middletonbuyersadvocates.com.au
    Email Me | Phone Me

    VIC Buyers' Agents for investors, home buyers & SMSFs.

    Profile photo of eltonskyeltonsky
    Participant
    @eltonsky
    Join Date: 2014
    Post Count: 3

    Hey Jacqui

    You are right, maybe it’s not worthy the trouble at all. I could simply walk away without second thought.

    But I am really curious what options a guru investor would come up with if, say this is the worthy land, what I could do for a fight.

    It sounds a bit academic, like a case study. And this is not an everyday case.

    Thanks

    Profile photo of wilko1wilko1
    Participant
    @wilko1
    Join Date: 2010
    Post Count: 510

    Walk away I would do. You have no money lost in the deal and have a get out card. I would just take it and move on. It’s often about the deals you don’t buy that make a successful property investor. I would think that it would
    Be to much stress to nut out a deal for a deal where you have lost no cash/money at all in.
    If you had a non refundable deposit ect then looking for alternatives is what u have to do but you don’t.

    Profile photo of TerrywTerryw
    Participant
    @terryw
    Join Date: 2001
    Post Count: 16,213

    What a huge mistake. How could you not know the land was off the plan and how did you not read the contract, especially the special conditions? Did you get the lawyer to review it before signing?

    Terryw | Structuring Lawyers Pty Ltd / Loan Structuring Pty Ltd
    http://www.Structuring.com.au
    Email Me

    Lawyer, Mortgage Broker and Tax Advisor (Sydney based but advising Aust wide) http://www.Structuring.com.au

    Profile photo of Jamie MooreJamie Moore
    Participant
    @jamie-m
    Join Date: 2010
    Post Count: 5,069

    Did you get the lawyer to review it before signing?

    Doesn’t sound like it. Always important to get a legal person to review the contract before signing.

    Cheers

    Jamie

    Jamie Moore | Pass Go Home Loans Pty Ltd
    http://www.passgo.com.au
    Email Me | Phone Me

    Mortgage Broker assisting clients Australia wide Email: [email protected]

    Profile photo of eltonskyeltonsky
    Participant
    @eltonsky
    Join Date: 2014
    Post Count: 3

    Hey Terry, Jamie

    True, very true, I was so damn careless this time. I learn this lesson in a hard way. Hope everyone see this post learn this from me rather from their own experience.

    Profile photo of TerrywTerryw
    Participant
    @terryw
    Join Date: 2001
    Post Count: 16,213

    Dont worry too much I never read a contract at all of the first 10 or so properties that I purchased. Crazy now when I think about it.

    Terryw | Structuring Lawyers Pty Ltd / Loan Structuring Pty Ltd
    http://www.Structuring.com.au
    Email Me

    Lawyer, Mortgage Broker and Tax Advisor (Sydney based but advising Aust wide) http://www.Structuring.com.au

    Profile photo of RedwoodRedwood
    Participant
    @redwood
    Join Date: 2013
    Post Count: 340

    Hi there, echo the comments above, a qualified review of the contract is required by a qualified solicitor/ conveyancer in your state, i.e Terry if you are in NSW.

    There can be so many hidden surprises that if you are new to property you can easily miss with the developer/ agent saying ‘its a standard contract.’

    I always look for the special clause.

    Get out while you can, step back do a wee-bit more research and make the right decision.

    Cheers, Ivan

    Redwood | REDWOOD | SMSF | PROPERTY | FINANCE
    http://redwoodadvisory.com.au
    Email Me | Phone Me

    SMSF - PROPERTY INVESTMENT - WEALTH CREATION AND FINANCE SOLUTIONS

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