Before they go over the cliff to their destruction these little furry ones get together for a party and celebration. Each tells the other how smart he has been with his investments and buying and selling of stocks and real estate.
Wait a minute. Did I say lemmings? I think I meant investors. It seems they had that same party in January 2000 and it was a doozy that lasted for several months. A great time was had by all. They did not have one in 2001 as membership dropped off. Nor again in 2002 and by 2003 there wasn't anyone around at all.
The lemmings (oops, investors) had gone over the cliff. And they were such nice little guys too. The few at their party who tried to preach caution were drowned out with loud squeals that the market was going to 40,000 or maybe higher.
This new crowd said it will never happen to them as they are not going to put their money in that risky stock market. Oh no, there is a really safe investment that always goes up ? real estate. There is only so much land and no more is being created. The population is expanding so the demand will continue and prices can only increase.
Even for the novice speculators there is a place to make big bucks. They are joining real estate clubs just like the old stock market investment clubs to which they have previously been members. Put in a few thousand and watch it grow as the real estate market keeps going up and up. These investors know they are on the verge of great expectation that will mean wealth. Wealth without work or effort. Maybe they forgot how much they lost from the expert advice in that previous investment club, but everyone knows real estate is a sure thing.
A stock investment is just a piece of paper, but real estate you can feel the dirt, walk through the building and slam the doors. That's solid. You can't miss. With each deal they recognize how they are getting smarter and smarter. Hurrying, doing nothing constructive to make their fortune. Just like in 2000.
For more than a year the professional traders, insiders and large institutions have been quietly selling their stocks and I am now beginning to hear of sales of major properties. Just because someone has a lot of money doesn't mean he is smart. These groups can be as wrong as the little investor.
Real estate may continue to be an excellent investment, but speculation in real estate can be hazardous. If, or maybe I should say when, this market stops going up or even starts down it is very hard to sell a property. Payments must be made and upkeep maintained. It is possible to rent out some houses or offices, but the income ratio today does not allow a breakeven to costs.
These real estate lemmings don't seem to care. They are gathering in larger groups and are working under the greater fool theory.
This is a time for caution as it was in 2000 for stocks. You don't want to go over the cliff again.
Copyright 2005
Al Thomas' best selling book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter to receive his market letter for 3 months at www.mutualfundmagic.com to discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
one time home cleaning Highland Park ..If you are fed up with early redemption charges and... Read More
Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More
Have you bought any mutual funds this year or late... Read More
Professional stock options traders use the term lean to refer... Read More
Whenever I see mutual fund comparisons in the trade publications... Read More
People are always asking me when should I sell my... Read More
I am hearing predictions by brokers, financial planners, talk show... Read More
Every day I hear from the "experts" on CNBC-TV and... Read More
The spring-loaded rat catcher is the ultimate low-tech device invented... Read More
The Shadow knows. Remember him? It seems a shadow has... Read More
Last time we looked at the real performance of the... Read More
Being wrong is OK, but let's not carry it to... Read More
Outlined below are some of the advantages and disadvantages of... Read More
What! Me worry?Many of you remember the cover of MAD... Read More
If you have been watching the stock market at all... Read More
Reach in your pocket and take out that big roll... Read More
When will the stock market stop going down and start... Read More
It has been said that low cost or even free... Read More
Dollar cost averaging is one of the most popular ideas... Read More
You must take the time once a month to review... Read More
Stock investment advice is easy to find. Do you get... Read More
Any online investor / trader seeks an excellent off or... Read More
Let me start by saying that...Most online brokers do not... Read More
Two weeks ago I wrote about what the Securities and... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..If you are serious about making and keeping money by... Read More
During the month of January the Dow Jones Industrial Average,... Read More
Just about everything you have been told about Social Security... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
As I have said many times before in this column... Read More
Several times each month I am solicited by various market... Read More
Everyone who follows the financial news has heard of mutual... Read More
It seems that every day I turn on the TV... Read More
What can I expect to make my first year of... Read More
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
Suppose your position has made a big move and you... Read More
One Saturday morning, while he was sitting at his computer... Read More
We all know that emotions control every decision that an... Read More
How many people went to a cash position this week?... Read More
Robert Rodriguez likes to buy stocks at their lows. When... Read More
It is difficult to make money in a bull market,... Read More
Someday you may want to retire and continue to live... Read More
The thinking process of the brain relating to the... Read More
It has often been said that there is only two... Read More
Every successful trader has a winning system. There are of... Read More
Stocks breakout from properly formed bases everyday but many investors... Read More
You probably have been told that options are risky. Even... Read More
AS BUILDERS BEGIN WORK ON THE FREEDOM TOWER in New... Read More
The stock market has not been very kind to your... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |