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.
residential cleaning services Lincolnshire ..Question: How does it get better when it gets worse?Last... Read More
Stock trading can be a very profitable activity. You can... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics states that a... Read More
The Winter Games for the Olympics are coming up soon... Read More
Over the past few months, several investment professionals have brought... Read More
Have you been listening to the talking heads on CNBC-TV?... Read More
Checked your 401K lately? Going back to about a year... Read More
Index Fund Trading can be one of the most profitable...or... Read More
How many people went to a cash position this week?... Read More
Quick, look out the window. It's raining. No, the sun's... Read More
If you're a normal human being, your need to feel... Read More
As GuruFocus updates the stock buys and sells of gurus,... Read More
I made my very first investment in the stock market... Read More
There is a current movie entitled "Eternal Sunshine of the... Read More
I don't know what kind it is, but I saw... Read More
The following are a list of nine things you want... Read More
The stock market has not been very kind to your... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
With over 6,000 mutual funds available, it may be tempting... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
With an insecure job market, overworked employees, insufficient retirement savings... Read More
For the year 2000 we have seen hundreds of mutual... Read More
Ever have one of those sample boxes of candy? Each... Read More
Most stock traders know that momentum trading can be a... Read More
Options trading can increase the profits you make when trading... Read More
best cleaning company Highland Park ..Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More
Using Swing Trading Strategies and Technical Analysis when Trading Stocks... Read More
This is the continuing story of our two imaginary traders,... Read More
This article describes the model of a natural relationship between... Read More
'Sector funds are too risky.' 'I doubled my money with... Read More
Now that you have some money burning a hole in... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
It has been said that low cost or even free... Read More
One of the great truisms of Wall Street is "Don't... Read More
In 1960 an engineer working for a watch company in... Read More
The single most expensive stock market trades are those made... Read More
The Bollinger Band theory is designed to depict the volatility... Read More
Mutual funds and brokers are always preaching not to buy... Read More
Starbucks earnings are up again and so is their stock... Read More
Ever jumped out of an airplane? It's OK if you... Read More
According to Investopedia Inc. the penny stock market has seen... Read More
There is nothing more exciting than finding an undervalued stock... Read More
One of the most believed bits of conventional wisdom from... Read More
I go to the Money Show every year to visit... Read More
After finding the price of a particular stock, usually the... Read More
Every broker and financial planner will tell you that you... Read More
I made my very first investment in the stock market... Read More
Wall Street has been preaching the doctrine of Buy and... Read More
Since I can remember, and that's a long time ago,... Read More
I cringe every time I hear a novice investor tell... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |