Author Topic: Thinking Outside the Stocks  (Read 1888 times)

nushagak

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Thinking Outside the Stocks
« on: May 14, 2014, 04:06:35 PM »
Quote
Self-storage buildings, anyone? How about abandoned railroad beds, cellular towers, student apartments or parking facilities? Such unglamorous niches, once shunned by the investing elite, are performing well in 2010, even as the Dow industrials limp along.

The recent thread about the new self storage millionaires in the UK reminded me of this WSJ article I've had bookmarked for ages - http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703882304575465600161453406

I've never met anyone who made a fortune buying up future railroad right-of-ways, but the first FI 20 something I ever met made some smart investments in self storage and parking lots. Anyway - worthwhile read, especially if it gets your wheels turning.

B L I S S

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Re: Thinking Outside the Stocks
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2014, 08:43:35 AM »
My friends and I were just talking about this! Specifically about buying/ building a parking structure. The life now is about saving enough now to take on ventures both big and small, creative and cliche- such as this.

William

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Re: Thinking Outside the Stocks
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2014, 08:50:55 AM »
I think Frankie Muniz made quite a bit of cash from owning parking lots.  Gotta do somethin' with all that Malcolm in the Middle money.

Fun fact: He also does auto racing.  He's pretty bad so I guess his teammates refer to him as 'Malcolm in the Back'.


The problem I see with getting into obscure investments before FI is the risk.  For me, I'd rather get a basically guaranteed high ROI as with the stock market than go gambling.

However, each year after maxing my Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA, ESPP, etc. I venture a little outside the box.