I agree with you Blake! Doesn't make any difference... lucky vs smart or both or none.... as long as it's going UP!

:cheers: :woot: for you!

I am working on being smarter..:lateral:

Luck ?? Oh my... I have plenty of that..:thumbsup:

Right place, at the right time..Not all by my doing, but I will take it...:rofl: :woot:

I bought at the right time in life...Again some by sheer Luck.

Looking back after reading this thread, i could have done even better...

Most of it was by not being too greedy, by getting in when everyone else would not, and by just being in the game. And not on the sidelines..

Sure the easy money was made from late 2008 to 2010. But even in 2011, with volatility at it's peak, money was made, and dividends were earned, so better to be in, than to be on the sidelines.

And the over spending ??? Well not being one of them, I got the deals of a Lifetime on Property after 2009...While the overspending of fake equity crushed them.

you would think that over spenders would learn ? remember , I have the family members with zero retirement money, going over and over to Europe, and foreclosed and bankrupt, by overspending..

I tried to help for a while...What a waste of time and money that was..

Solar --- What you've done is both smart and lucky.... you have to be smart enough to make some luck!

Anyone that is buying properties NOW -- they're lucky that someone else took a big hit on it -- and you're SMART buying at these depressed prices! That building I just bought (I'm the bank only) for my brother in law -- cost $600K to build -- He bought for $335K -- how can that not be good for him long term??He's lucky I can bankroll it for him (6% interest), but HE is smart making the move.

The oldest saying in the Universe (thanks AL!) is BUY LOW, SELL HIGH.... it aint' rocket science!! :lol:

When we look at those long term charts of good stocks.... IF -- IF -- they continue on the historic path -- they SHOULD BE higher over time... as should real estate. My bet is - if you wait to see when they're going higher - you're already late. Sometimes it's just hard to take the plunge when things don't look so hot. The folks that do - they're the lucky ones! Or are they just being smart enough to create their own luck?

Well I always say that Luck is the meeting of preparation and opportunity.

I had been preparing and all the numbers were wrong.. The house i ending up buying was sold for 660K in 2006...I ended up getting it for 267K..in late 2008. it is holding at about 330K, which should be the bottom for several years..But it is home, and i don't plan it in the retirement mix until very late in the game...had i bought six months sooner, I would be down 100K.. i was lucky, because we both know you can't time the bottom...being close enough would have been ok, but i hit it just right..





You are right , partially by creating my own luck, and partially by being at that moment in history, 2008..




your thread has made me look back and forward.. None of my investments have done bad, I just know i would have done even better, had I followed my gut even more..
my money management skills got me to where I am.. Being a somewhat novice investor, I could have even done better, but that is part of the learning...

Oh , and you can call me Mike...I was a Solar guy until 2009..When I changed my life after the crash.. I invested my way to wealth. took a big risk in 2008/2009..

And thanks for the words of encouragement..I have been studying investing, money management, the housing bubble before it happened,ect.., for a while now...Late starter but quick learner.

This studying has by far been the best thing in my life.. The rewards are life changing for me, and my family..

so thanks for the thumbs up, and all your advise and opinions...

I recently read a good book "The Weathy Barber Returns" it was written by a Canadian Eh. it is an easy read (thats how i read the whole thing lol) and ALOT of practical advise in it ,20 bucks well spent.
his big deal is "PAY YOURSELF FIRST" not the easiest concept to wrap your head arround when the bills are piling up but it makes sence for sure.
I am a guilty of not putting enough away, but have made some realestate investments that will pay off soon and that then will open the door to catch up, Oh and there is this little thing I call SpeedTech.......:willy: lol that seems to be at the top of the list.
I suggest everyone run out and buy the book. then let the wife read it, then your best friend, oh and make sure you rent it to them... lol

I'll check in to that Blake, Might have to look at some of those Canadian companies to

Buy a Speed Tech Track Time Package and I bet he throws in a book for ya eh? :yes:

One of my best friends lives up the street -- he and his wife have probably never grossed $125K per year -- and they both work full time.... He's 66 now... and here's the deal - HE PAID HIMSELF FIRST since he was about 20. His house is paid for - it's a nice small house, neat as a pin - perfect for 2 of them (no kids)... he has a brand new diesel F-250 (with roll up windows and cloth seats and zero chrome) and an Airstream -- paid for cash - he has a brand new car - paid cash.... He is without a doubt the most FRUGAL guy I know and I give him SERIOUS crap about that... I buy Snap-On he buys tools from the $1 bin.... I help him with his investments - and I'll tell you this guy qualifies for the book "The millionaire next door". And I'm so proud of him - because he's done all of this because he pays himself first.

When I met him 20+ years ago -- we were on a dock at the Grand Banks Rendezvous.... Yep -- he had a super nice little 32' GB (neat as a pin)... and no payments.

I still remember the day I popped his bubble -- his little 32' GB was super stingy on the fuel - according to him - at a burn rate of 3.5 gallons an hour - he made 7 knots.... my bigger 47' GB with TWIN turbo Cummins burned 11 GPH...and made 14 knots.... and he says to me -- after a trip from Seattle to Friday Harbor. "Man that big pig of yours cost you a fortune to run up here..." ME, being the figurer --- did some quicky math -- and said -- Dickie, You burned 30 gallons running up here.... I burned 55..... but I've been here since NOON! :woot:

Love the stories... I get a little something out of each one...

I tell my Wife to watch and see long term how we will be doing....In 5 years....in 10 years...

My Father that passed, cut my Teeth on 42' Farallon Eagle Trawlers, and 34' CHB Trawlers.. Not the Grand Banks of Yachts, but still we were living....

The problem was, way beyond our means. I was 16 and did not know anything, even about Cars and Girls. Nothing...

And apparently, he did not either.. No investments, and we lived it up..

So in approx. 10 years, my father went from Well Off to broke... If that is not a painful memory that i will carry to my grave, i don't know what is...

He was a doctor, so he went back to work teaching at 70 to 85...

That is why money management is so important...as well as investing..

My wife and I will use our life experiences and wealth to build more wealth, while enjoy life as we go, debt free except the 4.5% small fixed mortgage..

I learned how not to do it, and i am learning how to do it really well.. The Journey and the Goals achieved, and the rewards, keep me motivated and pumped up..:lateral: :cheers: :woot:

And that offer will stand for ANYONE on the fine board!!! from this day forward.
details available by calling 1-888-467-1625
Please have your visa card ready.
:thumbsup: