Dump stocks, buy alpacas and comic books?
By Andrew Segal KVAL NewsEUGENE, Ore. - It turns out hard assets can actually be pretty soft and fuzzy. As worried investors consider the state of the stock market, some are putting their money in things they can touch, known as hard assets. And they're snapping up some unique investments.
Robbin Freedman bought alpacas. Freedman made the purchase four weeks ago, just as the market started to head downward
Freedman said she likes having her money in something stable. "Livestock is just a really sound investment," she said. "They tend to hold their value." But Freedman, who now owns Bailey Hill Alpacas, also plans to make some cash. She can shear the animals' fleece, and breed them. "I could sell one of [the] little girls, for anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000," she said. Alpacas aren't the only choice for investments you can touch. In the market for something that can actually fit inside the house? Vintage comic books are going up in value.
Grimes said sales of comic books from the 1940s through 1960s are picking up. He thinks investors are attracted to them because they have slow and steady appreciation in a time of market volalitity. Plus, he said, they're more exciting to look at than stock certificates. "Having to hold something that is colorful and enjoyable and fun to show to your friends -- and is still a good investment -- you've got the best of every world there," Grimes said. It's a description that, strangely enough, applies equally to comics and alpacas. |
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"Unlike my 401(k) that took a really big hit with the stock market bottoming out, my alpacas are fine," she said. "They're gonna be just great."
"Superman and Batman; golden age, silver age comics are steady investments that are really, really healthy," said Darrell Grimes, owner of Nostalgia Collectibles in downtown Eugene.
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