第21部分 (第4/8页)

ay　that　our　friend　had　backed　out。　I　called　immediately　to　find　out　why。　All　he　said　was　that　he　talked　to　his　neighbor；　and　his　neighbor　told　him　it　was　a　bad　deal。　He　was　paying　too　much。

I　asked　Richard　if　his　neighbor　was　an　investor。　Richard　said　〃no。〃　When　I　asked　why　he　listened　to　him；　Richard　got　defensive　and　simply　said　he　wanted　to　keep　looking。

The　real　estate　market　in　Phoenix　turned；　and　by　1994；　that　little　unit　was　renting　for　1；000　a　month…2；500　in　the　peak　winter　months。　The　unit　was　worth　95；000　in　1995。　All　Richard　had　to　put　down　was　5；000　and　he　would　have　had　a　start　at　getting　out　of　the　rat　race。　Today；　he　still　has　done　nothing。　And　the　bargains　in　Phoenix　are　still　here；　you　just　have　to　look　a　lot　harder。

Richard's　backing　out　did　not　surprise　me。 It's　called　〃buyer's　remorse；〃　and　it　affects　all　of　us。　It's　those　doubts　that　get　us。　The　little　1　chicken　won；　and　a　chance　at　freedom　was　lost。

In　another　example；　I　hold　a　small　portion　of　my　assets　in　tax　lien　certificates　instead　of　CDs。　I　earn　16　percent　per　year　on　my　money；　which　certainly　beats　the　5　percent　the　bank　offers。　The　certificates　are　secured　by　real　estate　and　enforced　by　state　law；　which　is　also　better　than　most　banks。　The　formula　they're　bought　on　makes　them　safe。　They　just　lack　liquidity。　So　I　look　at　them　as　2　to　7…year　CDs。　Almost　every　time　I　tell　someone；　especially　if　they　have　money　in　CDs；　that　I　hold　my　money　this　way；　they　will　tell　me　it's