Top of the market?

[Snapolit1]

Not an hour goes by when someone doesn't post about how truly insane the market for rare cards and how it's like Florida real estate, the tulip craze, but . . . .nearly every time I look at the history of a rare card on VCP it seems like prices of many cards are down a good 10-25% -- or more -- from the 2007-08 time frame. May not be true for Mantles and some of the new rookie cards people are going nuts over, but seems to me that a lot of people bought many rare cards in 07-08 at prices that far exceed what is going rate today.
Perhaps that was the true Golden Age of AH fraud, but I'll leave that to someone else.

[GregMitch34]

Tremendous bubble back then around 2007, prices generally now below that--but above the decline that came after that. So I think most people feel market very healthy since it recovered nicely and prices advancing now. I discard all 2006-2008 pricing.

[glchen]

I think the question will be whether in 10 years or so, folks will be saying there was a tremendous bubble right now in high grade rookie cards ...

[Leon]

Originally Posted by glchen

I think the question will be whether in 10 years or so, folks will be saying there was a tremendous bubble right now in high grade rookie cards ...

That is always a risk. I suggest diversifying .

[rjackson44]

buy what you like

[Stonepony]

I agree. No one wants to lose money on the cards they're collecting, but, if you're buying ballcards for investment rather than than fun...I'm laughing with you, not at you

[Jdoggs]

Originally Posted by Leon

That is always a risk. I suggest diversifying .

I agree diversifying is the smart thing to do!

[bbcard1]

I've been going through my cards...I've probably sorted 50,000 or more in preparation for a donation...they are mostly cards from 1975 and up. Kind of fully looking at the stuff that used to for sell for a buck or so...especially the 80s stuff... that you literally have to give away now. It's all good. No one times that to on everything and if you play consistently and year after year, you'll do ok.

[Snapolit1]

I'm not sure anyone should be laughing at someone knowlgeable buying the right vintage cards for investment purposes. As part of a diversified portfolio of course. People who bough a Ruth rookie card, or a high grade 52 Mantle, or a PSA 9 Goudey Ruth or Gehrig 3, 5, 7, 10 years ago look like they are doing pretty well from where I'm sitting. On a lesser scale, I traded off a few fairly rare vintage cards I bought last year and cleared about 30%. Not technically for investment purposes, but not sure where else I could have gotten that return.

[Exhibitman]

I went through some of the junk wax era cards I had in boxes and decided to keep some of the more interesting ones because I am a collector. They may not have any investment value but damn, they are some good looking cards.