This was brought up earlier on the forum, buying a 150 with mid time engine, say 1200 hrs or so, then you fly it for 400 hrs and figure on selling it, you won't get anywhere near what you paid for it because the next buyer knows it only has a couple hundred to go till TBO.
Excellent point, Brian, and I think another place where a lot of buyers go wrong! You simply can't expect to buy any plane at any fair price, fly it for a few hundred hours, and get your "investment" back out of it! I see it often on the forum: "I'd like to buy, but I'm afraid I can't get my money back when I sell!"
Getting our money back or "investing" is NOT why we buy airplanes! Flying is a hobby for most of us, not a business. Hobbie's cost money! You will very likely suffer a loss when you sell. We buy airplanes because if you're going to fly, you're going to pay somebody for the use of a plane. Don't think the owner hasn't figured in every cent of his overhead costs, including his original purchase, all modifications, maintenance, hangar rent, tiedown fees, insurance, profit margin, overhual costs, DEPRECIATION... everything! If you're going to pay somebody, pay yourself! Sure, it still cost's you something to fly, but not nearly what it cost to rent,
if you did your homework before you bought, and realize that
no upgrade will return a profit later! You save only the difference in your actual costs and rental costs. You never make a dime unless you find a lollipop (a really big sucker!)
You buy because of the savings, not because of any perceived "investment" that might yield a financial return! The only returns are in your pride of ownership and the enjoyment of flight.
