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Most investments are not too difficult to understand but the changes are most often emotional rather than logical. The housing market is different because a property is only worth what a buyer is willing to pay and a seller is willing to accept. It is considered illiquid because it can take a long time to sell a property if there is no willing buyer. Your condo may have originally sold for $265,000 but someone suffered a loss if you were not willing to pay more than $150,000.
If you check the figures, you will discover that your savings could have increased 7 - 10 percent had you sub-divided your savings into several segments including a couple of Exchange Traded Funds [ETF] in the last 12 months. Yes, you need an emergency fund but it needn't all be liquid as it takes only 3 business days from Sell order to $$$ in your linked chequeing account.
Until you become more familiar with equities [stocks] or income [bond] you could invest in a good Index Mutual Fund [MF] like Vanguard who have low fees and a good reputation. MFs are flexible, you can add to the investment, transfer or even cash it out to invest in something else.
Please understand that you needn't remain in a specific investment forever. I'm not a fan of Lifecycle funds as they seem to only benefit the salesmen who collect commissions and fees for the whole time you own the product. Before committing, ask the sales rep how they protected their client's during the 9/2008 - 2/2010 bust. How much value was lost during that particular time.
You can look at some possibilities and discuss choices with others who are experienced and knowledgeable on this site.
If you check the figures, you will discover that your savings could have increased 7 - 10 percent had you sub-divided your savings into several segments including a couple of Exchange Traded Funds [ETF] in the last 12 months. Yes, you need an emergency fund but it needn't all be liquid as it takes only 3 business days from Sell order to $$$ in your linked chequeing account.
Until you become more familiar with equities [stocks] or income [bond] you could invest in a good Index Mutual Fund [MF] like Vanguard who have low fees and a good reputation. MFs are flexible, you can add to the investment, transfer or even cash it out to invest in something else.
Please understand that you needn't remain in a specific investment forever. I'm not a fan of Lifecycle funds as they seem to only benefit the salesmen who collect commissions and fees for the whole time you own the product. Before committing, ask the sales rep how they protected their client's during the 9/2008 - 2/2010 bust. How much value was lost during that particular time.
You can look at some possibilities and discuss choices with others who are experienced and knowledgeable on this site.
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