down the road resale

[Rob]

Does anyone have experience with the resale value of a homebuilt.

Lets say I build an RV-7 or Lancair ES, fly it for ten years and then decide
to retire to a condo in FL (yeech).

Could I expect to sell a used experimental aircraft for the same amount of
cash I spent on construction?

kleindoc

[Jim Vadek]

"Rob" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone have experience with the resale value of a homebuilt.
>
> Lets say I build an RV-7 or Lancair ES, fly it for ten years and then
decide
> to retire to a condo in FL (yeech).
>
> Could I expect to sell a used experimental aircraft for the same amount of
> cash I spent on construction?

Not if I was buying it.

[John Ammeter]

On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 01:35:42 GMT, "Rob"
> wrote:

>Does anyone have experience with the resale value of a homebuilt.
>
>Lets say I build an RV-7 or Lancair ES, fly it for ten years and then decide
>to retire to a condo in FL (yeech).
>
>Could I expect to sell a used experimental aircraft for the same amount of
>cash I spent on construction?
>
>kleindoc
>

I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
$45,000....

John

[Bob Kuykendall]

Earlier, John Ammeter > wrote:

> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
> $45,000....

This raises a good point about the RVs: They are one of the few
homebuilt types to consistently command prices for finished aircraft
that are greater than the cost of the kit or materials plus engine and
components. So if resale value is one of your essential criteria, one
of the RVs is often your best bet.

Bob K.

[Richard]

On 25 Sep 2003 08:51:45 -0700, (Bob Kuykendall)
wrote:

:Earlier, John Ammeter > wrote:
:
:> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
:> $45,000....
:
:This raises a good point about the RVs: They are one of the few
:homebuilt types to consistently command prices for finished aircraft
:that are greater than the cost of the kit or materials plus engine and
:components. So if resale value is one of your essential criteria, one
:of the RVs is often your best bet.
:
:Bob K.

Especially if it's the latest model (or close to it).

The price of the RV4 dropped sharply after used RV8s started showing
up on the market. If you built an RV10 it would probably retain it's
value for 5 years or more.

[Jim Vadek]

"Bob Kuykendall" > wrote in message
om...
> Earlier, John Ammeter > wrote:
>
> > I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
> > $45,000....
>
> This raises a good point about the RVs: They are one of the few
> homebuilt types to consistently command prices for finished aircraft
> that are greater than the cost of the kit or materials plus engine and
> components. So if resale value is one of your essential criteria, one
> of the RVs is often your best bet.

Not really. The original poster wanted to keep and fly the airplane for 10
years. It can be done with a new RV, if the workmanship is good on the
airplane.

[Jerry Springer]

Richard wrote:
> On 25 Sep 2003 08:51:45 -0700, (Bob Kuykendall)
> wrote:
>
> :Earlier, John Ammeter > wrote:
> :
> :> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
> :> $45,000....
> :
> :This raises a good point about the RVs: They are one of the few
> :homebuilt types to consistently command prices for finished aircraft
> :that are greater than the cost of the kit or materials plus engine and
> :components. So if resale value is one of your essential criteria, one
> :of the RVs is often your best bet.
> :
> :Bob K.
>
> Especially if it's the latest model (or close to it).
>

NOT TRUE my RV-6 is almost 15 years old and is still worth twice what I
built it for. I know of an RV-6A that just sold for more than $80,000
and was nothing really special. All the response I see to this are from
people that do not or are not around the RV crowd. A friend not to long
ago paid $40,000 for a plain Jane RV-4 that was built in 1986 and has
offers for it at that price when he gets his Rocket flying.

[Byron Miller]

"John Ammeter" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 25 Sep 2003 01:35:42 GMT, "Rob"
> > wrote:

> >Could I expect to sell a used experimental aircraft for the same amount
of
> >cash I spent on construction?
> >
> >kleindoc
> >
>
> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
> $45,000....


Not bad, although i would expect more for the 2-3 years of work it
potentially takes to build it. Not to mention the cost of tooling,
hangering, building area and whatnot.

Aviation is a cost no matter how you think you justify it! I'm sure you
spent more than the difference of construction costs and sale price in
maintaning, supporting and even more flying the aircraft!

I guess my point is i wouldn't bet on building an aircraft in the hopes of
resell value. There are better gambles for your money :)

[Barnyard BOb --]

Byron Miller wrote:

>> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
>> $45,000....
>
>
>Not bad, although i would expect more for the 2-3 years of work it
>potentially takes to build it. Not to mention the cost of tooling,
>hangering, building area and whatnot.
>
>Aviation is a cost no matter how you think you justify it! I'm sure you
>spent more than the difference of construction costs and sale price in
>maintaning, supporting and even more flying the aircraft!
>
>I guess my point is i wouldn't bet on building an aircraft in the hopes of
>resell value. There are better gambles for your money :)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When you get your head right.....
You'll be very happy to subsidize your flying hobby with
$19,000 instead of selling for the original cost of parts
or possibly even less.

If money is the object....
Work overtime at your day job and
buy, not build, a homebuilt slug with
no resale value.


Barnyard BOb -- over 50 years of flight

[kleindoc]

Yes Bob,

I already know that flying is an expensive hobby. And I'd not expect to
make a profit at the back end.

I only wanted to know whether any portion of my investment would be
salvaged in the end. Of course I'm not including money spent flying,
storage, traveling, maintaining and fixing while I'm using the plane.

I guess the consensus of the group is that IF the construction is
quality, so long as I buy a good kit like an up-to-date RV, I would get
something out of it when it is finally time to sell.

Thanks to all who responded.

kleindoc

"Barnyard BOb --" > wrote in message
...
>
> Byron Miller wrote:
>
> >> I built an RV-6 for about $26,000 and later sold it for
> >> $45,000....
> >
> >
> >Not bad, although i would expect more for the 2-3 years of work it
> >potentially takes to build it. Not to mention the cost of tooling,
> >hangering, building area and whatnot.
> >
> >Aviation is a cost no matter how you think you justify it! I'm sure you
> >spent more than the difference of construction costs and sale price in
> >maintaning, supporting and even more flying the aircraft!
> >
> >I guess my point is i wouldn't bet on building an aircraft in the hopes
of
> >resell value. There are better gambles for your money :)
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
>
> When you get your head right.....
> You'll be very happy to subsidize your flying hobby with
> $19,000 instead of selling for the original cost of parts
> or possibly even less.
>
> If money is the object....
> Work overtime at your day job and
> buy, not build, a homebuilt slug with
> no resale value.
>
>
> Barnyard BOb -- over 50 years of flight
>

[Barnyard BOb --]

> I already know that flying is an expensive hobby. And I'd not expect to
>make a profit at the back end.
>
> I only wanted to know whether any portion of my investment would be
>salvaged in the end. Of course I'm not including money spent flying,
>storage, traveling, maintaining and fixing while I'm using the plane.
>
> I guess the consensus of the group is that IF the construction is
>quality, so long as I buy a good kit like an up-to-date RV, I would get
>something out of it when it is finally time to sell.
>
> Thanks to all who responded.
>
>kleindoc
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's all a matter of the right plane, perspective...
owner maintenance and a bit of rationalization. <g>

FWIW....

My car depreciates.
My plane appreciates.

Full coverage insurance on my $9000 car is nearly $800.
Full coverage insurance on my $31000 plane is nearly $800.

Mogas for my car and plane are... the same.

My mini-pickup truck gets 25 mpg at 65 mph.
My plane gets 25 mpg at 170 mph.

Hangar rent has been $90 month.
Garage cost for car probably equals that.

Plane and car maintenance costs to date are similar.
Annual on plane is usually an additional $250.
Aviation oil is twice the price of auto oil, but that's
only $25 a year more than for the truck.

When everything is said and done... my kind of flying costs me
little or no more than any one of the cars and trucks that I own.

Barnyard BOb -- over 500 RV3 hours