Investing: Shanghai Fever

The city's real estate is booming. But this time around, I may not buy

The dumbest investment I ever made was to buy an apartment in Manhattan in the late '80s.  Prices were soaring, and it seemed like an effortless way to get rich, so my brother and I pooled our money and bought a place for $327,000. Within 18 months, the market tanked and the apartment's value plunged by a third. By then our tenant--who turned out to be a coke-snorting stripper--had stopped paying rent. When I threatened to change the locks, she whacked me on the head with her handbag and warned, "I know people in this town, and you're going to end...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!