Hello Jesse and Mel, :)

> Any thoughts on solid, short-term investment
> vehicles, with the lousy state of the market
> these days?

Jesse, I can share with you what I know.... Give me a bit of time to get my thoughts together on this....

However, what I know about BEST are long term-type investments, a "buy and hold" type of strategy, like Warren Buffett uses.

But, I know there are also ways to get short-term knowledge too -- probably the most solid short-term approach (which is still legal) is to look for possible takeover targets! I know some people make regular money doing this ... but it sure must help to have connections to do things this way.

> My dilemma is that I want to buy a house
> within 1-2 years, and want to make a
> significant down payment to minimize or even
> eliminate the amount that will have high
> interest payments applied. So I don't want
> to tie up my money in mutual funds and the
> like.

One of the things I LOVE about stocks is the liquidity! As soon as you want the money for something else, you can sell immediately. I love the flexibility.... :)

> But I know that my current approach of just
> putting the funds in a money market account
> is hardly a high leverage activity (shame on
> me! :).

> Normally CD's would make sense in this
> scenario, but the rates are so poor these
> days.

> Anyway, I'll conclude my rambling here, but
> I'd be extremely grateful for any wisdom or
> advice that any fine member of this board
> can bestow upon me!

Okay, Jesse, I'll write up a more detailed post on what I know.... Look for it probably later today.

- Dien