Total Amount of shares at end of 1999: 446.04 shares.

Total Amount of shares at end of 2000: 463.82 shares.

Total Amount of shares at end of 2001: 474.47 shares.

Total Amount of shares at end of 2002: 490.23 shares.

Total Amount of shares at end of 2003: 512.60 shares.

Total Amount of shares as of April 1, 2004: 522.23 shares.

On April 1, 2004 Comerica closed at $54.65, for total market value of $28,539.87 for 522.23 shares of stock. To put total $28,539.87 into perspective, an interest rate of 15 percent a year on $3,333.34, compounded annually for fourteen and a quarter years would return $28,282.15.

Since this excerpt from my book Comerica has raised their dividend again, from 52 cents a share per quarter, to current 55 cents a share per quarter, payable to shareholders of record on March 15, 2005.

I own Comerica stock and I have no intention of ever taking a profit! I will continue being a buyer, as long as company continues its program of raising their dividend every year.

However, I also understand that in stock market there are no guarantees! It is for this reason and this reason alone, that diversity is a necessity. If I knew for certain that CMA would continue its program of raising their dividend every year, and that next 14 years would provide better than 15 percent return on my money, I would only own CMA stock. It is because of this ‘risk of no guarantees’ in stock market that rewards for investing in stock market are much higher than a passbook savings account, CD’s or Bonds.

So, to beat ‘risk of no guarantees’, and to reap benefits of a better return, I diversify into other companies with same historical performance. Through a systematic approach of dollar-cost averaging into my stock positions every quarter, along with my quarterly dividend reinvestment, I increase amount of dividends paid to me each quarter, from every company that I own. My measurement for success in stock market is not measured by amount my portfolio is worth. It is measured by amount of ever-increasing cash dividends received from every stock that I own. As a matter of fact, when my portfolio dips in net-worth, my dividend income accelerates. The reason for this is simple. The lower my port- folio’s net-worth, higher dividend yields of stocks in my portfolio.

All my personal holdings in stock market have same basic theme. They are all purchased commission-free, have a long-term history of raising their dividend every year, and are purchased with intent of supplying ever-increasing dividend income for my retirement years. The Stockopoly Plan was written with this purpose or goal in mind. The Plan itself uses a timing approach for purchases of more shares each quarter, along with dividend reinvestments.

For more excerpts from book ‘The Stockopoly Plan – Investing for Retirement’ visit: http://www.thestockopolyplan.com

It's true that a mobile home on land might appreciate more slowly than a "regular" house, but faster loan pay-down probably more than covers this factor. If you also chose to bank difference in payments ($235.61 per month), you'd definitely be better off financially with mobile home versus more expensive home.

Pay less per month and build more equity! Don't expect your real estate agent to tell you this. Don't expect him to even agree with me after you explain it. I sold real estate years ago, and math skills were not part of licensing requirements.

Mobile Homes For Sale; Other Advantages

Mobile homes are cheaper to maintain. Years ago I had a mobile home as a rental, and furnace in it died. This is most expensive repair you'll have in a mobile. I had to replace it for $1,200, but that was still less than a furnace for a larger home. Consider that for $200 you can tar roof of your home, or $30 if you do it yourself, instead of $5,000 to re-shingle a traditional roof. The windows, plumbing, doors - all cheaper.

Property taxes will cost less, because they're based on value of property, and mobile homes for sale on land have lower value than stick-built houses. Insurance may cost less too, again because you are insuring less value. The only precaution to remember here is to be sure you can get insurance. Very old mobiles may be uninsurable in some areas.

Should You Buy A Mobile Home?

Don't buy a mobile home if prices for houses in area are just as low. Believe it or not, this is case in some areas. We bought a house near Butte, Montana for $17,500 - less than mobile homes for sale there (See a photo on our site www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com. Houses do generally hold up better. Then there are issues of whether your own needs and predjudices will let you be comfortable in a mobile home. They are sometimes for sale in areas you don't want to live in (Certainly true of houses as well). These are personal things you have to consider.

The advantages are clear for many young people starting out. It may be their only option. It may be your better option. Besides a lower initial price, you get simpler, cheaper maintainance, lower monthly payments, less property tax, less for insurance, and faster equity build-up. So don't automatically pass on those mobile homes for sale when you're out home-hunting.