Investments can come in all shapes and sizes, so if you’re looking for a different way to get a decent return outside of the obvious mainstream options, there are a surprising number of unusual alternatives available.
Here are just a few of the investment opportunities that are off the beaten path, but still, promise to pay dividends in the long term.
Classic Supercars
In the past decade the number of people buying vintage vehicles as an investment, not just to fuel their passion for cars, has increased rapidly. When you look at the prices some models sell for, it’s easy to see why.
Recently a Ferrari 250 GTO smashed previous records by making £52 million at auction. And while there are lots of different automakers with high-value classic supercars available, it is this Italian brand that remains the most resilient in terms of value.
Private Number Plates
Personalized number plates are variously seen as being a must-have accessory or a bit self-indulgent. Irrespective of where you stand on this issue, you can’t overlook the fact that they can make a lot of money if you invest in one today.
Private plates can sell for a few hundred pounds, but end up making hundreds of thousands at auction in the future. Some ultra-exclusive plates can even boast valuations in the tens of millions.
Working out which number plates will appreciate in value the fastest is tricky, but there are some guidelines to follow. Choosing plates with popular initials, or which spells out a word, will be the best option. Sites like https://absolutereg.co.uk/ make it simple to search for plates that could become even more valuable in years to come.
Sought-After Stamps
Stamp collecting is another pastime that only used to appeal to enthusiasts, but has recently become an intriguing new investment option for people who are more interested in making money than preserving historic postage memorabilia.
Annual gains of less than three percent can be expected from an average vintage stamp, but examples from certain eras are netting more investment attention than others.
The 19th century, in particular, is a hotbed of valuable stamps, some of which offer double-digit returns. But you’ll need to do some research to make sure you’re snapping up a rarity.
Soybean Flour
Soy-based products are on the rise, with a wide variety of foodstuffs now taking advantage of the flour derived from this bean. Values have fluctuated in recent years, but the upward trend has been generally impressive and it shows no signs of slowing down at the moment.
It may not be the most glamorous of investment options, but there’s no doubt that soybean flour is an unusual and outlandish addition to any portfolio. It can be a little more volatile than the physical commodities covered so far, but the frequent leaps in value can make it a worthwhile risk to take.
Modern Art
The modern art era was boundary-pushing and controversial in many ways. And with all the revolutionary creations produced between the mid 19th century and the 1970s, there are hundreds of artists and thousands of works that are ripe for investment today.
One master whose pieces are continuing to accelerate in value at the moment is Marcel Duchamp, the man behind such provocative Dadaist pieces as Fountain. To most, it’s just a urinal, but to the lovers of the abstract scene, it is an invaluable icon.
Modern art, or indeed the recent works that have preceded it, will require investors to put up quite a bit of capital. But the returns can be significant, with some pieces quadrupling in value in the space of a year.
