Used GA aircraft Prices

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MFF25

Filing Flight Plan
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MFF25
It has been a while since I have seen a discussion on used aircraft pricing on here. Any opinions on if they are trending down and thoughts on where they are headed in the near future? Is there any kind of database where you can see sale prices to compare comps? I am hearing that the delta between listing and sale prices is expanding. How do people usually account for at or over TBO listings? For example if a low time engine C-150 is worth $45K-$50K. If a C-150 is listed for $40K at TBO and you subtract the $30K for overhaul off of the value of a low time example that $40K asking price is now $20K ($50K-$30K=$20K). I would think a 50% offer would not even be considered.

Anyway, just curious to see what other peoples thoughts are on where the market is and where it is headed.
 
www.pilotsofamerica.com

I’m calling the peak

Just for fun, I’m calling the peak of plane pricing as of today. Interest rates going up, fuel skyrocketing, plane prices themselves having spiked, war. I’m calling it. I’ve noticed a number of peak-of-the-market planes have been sitting on the market and lowering their prices. What do you think?
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com
 
There’s a ton of factors, when an airplane is cheap like this, I don’t think the engine plays as much consideration price wise compared to something like a twin engine.

How often is it flown, who did the last overhaul and when, how about the cylinders and other items, condition etc.

The seller is trying to get a high price so he’s frankly not interested in selling. No point to try to offer 50% under.
 
You get what you pay for,you really can’t use generalizations,you need to see the plane, a look at the logs is a good place to start.
 
We're probably never going to go back to preCOVID prices and if the value of the Dollar goes down much more we'll actually see prices raise as there's a global market for GA planes. Anything that can be used as a light trainer is going to command a premium because flight schools are still seeing high enrollment. To get a bargain on a GOOD 150/172/PA-28 there's going to have to be a lot furloughed pilots coincided with a global economic down turn. I was regularly seeing airworthy 150s from $15K-25K and $30K was buying something pretty nice in 2020; currently $30K seems to be the bottom of the market. I think you'd be doing really well to get 20% off in negotiations, 50%? Forget about it.

CESSNA 150 - For Sale - planephd.com

CESSNA 150 - For Sale
planephd.com planephd.com

Over the weekend I was at the airport and there was a get together of some of the local aircraft owners and my Girlfriend asked "Why are they all so old"? I'd say not a single one of the attendees were under 70. As these guys start losing their medicals or going to their great reward you'll start seeing the marketplace get crowded and prices will come down if there's not enough demand. Probably not going to get a deal on a 150 anytime soon but an Ercoupe, TriPacer or Stinson? Probably.
 
Rogue_Ryder said:
Over the weekend I was at the airport and there was a get together of some of the local aircraft owners and my Girlfriend asked "Why are they all so old"? I'd say not a single one of the attendees were under 70. As these guys start losing their medicals or going to their great reward you'll start seeing the marketplace get crowded and prices will come down if there's not enough demand. Probably not going to get a deal on a 150 anytime soon but an Ercoupe, TriPacer or Stinson? Probably.
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I'm not so sure airport gatherings are a good indicator. In our two rows of recently built T-hangars, most are younger than me (60) and fly their Bo's / Mooney's / not-trainer Piper and Cessna's pretty regularly. Do they socialize at the airport? Not so much, pretty much arrive, fly, and leave. They probably have businesses and families and other things to attend to.
 
I got back into flying about 16 years ago - after a 37 year hiatus. Decided to go the easy route ANF fly as a Sport Pilot. I bought an Ercoupe for $25K. Six years later there was a shift in the matrix and I decided to sell. I got $25K from the first person who looked at it (paid in actual cash). That was 10 years ago - so three months ago my wife suggested (since we are both now retired) that I should look for another airplane. I loved my 'Coupe so went shopping for another one. I bought one (400 miles away) for $25K. I was happy to find one that looked this nice for less than $35K. I now have it at an airport near home and successfully completed my Flight Review last week. I also have enough left in the budget to make it as near perfect as possible at the next Annual.
 
BaltimoreBill said:
I got back into flying about 16 years ago - after a 37 year hiatus. Decided to go the easy route ANF fly as a Sport Pilot. I bought an Ercoupe for $25K. Six years later there was a shift in the matrix and I decided to sell. I got $25K from the first person who looked at it (paid in actual cash). That was 10 years ago - so three months ago my wife suggested (since we are both now retired) that I should look for another airplane. I loved my 'Coupe so went shopping for another one. I bought one (400 miles away) for $25K. I was happy to find one that looked this nice for less than $35K. I now have it at an airport near home and successfully completed my Flight Review last week. I also have enough left in the budget to make it as near perfect as possible at the next Annual.
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Heck, I paid less than that for my baby Beech. ;)

The outrageous prices for used piston GA planes are mostly (not entirely) for popular Cessna and Piper models. Get away from those and some reasonable purchases can be found if you search for them.
 
StraightnLevel said:
We're one market drop away from seeing a price drop.

Hold cash ready to buy on sight, and wait for a event that creates a bunch of margin calls. Patience.....
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This is the scary part when the market is hot, you never know when the bottom is going to drop out. Probably the day after I buy a plane haha.

Prices do appear to be stabilizing, but it seems to be taking a little time for sellers to come back to earth on their expectations, particularly on planes that need overhauls or other significant work.
 
MFF25 said:
Prices do appear to be stabilizing, but it seems to be taking a little time for sellers to come back to earth on their expectations, particularly on planes that need overhauls or other significant work.
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I have a lot of systemically collected data that suggests sellers in many categories are not feeling great.

If you're interested in an aircraft and the price is the only sticking factor then make em an offer. Absolute worst they say is a strongly worded no.
 
I have bought two airplanes this year. 1978 PA-28-181 & 1981 C-172P. I bought some of the cheapest ones on the market. First one required ~$23k in work. Second one ~$95k in repair work. My advice. Don't buy the cheapest ones out there. HARD to find a "good deal" on airplanes these days. Also to consider... they are not making any more airplanes at a reasonable price for new. Look up a new Cessna 172, Piper Archer, Diamond, etc... so those older airplanes are still much less expensive and there are plenty of them and they still command high prices. I don't think airplane prices will go down unless there is a significant economic downturn, then people usually have bigger problems to worry about than buying an airplane. Few buyers in that type of market, you likely will not be in a stable enough economic position to justify buying one at that time. It's not a cheap asset to own.
 
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