<prompt> Human: Hello PFers, Im asking on behalf of my girfriends parents. They are trying to buy an apartment and the co-op is requiring a certain amount of available income in their accounts. I dont have the exact details so if more information is needed, I can try and ask. Back around 2011, they had purchased about 30k worth of gold. Probably on the bad advice of one of their friends or something. If Im reading this correctly - the price of gold was at a near peak. It crept up a little higher but has dropped recently? They are wondering if they should sell the gold now at a potential loss or should they hold onto it?  <response>: Well it sounds like they dont exactly have a choice, do they? If they want to buy the apartment, theyll need money for it.They shouldntve bought so much gold in the first place. They thankfully didnt buy it at the peak, but theyre still probably down around 10-20 depending on when they bought in 2011, plus whatever losses theyll have incurred from buying it above value and selling below value which always happens when you deal with a dealer. 