That is some great information and advice! Thanks very much. Would the estoppel documentation be information that the seller, or his representative would send me electronically? Is it basically a copy of the contract or the account showing that the timeshare is paid for and in good standing? I am sorry if the questions seem obvious, I am trying to learn as much as I can about the process. Even though I sat through several presentations, the details of how the process works is never discussed. They really only talk in generalities. That's why I thought that the site is my best bet to get detailed information and advice. Would it be appropriate to ask the broker to send me account status proof when the time comes?
Don't ever be sorry about the learning process, Coach --- we've all been there. People on this site will generally tell it like it is --- no one here is selling you anything and (...most, anyhow) have no hidden agenda.
Ideally, estoppel should originate from the resort or its' management company (and hopefully be on their own company letterhead), bear a reasonably current date and an authorized signature. How it gets relayed to you is up to you and the provider. It's usually just a single page, two at most. To be clear, estoppel is certainly no "be all and end all" document, but it will at least identify and verify unit / week, etc. details
and provide a moment in time "snapshot" of the owner account current status (even if the owner name and address is redacted by a reseller, as very often occurs --- reseller may fear getting "aced out" of the transaction entirely if they're selling under a PoA and you were able to learn the owner identity and then maybe attempt to take the transaction private).
This time of year, the
date of an estoppel is relevant and important, since you want to verify as potential buyer whether or not the 2017 maintenance fees have been paid yet if the seller is "uncertain" (or evasive) about that detail. An estoppel prepared in December, 2016 (or earlier) for example, won't likely reflect 2017 fees status, since bills would only have just recently been issued back then and not yet due.
Some eBay resellers simply won't offer or provide estoppel documentation at all, or will self-prepare a lame "in house" substitute of their own creation, which plainly just doesn't cut it. Personally, I don't and won't do timeshare business with eBay resellers at all anyhow, but YMMV.
If you end up considering buying through a broker, it would
absolutely be appropriate to ask for a
current estoppel. Some resellers will moan and groan that the resort charges money for estoppel issuance (...and yes, many do). However, if it's a timeshare that you really and truly want and they don't
already have a current estoppel on hand to show you, tell them to
get one, show you dated proof of their cost in obtaining it and add the (typically $50 -$100) cost onto your closing costs, but make it clear that you want to see it, one way or another. It should be
their "cost of doing business" IMnsHO, but not all see it that way. If someone outright refuses to provide estoppel, I'd really be wondering why...
