WKV Ebay purchase

Just "won" auction on Ebay for WKV. The seller wants me to send the funds directly to him, not to escrow. His name is Dan Anderson. Does this sound right?

Absolutely NOT! All funds must go through a licensed professional closing/escrow company and traditionally you, the buyer, should choose and pay for it. If the seller refuses, you should run, not walk away from this deal!

BTW - this is something you should have clarified before bidding....

Remember that ebay TS auctions are NOT binding, so if this deal turns out to be hinky, you can walk away with no penalties.

I just looked at the auction, and it states that the $$$ will be paid to a title company and it states a fee of $435 that must be for the title company?

Here is what you need to know. At the end of this auction the following will be due;

The winning bid amount + your resort maintenance fees for 2010 ($752.65) + $435 to pay the title company to transfer the deed into your name. Please do not bid on this auction unless you are willing and able to immediatlely pay for this entire amount. Full payment is due by Dec 24th. Paypal will not be accepted on this particular auction. Payment is due via certified check or money order only. The process of transferring the title into your name will not begin until payment is received.

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Sorry Denise, I revised because I didn't see the quoted part of your post. I do think the owner wants the funds up front.

thinze3 said:

Sorry Denise, I revised because I didn't see the quoted part of your post. I do think the owner wants the funds up front.

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So his Ad says one thing and his emails say another?

first class, ... Do not panic. Do not send funds to Dan Anderson.

Even according to the terms on eBay, you do not have to get any money to anyone until December 24.

One, let Dan Anderson know that you know that the eBay auction is not a contract according to eBay's policies. But, reassure him that if the closing can be straightened out you intend to quickly complete the purchase for the auction price.

Two, find who the title company (name, address, contact name and phone number) is that he wants to use and agree to send the funds directly to that place - if it is a licensed, bonded title company.

Three, ask the seller to send you a copy of the estoppel letter issued by WKV when he sends you any agreement to sign and a copy of the deed. The estoppel letter tells you many useful things - like the name of the current owner of the week (it should show as Dan Anderson), any MFs due and the exact unit and use week for the unit number. The estoppel letter is issued by Jose Pagan in Starwood's Title Services Department. Jose's information is:

Jose Pagan, Starwood Vacation Ownership, Title Coordinator
jose.pagan@starwoodvo.com.
Phone 1-800-729-8246 ext. 62291
Fax 1-407-418-7211
Email to send recorded deeds to - 00SVO-TitleChanges@starwoodvo.com

Do not expect Jose Pagan to send you an estoppel letter. Until he gets a recorded deed with your name on it for the particular unit and week, you are a "stranger" to title and he won't tell you much - if anything. The seller can talk to him, though. It's his job to keep records concerning the current owner.

Four, call the title company and say that you want to set up an escrow closing for the property with escrow instructions that the recording fees can be paid, but nothing else is removed from the escrow until the recorded deed is returned and sent to Jose and Jose has changed the records of the association to show you as the new owner. If the title company gives you an assurance by email, print and save it.

Five, send the money directly to the title company with a copy of the cover letter to Dan Anderson. In the cover letter mention the instructions to the escrow and what the instructions require.

Six, when Anderson gets you an estoppel letter from Jose, compare the agreement for deed (if any) or the copy of the deed to be recorded and the estoppel letter to see if they match exactly.

Seven, wait. But you can Google the Recorder of Deeds for Maricopa and run a name search on Dan Anderson and yourself to see what is recorded. It takes a few days after recording for the recorded deed to get back to the title company. (You can also do that search concerning the property right now to see what liens and mortgages might be recorded against the property.)

Eight, make sure that the recorded deed has been sent to Jose. Remind the title company that it is not supposed to disburse until he chagnes the association records. If the deed has been recorded and sent to Jose, it is then OK to call Jose yourself to see how long it will take (not long).

Be wary in dealing with people who have no lengthy record of selling on eBay. But, you have a start on a good deal and should try to get this deal done. You might also consider title insurance for your ownership. It should cost about $300. Only you know if you want to spend the extra money.

When Jose changes the records you are good to go! Good luck and enjoy your stays at WKV - or elsewhere. ... eom

jarta - Excellent response. I am currently closing on a timeshare I purchased on e-bay, so I appreciate this valuable information.

One more thing - you can expedite the transfer of ownership with Starwood by FAXing or emailing the recorded deed yourself, to the number/email posted above, as soon as you receive it.

Great info Jarta!

Many thanks to all of you for the info you provide. I just won my first timeshare unit on Ebay as well and I couldn’t have done it without all of the help I was given on this site! :whoopie:

Cybernaut303 is the seller; they have great feedback and have sold many units on Ebay. However, the process they use does not exactly follow the steps above. They have an online step by step process with Timeshare Closing Services, Inc. On the website, it states the unit in detail, then it asks for my information, then I’m supposed to make payment and then e-documents will be sent to me and the closing process will begin.

The seller seems reputable, but I want to make sure I’m covering my basis. Has anyone been through this process before?? Any suggestions would be much appreciated....

The main thing I want to make sure is that I get exactly what is listed in the ebay auction (I believe it’s a true platinum SDO) and I also want to be sure that there are no hidden problems with the title.

Thanks again and happy holidays!!

Scott

longboarder, ... I bought a Bella unit from laman34 on eBay last fall. He/she used Timeshare Closing Services as the closing company.

I asked for a copy of the estoppel letter and, upon receipt, paid with PayPal and used the online form to give my information. I heard nothing back. One week later I called the closing company and asked about my closing. I was told that the recorded deed had already been filed and returned to them that morning. It appears that Orange County, where SVV Bella is located, allows timeshare deeds to be recorded quite efficiently.

When I got the recorded deed in the mail about 2 days later, it matched everything exactly. Jose had the Bella unit in my account at mystarcentral less than 2 weeks after I won the auction.

For newbies, the new transfer system is a little scary. For me and the unit I purchased, it worked just fine.

But, I'm an attorney and know the buttons to push to get things done if there are problems. Most first-time purchasers do not. So, I posted the safest, most established way to get things done.

Even under this new system, I'd still ask for the estoppel letter and send the money through PayPal or directly to the closing company and follow up with a phone call to see if it arrived. Also, do not be afraid to use eBay to contact the seller whenever you have a question. I have found most sellers to respond quickly. Build bridges and keep communication open. Good luck. ... eom

I have also bought a couple units from this seller cybernaut and its associates, including a SDO unit and wkv. I asked for estoppel letter first. after I verify the details, I paid using their online system with a credit card. Closing usually completed within 3-4 wk.
I just wish I have the foresight to buy a true platinum SDO rather than a float 1-52 unit.

first class said:

Just "won" auction on Ebay for WKV. The seller wants me to send the funds directly to him, not to escrow. His name is Dan Anderson. Does this sound right?

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Another good example of how Buyers can benefit by using a broker.

BUMMER!!

Thought I had a True Platinum SDO 1-52 as listed in the ebay discription, but when the Estoppel Letter came it showed a Gold Season. They caught it before they sent me the letter and appoligized. Needless to say the hunt is back on....man $832 for a 2BR EY True Plat SDO...I really thought I had scored!

Oh well, I'm just glad I caught it with you guy's help!!

Thanks!!

longboarder39 said:

BUMMER!!

Thought I had a True Platinum SDO 1-52 as listed in the ebay discription, but when the Estoppel Letter came it showed a Gold Season. They caught it before they sent me the letter and appoligized. Needless to say the hunt is back on....man $832 for a 2BR EY True Plat SDO...I really thought I had scored!

Oh well, I'm just glad I caught it with you guy's help!!

Thanks!!

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Are the days gone where there was a little due-diligence before advertising something for sale. Good grief.

longboarder39 said:

BUMMER!!

Thought I had a True Platinum SDO 1-52 as listed in the ebay discription, but when the Estoppel Letter came it showed a Gold Season. They caught it before they sent me the letter and appoligized. Needless to say the hunt is back on....man $832 for a 2BR EY True Plat SDO...I really thought I had scored!

Oh well, I'm just glad I caught it with you guy's help!!

Thanks!!

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I assume this was the auction?

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-BR-Lockoff-5-...dZViewItemQQptZTimeshares?hash=item4838aa88c7

Deeded week 48 definitely wouldn't be a true plat (1-21, 50-52 float), but I guess you meant that you thought it was a 1-52 float?

Glorian

grgs said:

I assume this was the auction?

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-BR-Lockoff-5-...dZViewItemQQptZTimeshares?hash=item4838aa88c7

Deeded week 48 definitely wouldn't be a true plat (1-21, 50-52 float), but I guess you meant that you thought it was a 1-52 float?

Glorian

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I was going by the unit number and the fact that it was supposed to be 1-52...I'm a newbie but I thought if it was a 1-52 and had a unit number listed as true platinum (company 49) deeded unit should be: 1064, 1072,
1081-1100, 2064, 2072, 2081- 2100, 3064-3072, and
3081-3100....then it was a true plat, I did not know the deeded week was a factor as well. Thanks!

A true Plat week and a floating 1-52 week are not the same thing.

The week #49 on the deed of the week you referenced is only for recording purposes. I own a 1-52 floating week at SDO and it is deeded as week 51, but it's not a Plat week.

A true Plat week has a season, and can only be reserved during weeks 1-21, and 50-52.

True Plat weeks usually sell for more because they have a higher designated trade value in II, and if requalified, they have more Staroptions, than a floating week.

Thanks for the info...I guess I was confused from this previous post.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88467

Company 49 refers to weeks sold by Starwood.

Company 47 refers to weeks sold by the Embassy, before Starwood bought them.

DeniseM said:

Company 49 refers to weeks sold by Starwood.

Company 47 refers to weeks sold by the Embassy, before Starwood bought them.

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I understand, the unit I won was listed as a platium season with unit numbers (1089-90) which is on the list of company 49 units that were showed to be TRUE PLAT on previous post I was referring to.

That is why I was confused...

longboarder39 said:

I understand, the unit I won was listed as a platium season with unit numbers (1089-90) which is on the list of company 49 units that were showed to be TRUE PLAT on previous post I was referring to.

That is why I was confused...

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I can see why you were confused. That prior thread should have indicated that True Plat would only refer to those unit numbers with weeks deeded 1-21 & 50-52. Otherwise, they could be "True Gold" or "True Silver" depending on the deeded week.

The e-bay ads often refer to 1-52 float units as "platinum" which only further confuses things.

Glorian

That's what makes this site so great...there's always something new to learn...thanks to all!

Happy Holidays,

Scott

grgs said:

I can see why you were confused. That prior thread should have indicated that True Plat would only refer to those unit numbers with weeks deeded 1-21 & 50-52. Otherwise, they could be "True Gold" or "True Silver" depending on the deeded week.

The e-bay ads often refer to 1-52 float units as "platinum" which only further confuses things.

Glorian

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Good point - I'm going to add that to the original post!

Sorry to take this thread a little off track....but I asked the ebay seller I referred to above to sell me the next SDO, 2BR L/O 1-52 EY they come across for my winning bid of $832 and they agreed. By the way, I want to say they have given great customer service to this point, withstanding the messed up listing of course.

Even though it's not a "True Plat" and considering the recent changes with II....it still seems like a great deal....any thoughts??

Thanks!
Scott