Mandatory Resort for SVN

amanven · Aug 2, 2015

I have a 2BDR at SVR since 2008 that I bought resale. I am quite happy with the uses, exchanges and benefits obtained through membership in II (getaways and guest certificates) I have had since obtaining the property.

I have a friend who is considering purchasing an SVV 2BDR LO in the Mandatory Bella or Key West phases for the same purposes as I use mine ie: stays at SVV, exchanging for other resorts and using the benefits that come from an II membership. As I bought my SVR resale I can't really advise her very well as to whether the benefits of being able to access SVN make it worth paying the additional MF's and resale purchase price of SVV Key West or Bella Phases. Would there be any reasonable expectation of scoring a WSJ or WKORV with an SVV (assuming she has enough SO's) thru SVN should she choose to go to one of those properties. By comparison I have never gotten an WSJ thru II (and don't expect to either) but I have successfully exchanged each time I have requested to WKORV so do the benefits of SVN justify purchasing a mandatory phase of Vistana in Florida?

ThreeLittleBirds · Aug 2, 2015

Depends when she wants to go to WKORV. I used to have success trading into WKORV through II, but no luck the past 2 years. I was able to book this December using my SO's from my SVV, though. For other dates, 1 bedrooms seem to be somewhat available and studios are readily available.

I have peaked around at WSJ, and there are some dates available, but as I was not seriously looking, I don't remember the dates or unit size.

Sugarcubesea · Aug 2, 2015

ThreeLittleBirds said:
Depends when she wants to go to WKORV. I used to have success trading into WKORV through II, but no luck the past 2 years. I was able to book this December using my SO's from my SVV, though. For other dates, 1 bedrooms seem to be somewhat available and studios are readily available.

I have peaked around at WSJ, and there are some dates available, but as I was not seriously looking, I don't remember the dates or unit size.

I have an OGS for any day in 2016 and till July of 2017 for WSJ and after everyone's low success rate of trading into WKORV through II, I've given upon that idea

capjak · Aug 2, 2015

I think it is well worth it to have mandatory. You have more flexibility on dates including check in dates at WKORV/N, as well as the op to go to Harborside easier than II exchange and inclusion of banking/borrowing star options without having to use II.

I would advise her to buy Mandatory at least 81000 star options

amanven · Aug 2, 2015

capjak said:
I think it is well worth it to have mandatory. You have more flexibility on dates including check in dates at WKORV/N, as well as the op to go to Harborside easier than II exchange and inclusion of banking/borrowing star options without having to use II.

I would advise her to buy Mandatory at least 81000 star options

From an SVN SO perspective and taking into account the MF's that go with each one what would be better 1- 95700 SVV 2BDR LO, 2 SVV 2BDR's (2x81,000) or 1 1bdr+ 1 2bdr SVV(44,000 + 81,000)...all in red season?

DavidnRobin · Aug 2, 2015

Too many extrinsic factors to decide for someone else.
Me? the 2Bd LO SVV if I was forced to, but I would not buy in Orlando.
In Reality - I would buy WKV (Plat).

amanven · Aug 2, 2015

DavidnRobin said:
Too many extrinsic factors to decide for someone else.
Me? the 2Bd LO SVV if I was forced to, but I would not buy in Orlando.
In Reality - I would buy WKV (Plat).

WKV would probably be a good choice but I have read before on TUG not to buy if you don't intend to use the location you have bought. My friend would never go to Scottsdale (no offense to Scottsdale intended) but would be quite likely to go to Orlando when not exchanging for other SVN locations.
Is it really advisable to buy a resort in an area you won't likely ever be going to for the sole purpose of getting into SVN and knowing you would have to exchange it everytime for the destinations you really want. Have some TUG members done this?

YYJMSP · Aug 3, 2015

amanven said:
Is it really advisable to buy a resort in an area you won't likely ever be going to for the sole purpose of getting into SVN and knowing you would have to exchange it everytime for the destinations you really want. Have some TUG members done this?

We own at WLR and have never been there, and it's not high on our personal list of future travel destinations.

At the time, it was the least cost most SO's developer option. We bought it to use only for the points to go elsewhere. Same concept holds for a mandatory resale.

The risk is always that a property leaves SVN or the entire SVN system changes in a negative way or just ceases to exist, leaving you with ownership that you then have to use directly...

vacationtime1 · Aug 3, 2015

We own three WKV units; we have visited exactly once, and that was on an exchange.

WKV is simply the most cost/effective SVN trader in the system as long as purchased resale. MF's are relatively low and stable (1,414 two bedroom / $867 large one bedroom / $547 small one bedroom + SVN fee, regardless of season).

But the extra benefit of WKV is that if you don't use it or trade it, you can rent it for an economically rational profit. We have already rented our large side one bedroom week 2016 week for $2,400, at least $1,450 more than the likely MF for next year. So if SVN does get changed fundamentally, we still own something of value.

Ty1on · Aug 3, 2015

vacationtime1 said:
We own three WKV units; we have visited exactly once, and that was on an exchange.

WKV is simply the most cost/effective SVN trader in the system as long as purchased resale. MF's are relatively low and stable (1,414 two bedroom / $867 large one bedroom / $547 small one bedroom + SVN fee, regardless of season).

But the extra benefit of WKV is that if you don't use it or trade it, you can rent it for an economically rational profit. We have already rented our large side one bedroom week 2016 week for $2,400, at least $1,450 more than the likely MF for next year. So if SVN does get changed fundamentally, we still own something of value.

Wow. dollar signs are lighting up in my eyes.

What does SVN go for on the market, all-in?

capjak · Aug 3, 2015

capjak said:
I think it is well worth it to have mandatory. You have more flexibility on dates including check in dates at WKORV/N, as well as the op to go to Harborside easier than II exchange and inclusion of banking/borrowing star options without having to use II.

I would advise her to buy Mandatory at least 81000 star options

I bought the 2 bedroom 81000 Key West because I wanted the SOs for a 1 bedroom in Maui. A lock off would be nice for trading in II (but I do not use it for that).

Markus · Aug 3, 2015

My advice would be as follows.

If you want to be able to use II to exchange for 2 separate vacations I would buy the 2 bed lock off, as each piece can be used separately. In terms of SVN I think this is a good choice and I would look to a mandatory resort. The SVN fee is $130 and you should compare this to the II membership and exchange fees you would pay for a voluntary resort. In SVN you get first dibs on usage, even before II.

Also in terms of price, SVV is much less expensive upfront, and this may be important to you, even though the mfs are higher.

Ken555 · Aug 3, 2015

Markus said:
In SVN you get first dibs on usage, even before II.

No, II inventory is ostensibly from owners who deposit their week though SVN chooses which week and resort to use. SVN inventory is from weeks used for exchanges to other network resorts. It's a bit more complicated but that's the basic method...search TUG for much more detail on how this is done.

Sent from my iPad

LisaRex · Aug 3, 2015

Ty1on said:
Wow. dollar signs are lighting up in my eyes.

What does SVN go for on the market, all-in?

I presume you mean WKV. It goes for ~$17,000-20,000 + closing fees. However, there is one on Redweek right now for 148,100 SOs for $16,500.

Ty1on · Aug 3, 2015

LisaRex said:
I presume you mean WKV. It goes for ~$17,000-20,000 + closing fees. However, there is one on Redweek right now for 148,100 SOs for $16,500.

Yes I meant WKV, thanks!

DeniseM · Aug 3, 2015

As a side note - last week I deleted a post from a newbie asking if anyone wanted to give away a WKV 2 bd. Plat week…

Ken555 · Aug 3, 2015

DeniseM said:
As a side note - last week I deleted a post from a newbie asking if anyone wanted to give away a WKV 2 bd. Plat week…

Wow - that was probably a timeshare salesman looking for a good opportunity...

Sent from my iPad

suzannesimon · Aug 3, 2015

I love my Harborside weeks. The buy-in is cheap - $10,000 for a Platinum 3 bedroom. The maintenance fee is a nightmare, but I regularly rent them for $2500 over fees, and mine are Gold, not Platinum.

Ty1on · Aug 3, 2015

DeniseM said:
As a side note - last week I deleted a post from a newbie asking if anyone wanted to give away a WKV 2 bd. Plat week…

Thanks for the warning! :hi:

SMHarman · Aug 3, 2015

Ken555 said:
No, II inventory is ostensibly from owners who deposit their week though SVN chooses which week and resort to use. SVN inventory is from weeks used for exchanges to other network resorts. It's a bit more complicated but that's the basic method...search TUG for much more detail on how this is done.

Sent from my iPad

I'd put it that SVN is inventory not booked by the owners at the individual resort 8 mo out but same difference really.

I scorered 10 days early Feb in a 2 bed WSJ for 2016 with SO. It is not an impossible trade.

tomandrobin · Aug 7, 2015

amanven said:
WKV would probably be a good choice but I have read before on TUG not to buy if you don't intend to use the location you have bought. My friend would never go to Scottsdale (no offense to Scottsdale intended) but would be quite likely to go to Orlando when not exchanging for other SVN locations.
Is it really advisable to buy a resort in an area you won't likely ever be going to for the sole purpose of getting into SVN and knowing you would have to exchange it everytime for the destinations you really want. Have some TUG members done this?

We own two weeks at WKV and one week at Lagunamar. We have owned Kierland since 2003(?). We have never used our weeks at either resort.

Kierland has been my jack of all timeshares.....Great staroptions/mf/cost and excellent trader in II. We have gotten so much use from those units.....Atlantis, St John, Maui, Disney, Florida and Aruba.

tomandrobin · Aug 7, 2015

Another thing about the WKV and trading in II. A 2-bdroom unit breaks into two 1-bedroom units when you deposit in II. WKV is a very good II trader for Platinum weeks.

Ken555 · Aug 7, 2015

tomandrobin said:
Another thing about the WKV and trading in II. A 2-bdroom unit breaks into two 1-bedroom units when you deposit in II. WKV is a very good II trader for Platinum weeks.

Yeah, but...what a waste. You'll find the same, or very very similar, II exchange strength using other voluntary Starwood weeks. I would never use my WKV week in II and intend to always use it for its 148k StarOptions.

Sent from my iPad

okwiater · Aug 7, 2015

Ken555 said:
Yeah, but...what a waste. You'll find the same, or very very similar, II exchange strength using other voluntary Starwood weeks. I would never use my WKV week in II and intend to always use it for its 148k StarOptions.

It's not necessarily a waste unless you own a cheaper voluntary week that you can use instead. A hard-and-fast rule like only using WKV for its StarOptions makes no sense if, for instance, you can exchange each side of your WKV for a 2-bedroom in Hawaii. I have only ever owned Starwood weeks with StarOptions and as such usually utilize SVN for exchanges, but would never advocate "always" doing so. But I do get your point.

Ken555 · Aug 7, 2015

okwiater said:
It's not necessarily a waste unless you own a cheaper voluntary week that you can use instead. A hard-and-fast rule like only using WKV for its StarOptions makes no sense if, for instance, you can exchange each side of your WKV for a 2-bedroom in Hawaii. I have only ever owned Starwood weeks with StarOptions and as such usually utilize SVN for exchanges, but would never advocate "always" doing so. But I do get your point.

Thanks for agreeing with me.

Sent from my iPad

Mandatory Resort for SVN

amanven

ThreeLittleBirds

Sugarcubesea

TUG Review Crew

capjak

amanven

DavidnRobin

amanven

YYJMSP

vacationtime1

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Ty1on

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capjak

Markus

Ken555

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LisaRex

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Ty1on

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DeniseM

Ken555

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suzannesimon

Ty1on

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SMHarman

tomandrobin

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okwiater

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