[2006] SVO Resale: Yes you can requalify/retro [MERGED]

[duke]

Please Re-read the first post and the steps necessary to do a requalification:

1. You need to purchase the resale first and get it transferred.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY:

2. YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN (or Telephone) AT AN SVO SALES OFFICE AND BE READY TO MAKE A DEVELOPER PURCHASE. Phone calls, questions, discussions in advance DO NOT WORK! Their answers will be inconsistant and unreliable.

You need to be ready to make a deal to get the deal you want with requalification.

In addition you can get:

1. Waive closing costs
2. Additional starpoint incentives over those offered to everyone else.

Read the DavidandRobin post on how they did it a few months ago.

PS: My recommendation: Get to 5* ELITE with the SPG Platinum for life (hotels) before they reach 2000 and end that benefit. There is still time......

 

[pointsjunkie]

can any of the negotiations be done over the phone or does it have to be done at an owners update?

do we have to bring the closing papers for the resale or can they look up all the info ar the owners update?

does anyone know if i can requalify a 1small br and 1 large br( different deeds) with a 2 br l/o? will i have to separate the sale or will they be able to do it as a 2 br l/o?

 

[nodge]

Pointsjunkie,

I did my requal entirely over the phone. It took a while to find a salesperson that was both knowledgeable and willing to work with me over the phone. That salesperson can answer your other questions in your post, and if you don't like his/her answers, just find another salesperson.

I've PM'd you the name and number of my salesperson at Kierland. She would probably be a good starting point/reality check.

If you do call her, please post here whether she confirms the recently reported changes to the requal program.

Good Luck,
-nodge

 

[pointsjunkie]

thank you. not ready yet still waiting for 2 more deeds from maricopa county.

 

[tth6133]

another wrinkle...was told by a saleperson (who was informed by his manager) that to requal a hawaii or caribbean resort, one needs to spend at least $20,000 for a new purchase from starwood. not sure if it's a new policy or he and his manager is simply mistaken.

 

[oneohana]

another wrinkle...was told by a saleperson (who was informed by his manager) that to requal a hawaii or caribbean resort, one needs to spend at least $20,000 for a new purchase from starwood. not sure if it's a new policy or he and his manager is simply mistaken.

The one that I've heard is $40,000 to requalify Hawaii or Caribbean. $20,000 for other locations. This came from *wood corporate.

 

[IML726]

Requal update?

Has anyone received any updated info regarding changes in the requalification?

I have been reading the forum for the last month or so and am new to world of timeshares. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in Maui last year and went to a TS presentation at the WKORV and purchased the Explorer package.

We came back to Hawaii on the Explorer Package and were upgraded to a 1bedroom IV at WKORV-N. We are definitely interested in purchasing a TS in Hawaii, but have learned from this forum that it is best to buy resale. However, I do want the option of having StarPoints to exchange for hotels. My plan was to find a resale in Maui and then purchase a developer TS at Kierlands or another place and have the Maui TS requalified.

I am curious as if there is a change to the requal, b/c that may change what I decide to purchase, etc.

Lots of questions, lots of reading to do.

 

[cooldj23]

Just got back from Vistana Villages and heard about the "new" rules regarding requalification. I own two 44K Staroption properties and since I cannot combine the points, I thought it was worth the discussion about buying or upgrading to bring myself "into the fold". I was first told that as long as my total upgrade cost for either propety was greater than $7,000, I could get both weeks requalified. Then he came back and said that in a few months that will not be true and that only the property I upgraded became a fully qualified week. Then he went on to say that if I spent a total of $20,000, that both could be rolled into the program even if I just upgraded one of them. They pushed the Starpoints conversion as the big selling point, since I don't get that with my resale weeks. But my calculations based on using what would be a total of 26,500 starpoints (the tradein for the 44,000 *options) at a place like Atlantis gets me only two nites vs the 7 nites I will be enjoying in May of 2008 with my 44,000 staroptions. So if I had known all of this when I first bought resale, I would have bought one 81,000 or 95,700 lockoff to give me the splitting and combining capability that I am missing now.

 

[duke]

I was first told that as long as my total upgrade cost for either propety was greater than $7,000, I could get both weeks requalified. Then he came back and said that in a few months that will not be true and that only the property I upgraded became a fully qualified week. Then he went on to say that if I spent a total of $20,000, that both could be rolled into the program even if I just upgraded one of them.


So if I had known all of this when I first bought resale, I would have bought one 81,000 or 95,700 lockoff to give me the splitting and combining capability that I am missing now.

I think they are just "making the deal as it comes to them". I don't believe that there is any policy other than what is listed in the "sticky" post #1 and later revised by DavidnRobin experience. Again.....your best bet is to first buy the resale and then make the deal on the Developer unit when you are actually ready to buy.

It's always best to buy a resale week with 148,100 staroptions like Platinum 2 br l/o WMH.
Also, make sure that when you buy your VV developer unit ... you buy the resort section that is Mandatory like VV - Key West (not Amelia)

 

[Bill4728]

this was posted in a different thread but I thought it should be here.

The memo attached below purports to be Starwood's requalification procedure effective 6/15/07. I have no idea of its authenticity, but it does explain contradictory posts I have seen (and posted myself). According to this memo, a Hawaii or Caribbean purchase used to requalify another unit must be $40,000 or more; a US Mainland or Mexico purchase of over $20,000 is sufficient for that purpose.



STARWOOD VACATION OWNERSHIP Number: 01.07
Eff. Date: 6/15/07
Revision Date:


Resale Policy
Transfer of SVN/SPG with Resale VOI
All departments must adhere to the business rules of the Starwood Vacation Network to ensure that all owners are being treated equally.

Gift/Transfer VOI deed:
• Owners who wish to transfer a VOI with SVN/SPG “without consideration” to immediate family members may do so at no cost. SVO will monitor as needed.

SVN/SPG Transfer:
• Voluntary Resort - To maintain the value of the SVN as an incentive to purchase from SVO directly, Starwood Vacation Ownership will not allow the transfer or purchase of SVN or SPG benefits with the resale of a VOI at SVN voluntary resorts. Membership in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) or Vistana Plus (VTP) is a benefit unique to the individual ownership. Under the SVN Rules and the Owner Membership Agreement, a membership in SVN and or VTP and the Gold Level Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program (SPG), along with access to the SPG Conversion Program, cannot be transferred to a resale purchaser.
• Mandatory Resort - At mandatory resorts, Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) membership must automatically transfer with ownership; however, access to SPG membership and ability to convert to Starpoints will be withheld. This means that the use of the SVN Resorts is available; however, under the SVN Rules and the Owner Membership Agreement, the Gold Level Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program (SPG), along with access to the SPG Starpoints Conversion Program, cannot be transferred to a resale purchaser. Resale may only be enrolled into the SPG Program by SVO as Preferred level.

SVN/SPG Retro:
• SVN will enroll “resale” weeks into either SVN or VTP so long as the person owning the “resale” week purchases a new week of inventory directly from the developer.
• For each new SVO interval purchased at or greater than the minimum price ($20k for US mainland & Mexico projects; and $40k for Hawaii and Caribbean projects), SVO will “retro” one SVN eligible resale week on a one to one basis into SVN, including SPG membership at no cost (at the original resale SVN level for the resale week).
o If a new owner is purchasing a US mainland or Mexico VOI and wishes to retro one previously purchased eligible resale week into SVN/SPG, the new VOI purchase price must be at least $20k (regardless of the location the VOI is being purchased).
o If a new owner is purchasing a Caribbean or Hawaii VOI and wishes to retro one previously purchased eligible resale week into SVN/SPG, the new VOI purchase price must be at least $40k (regardless of the location the VOI is being purchased).
o Minimum purchase prices set are based on the product purchased NOT on the property from which they are purchased
o This is a one-for-one retro…for each resale week to be “retro’d”, a new developer VOI must be purchased (at or above the minimum purchase price)

Document reviewed on 10.2.07kp/yw


Robert

So it looks like the best way to get value for your money is to buy a Hawaii and/or Caribbean TS resale and then requalify them with the developer purchase of ~$20K from a US mainland & Mexico resort. ( but IMHO, I'd always want to buy a Mandatory resort because of the much greater resale value)

 

[pointsjunkie]

with all the new rules,i need some opinions. they say we have to have $40000 in caribbean(aruba) to requalify but my question is: if i want a package such as purchase a 2 br prime at svv priced around $24000 and a 2br unit plat in aruba at $26000 and requalify 2 units, do you think they would go for it? DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD TURN AWAY A DEFINITE SALE?

i don't want or need the 2br l/o in aruba in plat plus seaSON.

LOOKING FOR YOUR OPINIONS. THANKS

 

[oneohana]

I thought it depended on which property you wanted to requal. Not on which property you were going to buy.
Requal Hawaii or Caribbean =$40k in developer purchases.

 

[grgs]

I thought it depended on which property you wanted to requal. Not on which property you were going to buy.
Requal Hawaii or Caribbean =$40k in developer purchases.

Based on the Starwood memo listed above, I think you have it backwards. It's the new Starwood purchase that has to be $20K (US Mainland/Mexico) or $40K (Hawaii/Caribbean). I don't think what you're requaling/retroing matters.

Glorian

 

[grgs]

with all the new rules,i need some opinions. they say we have to have $40000 in caribbean(aruba) to requalify but my question is: if i want a package such as purchase a 2 br prime at svv priced around $24000 and a 2br unit plat in aruba at $26000 and requalify 2 units, do you think they would go for it? DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD TURN AWAY A DEFINITE SALE?

i don't want or need the 2br l/o in aruba in plat plus seaSON.

LOOKING FOR YOUR OPINIONS. THANKS

Don't know--you can certainly try to negotiate that. I don't see any harm in trying.

If you don't specifically want/need Aruba, I'd probably stick to the less expensive Orlando option (or consider the new Westin Desert Willow in Palm Desert).

What is your goal for requaling? How many options do you already have, and how many more do you want?

Glorian

 

[pointsjunkie]

i need to purchase 2 units worth 81000 each,requalify 2 units and i will be at 5*.
they take platinum away and i will be so not happy. anyone who is 5*, is it worth having the platinum ? or am i wasting my money.

i could just purchase 81000 and requalify 1 unit and i will get to 4*.

just to preface: we use starpoints alot to go to hotels.

 

[arlene22]

Just thought I'd let you guys know. My retro finally came through today. It took a long time but my $995 resale Vistana Resort week is now in SVN and I am 4* now :whoopie: Thank you to all to who took the time and effort to post all of this information.

 

[grgs]

Just thought I'd let you guys know. My retro finally came through today. It took a long time but my $995 resale Vistana Resort week is now in SVN and I am 4* now :whoopie: Thank you to all to who took the time and effort to post all of this information.

Congratulations! What did you buy to requal the Vistana unit?

Glorian

 

[arlene22]

We bought a developer resale (phase 1) Harborside week that they had in inventory. Oddly enough, it was a lot cheaper than phase 2. I think the explanation for that is that they stopped publishing higher prices for phase one when it officially sold out some years ago, but they continue to come in inventory as people trade them in to buy phase 2's.

 

[tomandrobin]

Congrats on your requal and making it to 4 star elite!

How many more points do you need to make 5 star? Since you are that close.

 

[arlene22]

I think this is where I get off the train. I just barely made 4* with 363,000 SO. 4* is what I wanted, because I really value the ability to keep a reservation while being on the waiting list. 5* would be nice, but I don't see that in my future.

 

[tomandrobin]

I think this is where I get off the train. I just barely made 4* with 363,000 SO. 4* is what I wanted, because I really value the ability to keep a reservation while being on the waiting list. 5* would be nice, but I don't see that in my future.

So four star was the goal for you. Five star would be nice to have, but there is no way we could ever use all those weeks. Maybe in about 10 years when the kids are coompletely gone and we can see retirement in the road ahead.

 

[myip]

We bought a developer resale (phase 1) Harborside week that they had in inventory. Oddly enough, it was a lot cheaper than phase 2. I think the explanation for that is that they stopped publishing higher prices for phase one when it officially sold out some years ago, but they continue to come in inventory as people trade them in to buy phase 2's.

Congrat for 4*. Did you have to spend $40,000 to requalify for Vistana Resort? IIs the new purchase is also a 2 bedroom?

 

[arlene22]

Yes and yes.

 

[pointsjunkie]

just spoke to someone at starwood direct sales and she gave me some very interesting info pertaining to requals. if you are on the mainland when you are making a purchase, hawaii, or caribbean and there are prices under the $40000 mark then you can requalify a resale. so if you only wanted to purchase an eoy that would be acceptable to requalify a resale.

but if you are in hawaii or the caribbean and purchase from the sales center there then you would have to purchase a minimum of $40000 to requalify a resale.

thought you would all be interested.

 

[ccy]

just spoke to someone at starwood direct sales and she gave me some very interesting info pertaining to requals. if you are on the mainland when you are making a purchase, hawaii, or caribbean and there are prices under the $40000 mark then you can requalify a resale. so if you only wanted to purchase an eoy that would be acceptable to requalify a resale.

but if you are in hawaii or the caribbean and purchase from the sales center there then you would have to purchase a minimum of $40000 to requalify a resale.

thought you would all be interested.

Is this true? Could they requalify with an EOY purchase?

We just got back from Harborside and we attended the update.
They offered us 1 br deluxe in the gold season for 20k or eoy for 10k (discounted from $12,800). They did tell us that we can combine the staroptions with our resale, I wasn't sure if they were talking about requalification, I didn't ask a lot of questions having no intention to buy.