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

[taffy19]

David, I believe it is only a Caveat Emptor to a new buyer as you have to know what you are doing when buying a resale unit. If you don't know all the facts, you may do yourself a big disfavor so that's why the "Let the Buyer Beware!" notice. There is so much to read and know before you buy resale or from a developer. JMHO.

For newbies at this forum, I would read all the notes under the stickies at the top of this thread for starters. It would help a lot.

 

[DavidnRobin]

David, I believe it is only a Caveat Emptor to a new buyer as you have to know what you are doing when buying a resale unit. If you don't know all the facts, you may do yourself a big disfavor so that's why the "Let the Buyer Beware!" notice. There is so much to read and know before you buy resale or from a developer. JMHO.

For newbies at this forum, I would read all the notes under the stickies at the top of this thread for starters. It would help a lot.

Of course - Research is key - and I didn't see the offending eBay ad since I don't track Sheraton's on eBay (and the link wasn't given - so I do not know what is specifically stated - and there are TONS of them) I was just responding to the post itself. Which sort of stated off questioning 'requaling' and whether it occurs "specifically...has anybody actually, successfully, concluded the process of requalifying a Starwood resale...lately?"

It is true that resale SOs can be requaled - if someone bought a resale with the intention of doing it then they would have to find out about how to do it - and hopefully had a plan in hand. But it would not be the most incorrect thing placed in an eBay ad. There are tons I see all the time like those that state they have SOs that can be exchanged via SVN - yet are V resorts.
Or stating that the VOI is OF because the resort is...

For someone to take on requaling a resale VOI - they would have to be 'in the know' pretty much. Hopefully if they intended to buy the one in the ad - they would hopefully find out what it meant instead of moving forth blindly.

Those on TUG would have access and hopefully knowledge - those buying blindly on eBay - caveat emptor... {for all aspects}

tbh - I was sort of questioning the intent of the poster (w/ 4 posts...) and the associated text... peace.

 

[MaryH]

For those that are looking at Cancun, please beware that Mexico timeshare are not deeded by are RTU. not sure what cycle SVO has on Cancun but some are 25 year renewables.

 

[DeniseM]

For those that are looking at Cancun, please beware that Mexico timeshare are not deeded by are RTU. not sure what cycle SVO has on Cancun but some are 25 year renewables.

The Starwood timeshare in Cancun is not RTU with an end date - it is perpetual.

From an earlier post:

8/1/2005
I also found out that it is an "equity ownership" in the form of a 50 year trust. There is an automatic renew for another 50 years in perpetuity.

 

[MaryH]

And they will not be able to change the terms of the trust on renewal?

In Mexico, only Mexicans can own property so not sure how ownership of the trust stands up legally if there are any issues down the road.

 

[DeniseM]

And they will not be able to change the terms of the trust on renewal?

In Mexico, only Mexicans can own property so not sure how ownership of the trust stands up legally if there are any issues down the road.

That's a good question, but a corporation the size of Starwood would have all that figured out long before they sold timeshares or built the resort.

Here is more information about the resort and the discussions from 2005: http://www.freewebs.com/denisetravels/starwoodnews.htm

 

[Larry315]

Every Other Year Requalify

I'm looking for advice as we consider buying.

If I purchase an every-odd-year resale that receives 81,000 points, and then requalify that purchase by buying an annual use property that has 81,000 points per year from the developer, what is the effect?

Do I receive 162,000 points every odd year and 81,000 per even year?

What if I purchase an every-odd-year property from the developer and requalify and annual use resale? Is the effect different.

If anyone has expereince doing this or knows how it will work, I would appreciate your help.

Thanks

 

[DavidnRobin]

For both options - you get 81,000 + (81,000/2) = 121,500 StarOptions towards Elite Status with usage of your 2 weeks in odd years (162K SOs), and 1 week usage (81K SOs) for your even year.

The 2nd option is generally a better value.
Neither will get you to 3* Elite.

The question is why wouldn't you just buy all as resales?

In general the best usage for requaling a resale unit is to bring it into the SVN system and/or to build Elite status -and some strategies for being able to convert the SOs to StarPoints (hotel stays).

 

[DeniseM]

Hi! Have you had a chance to read the Starwood FAQ at the top of the Page and SDKath's guide to 5 Star Plat in the Owner Resources sticky? That's a good place to start.

I'm looking for advice as we consider buying.

If I purchase an every-odd-year resale that receives 81,000 points, and then requalify that purchase by buying an annual use property that has 81,000 points per year from the developer, what is the effect?

Do I receive 162,000 points every odd year and 81,000 per even year?

Yes, but you would actually own the weeks and you have the option to convert to Staroptions - the exchange value of Starwood timeshares in the Starwood system. (Starpoints are Starwood Hotel Points.) You can only convert to Staroptions every other use year, unless your are an Elite Owner.

What if I purchase an every-odd-year property from the developer and requalify and annual use resale? Is the effect different.

There isn't a short answer to that question, because is depends on where you buy and the price difference.

(Where are you Kath?)

Also - What are your GOALS in requalifying? What do you hope to achieve? That will help us answer your questions.

 

[pointsjunkie]

you can requalify an annual with an eoy but you must spend $20000. if you do it as an upgrade then katherine is the one to ask. i do know you have to spend $10000 for them to do an upgrade.

 

[SDKath]

I'm looking for advice as we consider buying.

If I purchase an every-odd-year resale that receives 81,000 points, and then requalify that purchase by buying an annual use property that has 81,000 points per year from the developer, what is the effect?

Do I receive 162,000 points every odd year and 81,000 per even year?

What if I purchase an every-odd-year property from the developer and requalify and annual use resale? Is the effect different.

If anyone has expereince doing this or knows how it will work, I would appreciate your help.

Thanks

I think I am confused by your question. I assume you mean SO's not SP's. If you own EOY property that you bought on resale, you can retro it (bring it into SVN) with ANYTHING over $20,000 right now. So you can buy an EY or EOY and bring in your EOY property easily. You'd get the SO's for both (so in your example, 81,000+81,000).

But if you are going to spend $20,000 anyway, why retro an 81,000 SO resale property (unless you already own it and like it). It's best to bring in a resale that is worth 148,000 SOs since you are spending a LOT with Starwood anyway. So my advice would be to buy any resale worth 148,100 (or as close to it as possble) and then go to Starwood and purchase something that is over $20,000. That could be an EOY or EY purchase.

I did hear rumors that eventually you may not be able to retro an EY with an EOY but so far, that has not been the case for me. As long as it's over $20k....

Katherine

 

[pointsjunkie]

if you own an EOY or are purchasing an EOY the staroptions per year are cut in half.

hopefully you buy an EOY even and an EOY odd so then of they are both worth 81000 staroptions then that's what you will have per year.

if owned an EOY even worth 81000 and then purchase an EY worth 81000 for accounting purposes only to qualify for elite status you would own 121500 staroptions per year.


of course in the even years you would have 2 weeks vacation and in the odd years you would have 1 week vacation. if you used 81000 staroptions per each vacation week.

hope that clarifies it for you.

barbra

 

[capjak]

Also if you purchase a resale from Hawaii or carribean you need to spend $40,000.

 

[Larry315]

Thanks to all of you for explaining this to me.

 

[jarta]

"Upgrading/Retroing" a Starwood Timeshare

I own 3 Starwood timeshares. I purchased my 2-bedroom lockoff at LagunaMar directly from Starwood. After joining this board, I purchased a 2-bedroom lockoff at Kierland and a 3-bedroom at Harborside. Those two purchases were not through Starwood but from recent purchasers who had to sell their timeshares due to the downturn in the economy. All are floating annual use in Platinum Season.

I now have a ton of "options" (not a bad thing). The options from Harborside and Kierland are tradeable within the SVO network because those resorts are "mandatory" resorts. However, I understand unless I "retro" them I cannot combine "left over" options from my Kierland (148,100 options) or Harborside (196,900 options) reservations to reserve somewhere else. Moreover, the "options" from those two resorts cannot be converted into banked "points" for use at a Starwood hotel or resort unless I "retro" the purchases when I buy some other week from Starwood. (I understand how retroing works. That's not what I need to know.)

I have 2 questions. First, in the "sticky" about requalifying, there is a statement that if your property is shown on mystarcentral as having both a staroptions and a starpoints value, the options are convertible into points. All 3 of my purchases have a staroptions and starpoints value listed. Is that correct? Since my first purchase was through Starwood and I already was a member of SPG, could it be that there is no need to retro either timeshare? Or, did I just slip through the Starwood system? (I don't want to ask Starwood if I just slipped through. I have received no notice saying: welcome to 4 star elite.)

Second, assuming I must do something further, is there another way to accomplish getting 4 star elite and the ability to combine "left over" options other than buying another week from Starwood? It crossed my mind that my purchases at Harborside and Kierland were from recent purchasers at high purchase prices (for them) from Starwood. I remember reading about "upgrading" a purchase at your "home resort" using the price of the purchase from Starwood as the "base price" for the upgrade. Could I upgrade to a "fixed" week and unit at Harborside or Kierland using the original owners' purchase price/base price to get the timeshare at that resort into Starwood's good graces and/or use that "purchase" to "retro" the other?

Any answers or information on both issues would be appreciated.

 

[pointsjunkie]

i don't think an upgrade would work since you are already are at platinum in the largest units both places have.

the amount of staroptions you have is 148100+148100+196900=493100 which is so close to 5* elite.

the way to do this is going to cost you ar least $60000. $40000 to requalfy Harborside and $20000 for westin kierland.

i don't think there are any other alternatives with the properties you have.

 

[DeniseM]

Welcome back, Jarta!

I'm going to move your post to the ongoing thread on this topic.

 

[pointsjunkie]

when i purchased at svv resale it stated on my star central that listed the staroptions and the starpoints but could not access them. when you call they know you bought resale. i was excited that starwood made a mistake, but they didn't.

 

[SDKath]

As far as the upgrading is concerned, the answer is YES, you can upgrade a platinum to another platinum week via Starwood as long as the price difference is at least $10,000. So, let's say your resale Harborside plat week costs $30,000 to the original owner (who sold it to you). You can upgrade to another Harborside plat week as long as you buy it from Starwood and it is more than $40,000. You would then get the $30,000 credit and pay the $10,000 difference. By doing that, you also get your unit into SVN and can then combine options.

At Kierland, no upgrades are allowed anymore (and there is no inventory either) so that would not be doable right now. There is talk of another phase of Kierland opening sometime (2009 maybe?) but no solid info is out there yet. Plus, it would likely be voluntary. But perhaps if you can wait it out, you would have the upgrade option then with your WKV week!

Katherine

 

[pointsjunkie]

but if they own the largest unit in platinum week what can they upgrade to? i am sure there are no event weeks to upgrade to.harborside platinum 3 br's are sold out according to the salesman. but that might not be true.

 

[jarta]

Thanks for the Info

Thank you for the responses!

I will have to decide what I want to do. I am really quite happy going where I own in the Platinum Season. Also, all the Staroptions are tradeable in the SVO network.

So, I will have to weigh further flexibility against the added cost to retro and the added MFs. Also, I already have the equivalent of 6 weeks of use during the Winter and I am worried about trying to find time for more vacations. But, it's a good predicament to be in.

I'd like to thank all Tuggers for maintaining this board. It is a great resource. Without the information posted here I would have spent a lot more money to get what I have. WKV and Harborside would have cost a lot more than the total of $58K. Again, thank you.

 

[Joshadelic]

I have been waiting now for over 1 month for my SDO week to be brought into SVN. How long should this be taking? Could anyone else here who has done a retro please let me know???

Thanks!!!

~Josh

 

[lars158]

I have been waiting now for over 1 month for my SDO week to be brought into SVN. How long should this be taking? Could anyone else here who has done a retro please let me know???

Thanks!!!

~Josh

From my experience, between 2-3 months...

This is the lead time for my retro's:
* Mission Hills ~ 2 months
* Ka'anapali ~ 2 months
* Mountain Vista ~ 3 months

I have no idea why it takes such a long time, but it seems there is a lot of red-tape and many departments involved to get this done.

Good luck!

 

[DavidnRobin]

I have been waiting now for over 1 month for my SDO week to be brought into SVN. How long should this be taking? Could anyone else here who has done a retro please let me know???

Thanks!!!

~Josh

Our retro (that I wrote extensively about) was essentially immediate, but we already held the deed for the unit that was retro'd.

 

[Joshadelic]

A fellow TUGGER gave me some advice and I had my retro completed today within minutes. Amazing. They sat on it for over 30 days until I had to call and ask them to do it.