[2006 Thread] What would you buy for $25k?

[rickandcindy23]

DVC is pretty reasonable for exchanges because you only have to use one week's worth of points. I don't own DVC yet but am planning to buy from Seth Nock. He answered all my questions about the system. The more points you buy, the less the cost per point for purchase and you save on closing costs over buying two lower-point packages. Maintenance fees are about $4.00 per point. 160 points for a one bedroom week for an II exchange to Hawaii, maybe a little more than that. I think it is the ideal way to go. Plus you can take Disney cruises. The five-night stays are only 16 points for a one bedroom, per night.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Maybe Boca, Perry, Bruce, and I should get together.

That could be a book that is short and to the point, or it could be the size of the Oxford dictionary. How many systems are there? So many.

A friend of ours just bought Vacation Internationale for a great price. The membership will get him to Hawaii and Florida and a whole bunch of places in between.

Royal Holiday Club seems interesting, though difficult to get on track. Their customer service department seems pretty lost from what I read.

Shell is a good system, when you buy resale and avoid the salespeople.

Monarch is another that I have no clue about, but it seems like another great way to get into a mini-points system inexpensively.

Bluegreen, Sunterra, Worldmark, Fairfield, HGVC, DVC are the bigger systems and would require a chapter for each.

I saw something on ebay about Club Navigo????

RCI points would require a few chapters.

Then you have Marriott, a system within itself that is going to break away from Interval soon.

Then you have the myriad of exchange companies. It would be important to give searching tips for the two main ones.

Then you would have to explain how to use each system to the greatest advantage without being too verbose and losing people. Charts would be best.

What systems did I leave out? I am sure I left out half of them!

Then you have rentals. How to do it, how much to ask, what the ramifications are on income taxes.

Buying and selling, due diligence, what to watch out for, etc.

I wouldn't be able to pick up the book!

 

[Carol C]

That could be a book that is short and to the point, or it could be the size of the Oxford dictionary. How many systems are there? So many.

A friend of ours just bought Vacation Internationale for a great price. The membership will get him to Hawaii and Florida and a whole bunch of places in between.

Royal Holiday Club seems interesting, though difficult to get on track. Their customer service department seems pretty lost from what I read.

Shell is a good system, when you buy resale and avoid the salespeople.

Monarch is another that I have no clue about, but it seems like another great way to get into a mini-points system inexpensively.

Bluegreen, Sunterra, Worldmark, Fairfield, HGVC, DVC are the bigger systems and would require a chapter for each.

I saw something on ebay about Club Navigo????

RCI points would require a few chapters.

Then you have Marriott, a system within itself that is going to break away from Interval soon.

Then you have the myriad of exchange companies. It would be important to give searching tips for the two main ones.

Then you would have to explain how to use each system to the greatest advantage without being too verbose and losing people. Charts would be best.

What systems did I leave out? I am sure I left out half of them!

Then you have rentals. How to do it, how much to ask, what the ramifications are on income taxes.

Buying and selling, due diligence, what to watch out for, etc.

I wouldn't be able to pick up the book!

You left out VRI, although their internal exchange mechanism is within RCI. Hey, maybe like Marriott they'll soon fly off and abandon the nest!

As for the thickness of the book, yes, it will be about the size of the average metropolitan phone book. Hopefully they'll print it on recycled paper to save a few gazillion trees!

 

[spatenfloot]

You oughta write a book. There's only one Dummies book out there and it's kinda dumb. You could write one "Timeshares for Savvies" and make some serious $. I'd buy it, for starters.

Why buy a book? You can get all the information you need right here. All you have to do is ask a question. Plus if you get confused you can ask more questions to clarify things.

 

[Azjim66]

I know that my original question was which 1 timeshare would you buy, but I enjoyed the direction the thread has taken. Thank you for renewing my faith and proving that there are still a few "thrifty" TUGgers out there!



Cindy

 

[Spence]

I know that my original question was which 1 timeshare would you buy, but I enjoyed the direction the thread has taken. Thank you for renewing my faith and proving that there are still a few "thrifty" TUGgers out there!Cindy

You obviously know what your original question was but only now have you mentioned "1" timeshare. "A" timeshare could well mean a timeshare developer/mini system etc.

 

[PerryM]

Stocks and timeshares

Buying a single timeshare is like buying a single stock.

Asking which individual stock someone should invest $25k is asking for a risky outcome with a large standard deviation from the DOW’s average.

That’s why I always recommend a basket of timeshares that will offer more vacations with a robust choice of destinations both long and short term in planning than just one single timeshare.

However, if I had to pick a single timeshare to plunk down $25k I’d chose WM.

 

[Denise L]

DVC is actually an amazing system, very logical for purchase. I would like to change my above response to 300 Disney points at Wilderness Lodge, purchased from Seth Nock. Then I would use those for 5-day stays to tack onto my regular exchanges for Disneyworld, for a total of 12 days each stay. I would use half of my points and rent the rest for $10 a

Rent the points for $12/pt ! You should be able to get that for VWL!

 

[PA-]

Spence doesn't post as loudly or often as some of the other guys, but I'd take his portfolio over anyone else's who's posted here. And I don't say that lightly, knowing the size and quality of Perry's. So when Spence speaks, my suggestion is listen. I don't own any Sunterra points, but I do recognize the value in them, if they're at resorts you'd use.

 

[PA-]

If I had to buy 1 timeshare that was that expensive, I'd try to find a Hyatt in a location I liked. In that price range, little else compares.

 

[Steve]

PA,

I have to say that I'm quite surprised that you wouldn't pick WorldMark. With the time and effort you have put...and continue to put...into that organization, I thought that WorldMark would certainly be your first choice. It's interesting that you would choose either Sunterra or Hyatt over them.

Steve

 

[PA-]

PA,

I have to say that I'm quite surprised that you wouldn't pick WorldMark. With the time and effort you have put...and continue to put...into that organization, I thought that WorldMark would certainly be your first choice. It's interesting that you would choose either Sunterra or Hyatt over them.

Steve

I wouldn't own Sunterra with your money, I have a personal problem with Sunterra. I'm only saying that I value Spence's opinion over almost anyone's I know. He's done more with less, owning Sunterra, than anybody I know. If you only knew the extent of his Sunterra holdings.... He's much more modest than me, Boca, or Perry.

As for comparing Worldmark to Hyatt, you must be joking. I love Worldmark. But c'mon. Have you ever seen a Hyatt timeshare?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Yeah, Sunterra sounds amazing. I was even impressed with Sunterra during our tour at Kaanapali last month. I doubt that all the units are getting the upgrades they are bragging about. Not many looked done to me.

Hyatt is good too, but the MF's are kinda high for me.

I love Disney. The kids have been gone for 7 years and it is still our favorite vacation. Our new little grandchild isn't going until he/she is at least six years old. I am not taking whiny kids to Disneyworld.

 

[PA-]

Yeah, Sunterra sounds amazing. I was even impressed with Sunterra during our tour at Kaanapali last month. I doubt that all the units are getting the upgrades they are bragging about. Not many looked done to me.

Hyatt is good too, but the MF's are kinda high for me.

I love Disney. The kids have been gone for 7 years and it is still our favorite vacation. Our new little grandchild isn't going until he/she is at least six years old. I am not taking whiny kids to Disneyworld.

When you spend $25K for a timeshare, you don't worry too much about the maintenance fees being a couple hundred higher than normal.

And I agree totally. I would never go to an amusement park with a kid younger than 6. They won't remember it, and you'll never forget it.

 

[Rancher]

What to purchase for $25,000?

I would purchase a 1/5 share (10 weeks) at Eagle Crest . This could be had for $18,000. This would yield approx 100,000 WM credits each year and give 10 housekeeping tokens also. MF are $4800 per year so about 5 cents per credit when you factor in the $35.00 to convert each week to WM. Eagle Crest also trades in II orRCI and can also be used in PFD in RCI.With WM or RCI points if you couldn't use all your weeks you could buy airfare etc.

 

[daventrina]

I doubt that all the units are getting the upgrades they are bragging about. Not many looked done to me.

All but 3 floors are done and they are "supposed to be done by the end if the year"... Or so the story goes...

A week at Maui Hilla nd two at Kona Coast

 

[rickandcindy23]

Daventrina: I was still very impressed with the Sunterra system and the model. I really think it seems like something we would enjoy.

The maids were cleaning several rooms, I peaked in as the salesman was showing us the two different views. The ones being cleaned looked completely different than the model. The furniture was lighter in color and the kitchen was very different. This was on the same floor as the model. Did they fix up the model nicer than the others?

 

[sfwilshire]

Sheila

I can help answer most DVC questions for you as I have owned there for 6 years and love it. Yes, the MF seems to be going up each year. Currently they are around $4 pp and when you can rent points from DIS boards for $10 pp, buying is hard to justify.

I have never said DVC is a bargain, even though I bought 4 contracts in 2000and sold 2 for about $3500 profit each in 2005. Disney is about...well...Disney. They are the folks that can sell a Diet Coke for $10 (refillable mug for the day).

As compared to spending cash for small hotel rooms, we found the investment in DVC worthwhile for a long term purchase (minimal 5 years). With inflation, you will NOT loose buying DVC and enjoying it for 5 years and then selling for the same price or small profit, assuming you WANT to visit Disney.

One suggestion is to buy the smallest DVC contract (25-50 points) and renting points each year from a member.

I don't disagree with anything you say, but as much as I would love to be part of the "magic", I find I can be perfectly content at any of the very nice off-site resorts at a much smaller cost.

Thanks for taking the time to post, though. I'm sure there are others who would value the onsite experience enough to make a different decision.

Sheila

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I would purchase a 1/5 share (10 weeks) at Eagle Crest . This could be had for $18,000. This would yield approx 100,000 WM credits each year and give 10 housekeeping tokens also. MF are $4800 per year so about 5 cents per credit when you factor in the $35.00 to convert each week to WM. Eagle Crest also trades in II orRCI and can also be used in PFD in RCI.With WM or RCI points if you couldn't use all your weeks you could buy airfare etc.

Rancher...please clarify

1. $18,000 for 100,000 WM credits = $1,800 per 10,000 WM = seems too cheap?

2. $4800 MF = 1/4 the pruchase price = seems too expensive?

3. I also saw they have a 1/10 share option...any advice on that?

 

[Time2Ponder]

160 points for a one bedroom week for an II exchange to Hawaii, maybe a little more than that. I think it is the ideal way to go. Plus you can take Disney cruises. The five-night stays are only 16 points for a one bedroom, per night.

I hate to burst your bubble, but it is difficult, in general, to get an exchange to HI via DVC. Most requests have to be put in at least two years in advance, and you're most likely to get a September exchange; you can forget about a peak season exchange. Also, using DVC points for cruises is an expensive way to cruise. You'd be better off renting out your DVC points and then using that cash to go on a DVC cruise. Most DVC members will tell you that the best use of DVC points is at the DVC resorts (unless you don't care about $$ and have points to burn).

 

[Spence]

$18,000 for 100,000 WM credits = $1,800 per 10,000 WM = seems too cheap?

That's the deal! It's one of those places that you can 'deposit' into WM for points each year if you have an account.

You can sometimes get amazing deals on 1/4 shares, a TUGger got one in the Poconos for $1500 if I remember correctly. The MFs and the lack of a rental market for the off season weeks kept me from bidding on that one.

 

[talkamotta]

If I had $25K to spend on one timeshare I would buy a $33K timeshare and only pay $17K. That is what the Marriott Newport is selling for from Marriott and that is what I saw it 2x on Ebay for.

My friend who is a multi Marriott owner (5) has bought all his timeshares from Marriott. He was telling me about his last purchase ($33K) and then went on to tell me about the new 3 bedroom Marriott in Vegas that is going to be built. I dont care if it has 2 kitchens, I dont think I will be buying. Im not saying the people who do buy are foolish, only that they have more money than I do. Some people think I am foolish for spending $20K for my 8 timeshares, a tent would work for them.

The way this thread was going is pretty natural for TUG. I would think that all of us are trying to get the most for our money for our situations. (I feel like I am forever on a learning curve) Whatever that might be. Another trait is that we are so willing to share our opinions and experiences. :whoopie:

 

[andrea t]

I would buy a second Marriott platinum lockoff directly from Marriott. Each year I'd turn one in for points (I've grown accustomed to flyng to Europe business class ) and split the lockoff for 2 vacations. If not using the points option, I also gain the 13 month booking window. It's unfortunate that I don't see that scenario happening anytime soon!

 

[Rancher]

25,000 to spend

Rancher...please clarify

1. $18,000 for 100,000 WM credits = $1,800 per 10,000 WM = seems too cheap?

2. $4800 MF = 1/4 the pruchase price = seems too expensive?

3. I also saw they have a 1/10 share option...any advice on that?

Steamboat Bill:
The 1/5 share at Eaglecrest is in a 3 bedroom unit which when deposited with WM yields 12,000 credits for a red week, 9000 credits for a white week and 7000 credits for a blue week. Obvisouly the unit rotates during the year giving a variety of red white and blue weeks. The WM credits vary from year to year but average 100,000 per year. As a member of WM these can be deposited with them for a fee of $35 per week.This unit was purchased for $18,000.

MF of $4800 average out at $480 per week which I think is fairly reasonable for a 3 bedroom unit with a hot tub on the deck which overlooks one of the 3 golf courses. At $5000 per year for 100,000 credits that averages at 5 cents per credit which is better than my 6.6 cents per credit that my original membership carries.($400 yearly MF divided by 6000 WM credits)

The 1/10 share ( 5 weeks) if puchased properly would give a fair number of WM credits also but they are difficult to find at the right price. I spent over 2 years looking for this deal that I thought was right. I found it in the classifieds of Timesharing Today. The Eagle Crest website has several listed under fractionals in the real estate section.

Dennis

 

[lfuhr]

I would spend no less than 50K. 25k is not nearly enough to buy a decent resale.