• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

2010 Maintenance Fee Thread

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
ada903 - If you can scan the letter (put a post-it over your personal info.) and send it to me as an attachment to email, I can post it on TUG.

Please send it to dbmmayer @ gmail.com (without extra spaces)
 

ada903

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
3,587
Reaction score
42
Points
433
I will scan it at work tomorrow and send it to you!
 

bulldogz

newbie
Joined
Apr 6, 2009
Messages
13
Reaction score
0
Points
161
Location
Mississauga, ON
I have a nice printed flier from them stating clearly they are reducing refurbishment fees for the Courts for the remaining three payments; the reduction does not apply retrospectively to the two payments that were already made in 2009, but it applies to the remaining three payments: "the three remaining payments will now be in the amounts of $251.24 for villas and $376.86 for townhomes, which are reductions of $89.44, and $134.16, per payment, respectively. These amounts represent a 26.3% reduction from the originally budgeted 2010 payments. The refurbishment project fees will be billed separate from the maintenance fee and two months prior due to their due dates of May 1, July 1, and October 1.". My maintenance fee bill is due April 2, 2010, in a total of $953.17 (excluding the optional $5 for ARDA), and I own a townhome (not a villa).

ada903,

when did you receive the flier? I have not yet receive mine. I just checked Starcentral and do see the Maintenace Fee... (whew)... Its not as bad as I expected... and the bonus of reduced refurbishment cost ($400) :D :D

wonder what they cut back from the refurbished cost?
 

ada903

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
3,587
Reaction score
42
Points
433
The flier came last year, when they initially sent us the refurbishment fees due info. I scanned it and email it to Denise, so she should be able to post it soon. All that my letter for this year says is that they were able to cut down the refurbishment fees due to "cost saving initiatives".
 

jarta

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Messages
2,916
Reaction score
1
Points
273
Location
Chicago
bulldogz, ... "wonder what they cut back from the refurbished cost?"

I had lunch yesterday with a member of the HOA Board I used to be on. Ongoing major balcony restorations are being done on all the townhome units where I live.

The bids from contractors for this year's work are about 20% less than what had been bid per unit for the same balcony work last year. The economy affects everyone. Contractors need to keep their crews busy and are taking less money to do the same jobs. 3 years ago contractors were King - if you could even get them to bid on projects.

So, while I do not know for sure, it could be that the savings did not come from changes in the specifications which lower the quality of the finished product. They may have come because the bids for the work came in lower than budgeted or expected. ... eom
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
SVR Courts Special Assesment & SVN Invite

This document was provided by ada903 - THANKS! :hi:

VistanaCourts.jpg
 

ada903

TUG Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
3,587
Reaction score
42
Points
433
Thanks Denise, and apologies for my scribbling all over, I was calculating my dues for my three units, all of which had large refurbishment fees due ;)
 

YYJMSP

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2009
Messages
2,519
Reaction score
177
Points
298
Location
BC, Canada
Westin Lagunamar

I don't recall seeing this listed yet -- we just got our 2010 MF invoice today (due Mar 2nd)

The back of the sheet says:

1BR Studio - $448.84 ($385.40 assessment + $63.44 replacement reserve)
1BR Premium - $758.60 ($651.38 + $107.22)
2BR Lockoff - $1207.44 ($1036.78 + $170.66)
 

GeneNWendy

unconfirmed
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
78
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Fort Lee, NJ
Let your resort prove that!!

I challenge the resort where your timeshare is located to show you their detail financials, which proves that money from rentals of locked out units goes back to the homeowners association. I can almost guarantee they won't release that information, at least not voluntarily.
 

vistana101

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
639
Reaction score
77
Points
388
Resorts Owned
SVV (x2)
MF at WKORV

Does anyone know the MF for a two-bed lockoff island view, EOY ODD at WKORV? (current fees-already checked ones from developer list, anyone know how much gone up?)
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
It is a little more than half the EY rate - Approx. half + $30 + SVN fee.

Westin Ka'anapali Ocean Resort Villas (2 bdm.) - $ 2,346.36

There is a sticky at the top of the forum with this year's MF - I moved your post to that thread.
 
Last edited:

jjking42

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
1,902
Reaction score
513
Points
474
Location
Nevada
Resorts Owned
WKV and SVV, Wyndham Canterbury, Wyndham Flagstaff

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
Hi Jim - in 2004 the MF for my WKORV 2 bdm. was $1,200 - this year is it $2,300 - an increase of $1,100 in 6 years. :annoyed:

For the past 5 years, Starwood has been hammering us with double digit MF increases, and this year Maui county decided to add an extra high property tax just for TS owners, PLUS Starwood is charging us for other owners who are in arrears on their MF. Nice, huh?

It's killing the already ailing resale market.
 
Last edited:

stive1

TUG Member
Joined
Apr 14, 2009
Messages
161
Reaction score
2
Points
228
Location
Cincinnati
Haven't seen it listed any where and was curious if anyone knows what the MF are for an EOY SVR Cascades Lock off unit. I saw the EY fees but did not know if it would be 1/2 of that amount or if they ran a higher percentage similar to what my EOY Desert Oasis runs vs the annual amount.
 

lily28

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
1,412
Reaction score
82
Points
408
Location
chicago
MF for my eoy odd svr cascade for 2010 is $410.03, the third renovation assessment is an additional $266. I think cascade has higher MF than other phases in SVR

I just saw you ask for the MF for the lockoff. Sorry, mine is only a 2 bedroom
 
Last edited:

nodge

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2006
Messages
1,321
Reaction score
1
Points
36
Location
Portland, Oregon
"EVERYBODY WINS"

[...]

Three drawings will be held, with ten prizes awarded at each drawing. Pay by November 15, 2009 for entry in the first drawing. Pay between November 16 and November 30, 2009 for entry in the second drawing. Pay between December 1 and December 15, 2009 for entry in the third drawing.

So has anyone heard anything about the results from these three drawings?

-nodge
 
Last edited:

naka4

Guest
Joined
Jan 19, 2010
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
Points
161
Location
California
I had the same question. Emailed Starwood and was told because of confidentiality reasons, I could not get information on the winners or whether anyone won.

Pretty shady if you ask me.
 

DavidnRobin

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
11,813
Reaction score
2,224
Points
698
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
Resorts Owned
WKORV OFD (Maui)
WPORV (Kauai)
WSJ-VGV (St. John)
WKV (Scottsdale)
Is there only one size 2BR unit at WKORVN?
If so, are all the 2BR maintenance fees the same?

Correct - all MFs at WKORV-N are the same - except between EY and EOY (add ~$30 for EOY to half the EY MF) - plus the additional yearly payment of the SVN fee (~$114/yr for 1 VOI) since it is not halved for an EOY.
 

amundson

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
366
Location
Austin, TX
Resorts Owned
WKV 2BR, WKV 1BR
I'm just sayin'...could be a nice little profit.

OK, so there are some variables that go into pricing of a week, such as how many star options, resort location, yada yada, MFs, etc, etc. Did I mention MFs? Yeah right. It seems to me that resale price can be completely controlled downward by MFs alone because a buyer looks at the annual MF and says, "I can stay in a hotel or rent a unit for $X, so yeah it is ok for me to pay that many $$ in MFs and I would be willing to pay $Y to own that timeshare." But, if the MF gets too high, the buyer says "why would I lock myself into this high MF?" So, anyway, nothing new here and many already feel this pain...

But, what Dr. Evil (Starwood) could do and it would be particularly nasty, is Dr. Evil could just continue to raise MFs faster than the market prices of renting or hotel stays, driving down the price of "resales" till it gets to the point where there are more people selling their timeshares for $1 just to get rid of the MFs and we would begin to see more and more $1 sales on ebay, etc. Then the good doctor could swoop in, exercise the ROFR and purchase a few of these for themselves... call it an investment.

Its just a story, but say Dr. Evil could buy, quite cheaply, till he owns say 20% of the outstanding units, and easily cover any loss in his highly exorbitant MFs, not to mention that these units can also be rented out. Brilliant. WhaHAHAHAHAHaaaa.

Now to make this investment grow, just push that MF lever back in the other direction. Make what is called a sweeping management change, clean house, in some way instantly cut all MFs in half!! Suddenly, Tuggers love Starwood management again, and subsequently the market prices of resales recover, giving Dr. Evil a tidy little profit as he unloads his holdings.

"Mini Me, you complete me."
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
l2trade has been talking about that theory, as well. Yeah never know!
 

DanCali

TUG Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
4,492
Reaction score
1,790
Points
398
Resorts Owned
Vistana, Marriott, DVC
l2trade has been talking about that theory, as well. Yeah never know!

l2trade?

I thought it was me :) (at least most recently).

WKV and a couple of other resorts don't have ROFR but to me it's pretty obvious this is where things are headed - at least at some of the Starwood resorts. No reason for Starwood to do it now (enough inventory from point conversions), but once Starwood can rent WMH at $500/night for a 1BR during Platinum season - watch out!
 

DeniseM

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
57,672
Reaction score
9,091
Points
1,849
Resorts Owned
WKORV, WKV, 2-SDO, 4-Kauai Beach Villas, Island Park Village (Yellowstone), Hyatt High Sierra, Dolphin's Cove (Anaheim)
Uh, sorry Dan - It was you! :eek: :eek: :eek:
 

amundson

TUG Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
366
Location
Austin, TX
Resorts Owned
WKV 2BR, WKV 1BR
l2trade?

I thought it was me :) (at least most recently).

WKV and a couple of other resorts don't have ROFR but to me it's pretty obvious this is where things are headed - at least at some of the Starwood resorts. No reason for Starwood to do it now (enough inventory from point conversions), but once Starwood can rent WMH at $500/night for a 1BR during Platinum season - watch out!

Here is the deal though they ought to be afraid of tort law if they conspired in this way.

Also, MFs, and I guess this is kind of a question, since I am not sure what exactly goes into an MF, but if units are being rented out then, timeshare owners should not be subsidizing the maintenance for Dr. Evil's rentals... it would be easy to breakout (separately track) those revenues from hotel-type-rental activity and then take a portion of that for MFs. I imagine that is already being done? Please tell me yes. If not, then I suppose I might not be a buyer after all as renting would be the way to go... make reservations last minute for the same price and then let the timeshare folks subsidize my hotel.
 

DanCali

TUG Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2009
Messages
4,492
Reaction score
1,790
Points
398
Resorts Owned
Vistana, Marriott, DVC
Here is the deal though they ought to be afraid of tort law if they conspired in this way.

Also, MFs, and I guess this is kind of a question, since I am not sure what exactly goes into an MF, but if units are being rented out then, timeshare owners should not be subsidizing the maintenance for Dr. Evil's rentals... it would be easy to breakout (separately track) those revenues from hotel-type-rental activity and then take a portion of that for MFs. I imagine that is already being done? Please tell me yes. If not, then I suppose I might not be a buyer after all as renting would be the way to go... make reservations last minute for the same price and then let the timeshare folks subsidize my hotel.

If Starwood owns a unit outright they pay MFs. If an owner owns a unit and converts to hotel points the owner pays MFs but Starwood can then rent it.

There are some other more subtle issues though. Starwood rentls receive daily housekeepin. It is not clear if and how the HOA is reimbursed for that. They also cause more wear and tear on a unit due to higher turnover from daily retals. Nobody gets reimbursed for that.
 
Top