2010 Maintenance Fee Thread

[nodge]

Do you think we'll get the letter offering us those worthless coupons if we pay early?

YES!!!!! The maintenance fees early payment promotion is now on the home page of MSC! And SVO has sweetened the deal with "automatic entry in two exciting contests for a chance to win up to 1,000,000 Starpoints and other exciting travel prizes"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From MSC . . . .

"EVERYBODY WINS"

Exceptional vacation rewards await you. When you pay your maintenance fees early and in full, you’ll receive two valuable vacation certificates:

50% off your special Owner rate at participating Starwood Vacation Ownership resorts*.

50% off retail rates at participating Starwood hotels and resorts.

You’ll also enjoy automatic entry in the “Pay early. Win big. Win now.” contest for a chance to win extraordinary travel prizes, including:
One of 15 awards of Starpoints® from the Starwood Preferred Guest® program, ranging from 5,000 to 100,000 Starpoints, that can be redeemed for free flights, free hotel nights and an array of unexpected indulgences
One of 15 seven-night vacation prizes, including resort stays in dream destinations like St. John, Hawai‘i, Cancún and Orlando, Florida.

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.
Best of all, with early payment you’ll also receive an automatic bonus entry in the “Thanks-a-Million Vacation Giveaway” for a chance to win the Grand Prize of 1,000,000 Starpoints. That’s enough for 50 nights at a category 6 hotel, like The St. Regis Aspen Resort in Colorado or Hotel Danieli, Venice in Italy. Or, you could enjoy 30 nights at a category 7 hotel, like Le Méridien Bora Bora in French Polynesia or The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort in Mexico. Or, you could vacation at another fabulous Starwood resort and fly there first class with SPG® Flights. With 1,000,000 Starpoints, the possibilities are endless. SPG categories are subject to change, visit SPG.com for current values.

Please note: Owners who pay their account via automated credit card payments must call sponsor to authorize early payment in order to participate in this contest.

* 50% off certificate does not include Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Lakeside Terrace and Villas of Cave Creek.
For contest entry, all payments must be received by December 15, 2009.

Talk about making early payment of massive increases in maintenance fees fun! Thanks SVO!

-nodge

 

[jerseygirl]

I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!

 

[DeniseM]

SVR - Falls 2 bdm.

Current Year Charges

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 661.66

Tax - If Applicable $ 52.84

Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00

Other* $ 0.00

Interest $ 0.00

Late Fees $ 0.00

ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00

Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 719.50
Less Payments*** $ 0.00

Total Due $ 719.50

 

[DeniseM]

SDO - EOY 1 bdm. premium (Lg. 1 bdm.)

Current Year Charges

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 325.62

Tax - If Applicable $ 0.00

Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00

Other* $ 0.00

Interest $ 0.00

Late Fees $ 0.00

ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00

Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 330.62
Less Payments*** $ 0.00

Total Due $ 330.62

Projected Fees for Next Year $ 325.62

 

[grgs]

SDO 1 bd prem (lg 1 bd)

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 611.25
Tax - If Applicable $ 0.00
Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00
Other* $ 0.00
Interest $ 0.00
Late Fees $ 0.00
ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00
Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 616.25
Less Payments*** $ 0.00
Total Due $ 616.25
Projected Fees for Next Year $ 611.25

7.43% increase over '09

 

[RoshiGuy]

YES!!!!! The maintenance fees early payment promotion is now on the home page of MSC! And SVO has sweetened the deal with "automatic entry in two exciting contests for a chance to win up to 1,000,000 Starpoints and other exciting travel prizes"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since this is TUG I have to ask this question - Are we better off being entered in the first round of the sweepstakes, the second or the third? There are an equal number of prizes in each round ... the more entries per round the lower the probability of winning. I'm thinking of waiting till round #2 - let the early birds jump into round #1. What do you'll think?

 

[grgs]

SDO sm 1 bd

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 518.63
Tax - If Applicable $ 0.00
Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00
Other* $ 0.00
Interest $ 0.00
Late Fees $ 0.00
ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00
Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 523.63
Less Payments*** $ 0.00
Total Due $ 523.63
Projected Fees for Next Year $ 518.63

7.43% increase over '09

 

[malyons]

Current Year Charges

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 661.66

Tax - If Applicable $ 52.84

Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00

Other* $ 0.00

Interest $ 0.00

Late Fees $ 0.00

ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00

Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 719.50
Less Payments*** $ 0.00

Total Due $ 719.50

This has me confused. Real estate taxes for a 2BR unit in the same resort, same city (ie, same taxing district), just different "sections", which the taxing authority should be able to see through. All have been renovated and in the tax man's eyes should be equal, yet...fountains II tax = $130, fountains I = $107, Springs = $82 and Falls = $52. Huh? makes no sense to me

 

[DeniseM]

Since this is TUG I have to ask this question - Are we better off being entered in the first round of the sweepstakes, the second or the third? There are an equal number of prizes in each round ... the more entries per round the lower the probability of winning. I'm thinking of waiting till round #2 - let the early birds jump into round #1. What do you'll think?

I own 3 weeks, so I am going to pay one MF during each period.

 

[pathways25]

Sheraton Mountain Vista - 2BR

Due Date 01/01/2010

Current Year Charges

Maintenance Fee(s) $ 1,119.92
Tax - If Applicable $ 65.38
Membership Fee - If Applicable $ 0.00
Other* $ 0.00
Interest $ 0.00
Late Fees $ 0.00
ARDA ROC PAC Contrib.** $ 5.00

Sub-Total
Current Year Charges $ 1,190.30
Less Payments*** $ 0.00
Total Due $ 1,190.30

Projected Fees for Next Year $ 1,185.30

 

[longboarder39]

Hi,
Has anyone seen anything from WMH's yet? I'm looking at a 2BR L/O resale purchase and I would love to know the increase before buying...

THANKS!!!

 

[malyons]

Hi,
Has anyone seen anything from WMH's yet? I'm looking at a 2BR L/O resale purchase and I would love to know the increase before buying...

THANKS!!!

check mystarcentral, i found mine there before i got it in the mail

 

[Pedro]

Pay early. Win big. Win now.

Just received my MF statement for Lakeside Terrace, along with a letter indicating that the association is experiencing higher than usual delinquencies, thus affecting cash flow. As an incentive to pay the fees early, the following is being offered:
1) a certificate for 50% off discount off the owner rate at SVO resorts (doesn't look like a bad deal)
2) a certificate for 50% off retail rates (I'm not sure what "retail" rates means). Is that the rack rate? Or is it similar to the 50% off certificate that you get with the Starwood AX card?
3) A chance to win 100,000 SP and other prices (it doesn't say what the odds of winning are)
4) A chance to win 1,000,000 SP (again, no mention of odds).

I haven't received the MF statements for the other resorts where we own, so I don't know if this incentive is limited only to Lakeside Terrace or if it applies accross SVN.

 

[tlpnet]

Hi,
Has anyone seen anything from WMH's yet? I'm looking at a 2BR L/O resale purchase and I would love to know the increase before buying...

THANKS!!!

I own two weeks there. They haven't yet been mailed or posted on MSC. I'll post when I find out.

-tim

 

[ondeadlin]

Uf.

Doesn't sound like a good sign for long-term stability or MFs.

 

[DeniseM]

Just received my MF statement for Lakeside Terrace, along with a letter indicating that the association is experiencing higher than usual delinquencies, thus affecting cash flow.

Can you please post the breakdown of your fees? We are tracking it - thanks!

Also - some of the MF's are on www.mystarcentral.com, now.

 

[DavidnRobin]

Can you please post the breakdown of your fees? We are tracking it - thanks!

Also - some of the MF's are on www.mystarcentral.com, now.

I look yesterday and WPORV, WKORV-S, WKV and WSJ MFs are not listed (still shows 2009).

I haven't been to MSC in a while - still sucks.

 

[nodge]

WKV 2 BR L/O 2010 Maint Fee: $1237.30

Westin Kierland Villas 2 Bedroom Lock-off Annual:

2010 Operating Assessment: $988.25
2010 Replacement Reserve: $190.75
2010 Estimated Real Estate Tax: $58.30
2010 SVN Membership Fee: $0.00
2010 ARDA-ROC PAC Contribution: $0.00

Total 2010 Assessment (not including SVN and ARDA fees): $1237.30

Increase from last year: $93.54 (increase of 8.18% from last year)

Got this in the mail today. This info is not available on MSC yet. Payment is due January 4, 2010. Early payment promotion applies.

-nodge

 

[Ant22man]

I just recieved my bill today (the early payment coupon expired already...such a deal! ...so Starwood)

Vistana Resort - Fountains

Operating Assessment - $6o4.73
Replacement Reserve - $89.22
Estimated Real Estate Tax - $109.00
SVN Fee - $109.00
ARDA Contribution - $0.0

TOTAL - $910.69

2009 - $830.56 / 80.13 Increase
I'm not happy This is is tasteless Especially at a place where customer service ranks low on the list of priorities

 

[tlpnet]

There are a couple people that reported that their early payment coupon already expired. I don't have access to mine at the moment, but remember reading some date in October that had passed when I was reviewing it, but then re-read it, and it said beginning October XX (date in the past). Could you please check yours, and see if that is what it says, or if it says expires October (date in the past).

-tim

 

[nodge]

WKV EOY-EVEN Large One Bedroom 2010 Maint Fee: $398.88

Westin Kierland Villas Large One Bedroom EOY-Even:

2010 Operating Assessment: $323.32
2010 Replacement Reserve: $58.55
2010 Estimated Real Estate Tax: $17.01
2010 SVN Membership Fee: $0.00
2010 ARDA-ROC PAC Contribution: $0.00

Total 2010 Assessment (not including SVN and ARDA fees): $398.88

Increase from last year: $29.64 (increase of 8.03% from last year)

Payment is due January 4, 2010. Early payment promotion applies.

FYI: With SVO, Every-Other-Year ("EOY") usage means you pay this maint fee EVERY year, but can only use an EOY villa during the usage year (odd or even years).

-nodge

 

[CeeWoo]

I should have bailed when I got that special assessment bill a couple years ago

 

[Iwant2gonow]

Well at least that $923.27/week fee is still a way better deal than what a non-owner could rent a week at VR for. Oh wait. Nevermind.

Please make sure to let SVO know what you think of this news here.

-nodge

When I clicked your "nevermind" link I could not believe it! Have not had time to log in to RCI in over a year. Can anyone explain how all of the extra vacations can be advertised so far in advance...end of 2010? Does Vistana give these weeks to RCI before our reservation window?

 

[Twinkstarr]

Lakeside Terrace regular season ski or summer season dedicated 2br

2010 operating assessment $722.60
2010 replacement reserve $172.01

Total $894.61 (not including the $5 ARDA contribution)

Actually if you own a shoulder season at LT you only pay $526.73 for 2010

. For uncollectable accounts they increased that line item $38.42(total for the year $60.19).


2009 fees were op assesment $690.17
replacement $144.02

total $834.19

increase 6.9%

 

[RoshiGuy]

Details on SDO Increase

I just got my SDO invoice in the mail today and it contained useful information relevant to this thread and other threads where increases in MF are being discussed.

According to the newsletter, overall increase is 7.4% or $70.15/week. However there have been decreases versus 2009 as follows:
* Special Projects $33.6/week
* SVO Allocation $18.0/week
* Office Wages/Other $11.1/week
* Utilities $6.1/week
* Parking Lot lease $4.5/week

The increase versus 2009 is being driven by:
* Legal budget $12.8/week
* Delinquencies $130.9/week
* Reduced int income $12.0/week

I added in to the delinquencies number above something that was shown as "prior year surplus reduction" because it was said that this was also linked to owner delinquency. Yes, the numbers above all don't add up to $70.15/week but that is what was in the newsletter.

So it appears, for SDO at least, that MF increases are completely being driven by owners not paying dues.