2012 MF's

[dougp26364]

Grand Chateau 3 bedroom Platinum 7.5% increase

These guys at Marriott are killing me. Our MGC ownership was hit with a 6.11% increase last year and now, this year it's a 7.5% increase. With very few amenities at MGC, what the heck is our HOA doing with the money?

MGC 3 bedroom Platinum:
property taxes: $96.98
operating fee: $1,103.50
reserve fee: $435.08

Total $1,636.56 or a 7.5% increase over 2011

Reserves of $435.08? For what? a pool the size of a shoebox, a Marketplace Express and an average fitness center? You've got to be kidding me! If people are tearing up the units that much, maybe HOA should be going after a few collections!

 

[bobpark56]

Of what use is this information...other than for bitching?

 

[dougp26364]

Of what use is this information...other than for bitching?

We keep track. Records are a useful way to determine appropriate management and if there is a pattern to be concerned about. It's also provides a database to determine what might be a good buy.....or a not so great buy when someone is considering buying a Marriott timeshares.

 

[taffy19]

Maui Sequel - 2 BR Lahaina or Napili villa

2012 Property Tax Fee - $288.93
2012 AOAO Replacement Reserve - $83.31
2012 AOAO Operating Fee - $727.78
2012 Replacement Reserve - $213.32
2012 Operating Fee - $811.45

Amount Due - $2,124.79

ARDA fee voluntary of $10.00 not included here.

Last year the total fee was $2,053.14.

 

[BocaBoy]

It seems that quite a few TUGGERS seem pleased with 3-4% MF increases. I think that is quite high in the current economic/inflation environment. I would have been satisfied with 2% or less.

 

[m61376]

It seems that quite a few TUGGERS seem pleased with 3-4% MF increases. I think that is quite high in the current economic/inflation environment. I would have been satisfied with 2% or less.

I am not so sure it is that people are "pleased" with 3-4%, but relieved when theirs is not 13-14% that some locales are experiencing. I also think that we're all aware that there are costs that are escalating regardless of the economy (or maybe contributing to the economic crisis); for example, if you heat your home with oil, what is your pricing for this year as compared to last? I know in the Northeast it isn't pretty

That said, I sure would like to know why the reserves went up so significantly at the Surf Club, generating huge MF increases. I guess we are paying for 2 years of decreases, so averaged out it is not out of line but nevertheless it is a huge increase percentage-wise.

 

[dougp26364]

It seems that quite a few TUGGERS seem pleased with 3-4% MF increases. I think that is quite high in the current economic/inflation environment. I would have been satisfied with 2% or less.

I would prefer it be zero, but I understand there are costs associated with running a resort and I'm certain the empolyee's expect a raise. 3% to 4% in this economy is acceptable.

6.1% followed by 7.5%, and more specifically, a cash reserve fund that's higher than any other resort I know of, yet the resort has less amenites than most resorts, strikes me as unacceptable.

 

[Lee55]

Marriott Aruba Ocean Club
1 bedroom
**Utilities 184.29
Surplus Return −25.30
Replacement Reserve 273.78
Operating Fee 637.15
------------------------------------------
2012 Total $1069.92

**Electricity and Water/Sewer line items

Aruba Surf Club MF 2012
Received our statement yesterday. The same costs for a 1-BR /Gold /OV.

The break down for a 2-BR unit
Utilties 245.34
Surplus Return -36.32
Replacement Reserve 370.39
Operating Fee 835.78

Grand Total 1,426.19

 

[MOXJO7282]

Aruba Surf Club MF 2012
Received our statement yesterday. The same costs for a 1-BR /Gold /OV.

The break down for a 2-BR unit
Utilties 245.34
Surplus Return -36.32
Replacement Reserve 370.39
Operating Fee 835.78

Grand Total 1,426.19

Do you mean the Ocean Club? The Surf Club 2BDRM is $1373.46.

 

[Michigan Czar]

Maui Ocean Club - Original
Increase of 3.37% ($63.92)

2BDRM OV

2012 AOAO Operating Assessment 649.57
2012 Property Tax Fee 257.88
2012 Operating Fee 724.23
2012 AOAO Reserve Assessment 74.36
2012 Reserve Fee 190.40

Total Charges $1896.44

I like the small increase from year to year but why did the reserve go up so much? If my math is correct that is a 67% increase in reserve.

 

[normab]

St Kitts

St Kitts 2012 Gold 2bdrm GV

Operating fee...........$1204.25
Reserve......................283.27
Property Tax………………….14.27
Total........................$1501.79


About a 3.7 % increase from last year.


Norma

 

[Steve]

Manor Club?

Does anyone know the Manor Club fees for 2012? I bought a week there this past summer, but the closing is going very slowly and it is not in my account yet. I used to be an owner there, and I'm looking forward to being an owner again.

Thanks!

Steve

 

[bobpark56]

Planning for Success?

We keep track. Records are a useful way to determine appropriate management and if there is a pattern to be concerned about. It's also provides a database to determine what might be a good buy.....or a not so great buy when someone is considering buying a Marriott timeshares.

Hmmm...Will you be providing tools for identifying patterns? How is that going to work, anyway?

Your 2nd point makes more sense. But I think it implies, as a minimum, that the submitted results be sorted by resort if the inputs are to be useful. Do you propose to do that.

My rather negative reaction to this data collection proposal is much like my reaction to political proposals that sound great on the surface, but fail to provide affordable tools, financing, and support to carry the program through to the end. In short, what are the plans for success here?

 

[rsackett]

Does anyone know the Manor Club fees for 2012? I bought a week there this past summer, but the closing is going very slowly and it is not in my account yet. I used to be an owner there, and I'm looking forward to being an owner again.

Thanks!

Steve

Manor Club is not out yet.

Ray

 

[grgs]

Hmmm...Will you be providing tools for identifying patterns? How is that going to work, anyway?

Your 2nd point makes more sense. But I think it implies, as a minimum, that the submitted results be sorted by resort if the inputs are to be useful. Do you propose to do that.

It hasn't been updated for a few years, but past Marriott mf have been sorted by resort on this TUG page:

http://www.tug2.net/advice/marriottmf.htm

My rather negative reaction to this data collection proposal is much like my reaction to political proposals that sound great on the surface, but fail to provide affordable tools, financing, and support to carry the program through to the end. In short, what are the plans for success here?

I don't quite understand what your issue is? The mf info is provided for interested parties to do with as they wish. Why does anyone here have an obligation to provide "plans for success"?

Glorian

 

[Steve]

Manor Club is not out yet.

Ray

Thanks, Ray. I didn't realize that.

Steve

 

[dioxide45]

Hmmm...Will you be providing tools for identifying patterns? How is that going to work, anyway?

Your 2nd point makes more sense. But I think it implies, as a minimum, that the submitted results be sorted by resort if the inputs are to be useful. Do you propose to do that.

My rather negative reaction to this data collection proposal is much like my reaction to political proposals that sound great on the surface, but fail to provide affordable tools, financing, and support to carry the program through to the end. In short, what are the plans for success here?

No one has an alterer motive here with this information. People post their MF. In some situations, some people may not have received their bill yet, so this information can be useful to them. MF history has been tracked for quite some time. People can use it for anything that they wish, but there isn't an obligation by anyone here to organize it in a way so someone else can deem it useful.

 

[Superchief]

I would prefer it be zero, but I understand there are costs associated with running a resort and I'm certain the empolyee's expect a raise. 3% to 4% in this economy is acceptable.

6.1% followed by 7.5%, and more specifically, a cash reserve fund that's higher than any other resort I know of, yet the resort has less amenites than most resorts, strikes me as unacceptable.

I feel your pain. I am afraid to see the increases at Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe this year with the increased costs associated with shorter stays due to the DC points program.

 

[dioxide45]

I feel your pain. I am afraid to see the increases at Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe this year with the increased costs associated with shorter stays due to the DC points program.

But I thought Marriott said that the DC point program was going to cover those extra costs? That was part of the reason for the skim and padded $0.40 pp DC trust point MF?

 

[SueDonJ]

But I thought Marriott said that the DC point program was going to cover those extra costs? That was part of the reason for the skim and padded $0.40 pp DC trust point MF?

I still can't see how those extra costs can be charged to the Weeks owners, when the docs for Weeks are pretty clear that their fees have to be justified in the Operating Budgets. Any blatant DC-related fees included in those budgets will be fairly transparent. Plus, most of the increases this year are in the Reserve Fees. What would those have to do with the DC? There definitely seems to be a reason the HOA's are focusing on the Reserves - could it be that they're more concerned with any effects the spin-off will cause for resorts in the future? Are they stockpiling for that reason?

 

[dougp26364]

I feel your pain. I am afraid to see the increases at Oceana Palms and Ocean Pointe this year with the increased costs associated with shorter stays due to the DC points program.

I think the majority of the problem is the ultra high standard Marriott sets for it's resorts and the favorable working relationship Marriott has with what I believe are some pretty high cost vendors. I'm pretty certain that both Ocean Pointe's HOA and Beachplace Towers HOA have had differences over the quality/cost factor in the refurbishments.

I try not to forget that Marriott requires a soft refurb every 5 years and a full refurb every 10 years. At least we're getting something for our ultra high cash reserves but, there's going to be a breaking point for owners at some point. They can not continue with 6 to 7% increases indefinately without it eventually taking a toll on owners. If MF's double every 10 to 15 years, the resorts will eventually be unsustainable. Grand Chateua is quickly becoming a financial problem child and I'm already to the point where I regret not only the initial purchase of an EOY week but the subsequent purchase of the corresonding EOY week.

Like you, I'm scared to see the Ocean Pointe assessment for 2012. It seems to me they've averaged between 6 and 7% each year. Removing the playground (for good reasons I've learned) and replacing it with a splash park isn't likely to help the situation.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I like this annual thread because I like to understand what others are paying for Marriott properties different than what I own.

 

[m61376]

I alo appreciate seeing where the increases are going across the board. For example, the Aruba SC increase was very high, but of course Joe's thread reminded me that they had, in fact, decreased over the past two years. Also, I see that many other resorts are experiencing large increases in reserve fees. Lastly, but maybe it's just me, it tends to be human nature to glance at the bill rather than comparing it to prior years and breaking down where the increases are going, so I do think it makes us better informed owners.

 

[Lee55]

Do you mean the Ocean Club? The Surf Club 2BDRM is $1373.46.

Sorry about that..It's the Ocean club....

 

[armstrl]

Marco Island - Crystal Shores Fees

Developer Subsidy -158.95
Operating Fee 1,304.09
Property Tax Fee 19.02
Replacement Reserve 252.96

Total 1,417.12