4th of July week at Harborside, or platinum weeks?

[yumdrey]

As a newbie to Starwood system, I want to ask TUG members for some advice. I have Hilton, Worldmark and 2 other TS, and tried to exchange to Harborside but it seems like almost impossible through II. So I was discussing with my husband about purchasing Harborside for use of ourselves, or rent them occasionally. I searched harborside resales (2BR L/O) and there are two choices. One is week 26, 4th of July week with around 95k staroption (sorry, cannot remember exact number) and the other is Platinum week with 148K staroption. The prices are almost same (week 26 is $1,000 more expensive than platinum). I don't know which one is better choice. I love 7/4 week, it will be easy to rent them out (I think?), but it is gold season and get less staroption than platinum. If I purchase platinum week, I can have more staroption, but I am wondering if it would be rent easily in case I cannot use that year.
Any advice? Thank you!

 

[DeniseM]

First of all - be sure you buy the week you want to use. Exchanging for another week can be very difficult.

How often do you want to rent? I would not buy there, unless I wanted to use it at least every other year. With the economy the way it is I am afraid the rental market may get a little soft, because we are seeing more timeshare owners renting their weeks, because they can't afford to travel. But looking into my crystal ball, I predict that you should be able to rent a popular week for at least enough to cover your maintenance fees. You didn't say what week the Plat week is, but I think the 4th of July week would be a good renter.

I am a big believer in buying where and when you want to go, so if it was me, I would be more concerned about buying a week I can use, and that would be a good renter, than about the Staroptions.

What week is the Plat week? And if you care to share the price, I'm sure some of our resale savvy Woodies can advise you on that too.

 

[LisaRex]

"Buy where you want to go in the location you want to go."

As you've discovered, HRA is a really difficult resort to trade into. It's also difficult for float owners to get their week, especially during summer/holiday weeks. I wouldn't buy a float unit at HRA. Unless you really. really want to do internal SVN trades a lot* a lot, I'd buy the 7/4 week. Worse comes to worse, holiday weeks are usually good renters. And I'm sure there are owners who'd be quite willing to do a direct exchange as well.

*And most would be a trade-down, with the exception of Hawaii and St. John. By trade-down, I mean you'd be exchanging a high demand resort with high MFs to a resort that is less in demand and/or has significantly less MFs.

 

[James1975NY]

"Buy where you want to go in the location you want to go."

As a resale enthusiast, I STRONGLY reccommend to purchase a week that will work for you "out of the box" versus purchasing something else and trying to get what you want - more so for properties like the Harborside Resort because of the popularity and difficulty to reserve.

Having a lot of experience with the resale market and having worked for Starwood Owner Services for 7 years, I am curious as to how the pricing for the platinum is the same for the gold week (even on resale). Are these both annual ownerships? Are they both the same villa size? I would assume that something has to be different about the two other than the season (but not necessarily).

Another item I would look into is to ensure that the week 26 will cover the 4th of July holiday as frequently as you need....looks like 26 and 27 weeks share the holiday about 50/50 but week 27 will have it 4 out of the next 6 years (assuming a Saturday c/i).

 

[tomandrobin]

As a newbie to Starwood system, I want to ask TUG members for some advice. I have Hilton, Worldmark and 2 other TS, and tried to exchange to Harborside but it seems like almost impossible through II. So I was discussing with my husband about purchasing Harborside for use of ourselves, or rent them occasionally. I searched harborside resales (2BR L/O) and there are two choices. One is week 26, 4th of July week with around 95k staroption (sorry, cannot remember exact number) and the other is Platinum week with 148K staroption. The prices are almost same (week 26 is $1,000 more expensive than platinum). I don't know which one is better choice. I love 7/4 week, it will be easy to rent them out (I think?), but it is gold season and get less staroption than platinum. If I purchase platinum week, I can have more staroption, but I am wondering if it would be rent easily in case I cannot use that year.
Any advice? Thank you!

Beaware the Harborside has two phases. Phase 1 has fixed weeks, phase 2 has float weeks. July 4th is in gold season. If you buy the platinum week, you can only call at the 8 month mark to try and book a gold season unit. You will be competing against all the other Starwood owners at the 8 month mark. So if July 4th is what you want, buy gold season. If you want that week specifically, buy in phase 1 or take your chances calling 9am at the 12 month mark.

Also, when buying Harborside Staroptions and Starpoints are a mute point. You buy Harborside to use or to rent, anything else is a waste of money.

 

[yumdrey]

Thank you!

Thanks all of you for the great input!
The platinum season is week 1-17 and 50-52, and gold season is week 18-36, 47-49 and silver season is week 37-46. Spring or Easter vacation, Christmas and new year's week are all platinum weeks. 7/4 week and all summer are gold season.
The brokers I have talked to said "gold season doesn't guarantee 7/4 week, you should buy deeded 7/4 week (week 26 or 27) if you want that week because it is one of the hardest weeks to get".
And then I saw the ad in TUG site, there is week 26 for $29,000 and then I was talking to the broker and he suggested $28,000 (so $1,000 discount). He also has a platinum (float) weeks for sale for $27,000. I am trying to buy only 2BR L/O (we are family of 5), so these TS prices are all for same size units. Even though gold season is around $17,000 (for 2BR L/O) these days, I thought this TS is $28,000 because it is guaranteed week 26, not just a float gold season. If I can reserve a week 26 or 27 with gold season ownership, I would happily buy gold season because there is big price difference ($10,000) between platinum and gold season. but if it is impossible to reserve 7/4 week with (float) gold season ownership, then I would consider buying week 26.
I am quite flexible for travel, but don't want to buy silver season because better weeks are always sold easier (faster) later (just in case).
I am planning to use this resort at least every other year. I live in Baltimore area, and flight to Nassau, Bahamas is around $300 - $350, quite reasonable.
Again, thank you for your good advice.

 

[tomandrobin]

Ask for a copy of the deed. Verify that you are buying a float or fixed week. There is another tugger who recently bought a "float" week on to discover that the week was actually a "fixed week, in May. They are teachers and con not travel in May.

Not everyone who owns at Harborside is going July 4th weekend, but I am sure it is busy. As a float owner, if you miss the 9am call for reservations, you will probably be out of luck. If you are flexible, you will get something either that week or the one before or after. Also, week 26 does not always hit July 4th every year. Verify what years July 4th falls within your week.

OT - Just wanted to say Howdy from a fellow Marylander!

 

[mariawolf]

As another poster said you need to make sure the phase you are in--if you are in Phase 1 and that week--July 4th--is on your deed as long as you call between 10 and 12 months you are fine--but in Phase 2 I believe they assign you a week/unit but it means nothing because everything is float.
I own two Platinum weeks and have not tried to go in summer which is gold but if that is when you plan to go you should buy then.
I also agree that is you are not going to go every year it is likely best to not buy because unless you own a very popular week you may have trouble renting it.
I own a one bedroom 52 which includes New Year's and those years that I rent it I can cover more than my maintenance fees for both units on the rent I receive for just that one week.

 

[LisaRex]

Or you might consider buying an EOY unit.

 

[clsmit]

Having a lot of experience with the resale market and having worked for Starwood Owner Services for 7 years,

Welcome, James! Glad to have someone with your experience around. Are you still working for Starwood? If so, we have a few suggestions for you to share with your employer...if not, hope you're enjoying whatever you're doing now!

 

[alwysonvac]

You could rent instead of buying

There are 191 rental listings along with 55 resale listings for Harborside at Redweek.com - http://www.redweek.com/resort/P4748-harborside-resort-at-atlantis#rentals
I'm assuming rising airfare is the cause for the high number of rentals.

If you decide to buy make sure you check airfare prices for travel during the 4th of July. Airfare is always the highest for holiday travel.

Good Luck