At what point would you stop payment?

[slip]

We have been to Molokai and enjoyed it, but you should visit there before you buy there. Molokai has no tourist infrastructure and almost all of the stores are of the "mom and pop" variety. There are no major grocery stores, or chain stores. It's like a tiny isolated town in the south, set in Hawaii.

This is a really good description and I wouldn’t buy a house or a condo without going there. I did buy my first timeshare for $1 without going there but that’s totally different. That worked out great though. That was my first Pono Kai week.

When I went to Molokai, I tried to look at everything. I spent a ton of time in the grocery stores too. The whole island had everything we needed. It’s just different, different in a quirky way too so that made it enjoyable.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi Jeff - Just to clarify: I'm certainly not criticizing you - I know you did your homework. However, Molokai is not for everyone.

 

[Fredflintstone]

This is a really good description and I wouldn’t buy a house or a condo without going there. I did buy my first timeshare for $1 without going there but that’s totally different. That worked out great though. That was my first Pono Kai week.

When I went to Molokai, I tried to look at everything. I spent a ton of time in the grocery stores too. The whole island had everything we needed. It’s just different, different in a quirky way too so that made it enjoyable.

Yes, I agree. I never buy something sight unseen. Did you know that Molokai has the highest percent of Hawaiians. I had a Hawaiian friend boat me to North Shore and pick me up in 2 weeks when I did my tenting stint. Hawaiians are slow to let you in but once they have they will do anything for you. Ohana at its best. Also, they are the best neighbors to have once they know you are there for the long haul.


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[Fredflintstone]

Hi Jeff - Just to clarify: I'm certainly not criticizing you - I know you did your homework. However, Molokai is not for everyone.

Yes, most people wouldn’t like the quiet. You are quite right. It takes a certain person to want a rural life.


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[slip]

Hi Jeff - Just to clarify: I'm certainly not criticizing you - I know you did your homework. However, Molokai is not for everyone.

No offense taken, as you can see I go out of my way to try to explain Molokai also. It’s hard to explain and going there is always your best bet. Especially when buying a whole ownership condo.

Molokai certainly isn’t for everyone and that is reflected in their annual visitor numbers. It’s only between 30,000 and 40,000 a year. But like we have said, it’s not set up with infrastructure for any more.

 

[Fredflintstone]

No criticism taken, as you can see I go out of my way to try to explain Molokai also. It’s hard to explain and going there is always your best bet. Especially when buying a whole ownership condo.

Molokai certainly isn’t for everyone and that is reflected in their annual visitor numbers. It’s only between 30,000 and 40,000 a year. But like we have said, it’s not set up with infrastructure for any more.

And I hope it stays that way. Surely there can be one island left that’s rural old Hawaii less Niihau of course.


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[slip]

Yes, I agree. I never buy something sight unseen. Did you know that Molokai has the highest percent of Hawaiians. I had a Hawaiian friend boat me to North Shore and pick me up in 2 weeks when I did my tenting stint. Hawaiians are slow to let you in but once they have they will do anything for you. Ohana at its best. Also, they are the best neighbors to have once they know you are there for the long haul.


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Definitely agree about that and just like everyone else, Some let you in quicker than others. It’s definitely a place where you don’t go there trying to change anything. You have to adapt to Molokai.

You may want to look at the west end also, where Ke Nani Kai is. The units are nice there and there are a few resorts to choose from. I felt the area looked a little depressed with the old ranch all boarded up. The west side is a lot dryer so it’s not as lush as the east side.

 

[slip]

And I hope it stays that way. Surely there can be one island left that’s rural old Hawaii less Niihau of course.


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I agree, that’s one thing my wife says, just our luck as soon as we get there they will start allowing more development. I don’t think it will happen and we hope not.

 

[plpgma]

Every year the maintenance fees climb. Sometimes a bit and sometimes a lot.

At what point would you refuse to pay the maintenance fee bill if ever?

If one year you get a special assessment for 5 k?

Your fees went from 2500 for the week to 3k or more?

Or would you pay whatever the invoice says and try to rid yourself of it? If you can’t get rid of it, you would pay whatever they say.

Do you have a line in the sand when it comes to what resorts can charge you? Or, a contract was signed and you are bound to pay any assessment amount declared as per the contract?

Lastly, do you think that resorts know the threshold or the maximum maintenance fee they can receive without outright owner revolt so you will never be faced with this.





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My wife and I own at a fairly expensive area (Ft Lauderdale) and therefore pay higher-than-average mf's. With that being said we have always been happy with the trade-off between hotel stay vs condo stay (re: we feel that we've always gotten our return for the money spent in mf's). Since we rationalize our monthly mf's as simply pre-paying for our vacations I guess we would have to determine the breakeven point where such vacations would be too expensive and then use that to consider whether continuing with mf's would no longer be attractive. But even though our mf's do increase each year by acceptable percentages we don't see such a break-even decision happening anytime real soon.

 

[bluehende]

The only way I would stop paying is if I have very good reason to think something shady is going on. My burden of proof would have to be pretty high too.

 

[whitemw]

Every year the maintenance fees climb. Sometimes a bit and sometimes a lot.

At what point would you refuse to pay the maintenance fee bill if ever?

If one year you get a special assessment for 5 k?

Your fees went from 2500 for the week to 3k or more?

Or would you pay whatever the invoice says and try to rid yourself of it? If you can’t get rid of it, you would pay whatever they say.

Do you have a line in the sand when it comes to what resorts can charge you? Or, a contract was signed and you are bound to pay any assessment amount declared as per the contract?

Lastly, do you think that resorts know the threshold or the maximum maintenance fee they can receive without outright owner revolt so you will never be faced with this.





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I owned at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Cabo San Lucas until my last visit last month. I stopped by the Member Services Office and asked about turning my week back in. It was so easy I couldn't believe it! So I could give $1,000.00 to walkaway or if I transferred it to another person the cost is $500.00. For me the decision was easy, my yearly maintenance for 2019 was going to be $982.00 so I charged $1,000.00 enjoyed the rest of my final week there and flew home. I purchased my week in 1993 so I had gotten my money's worth as far as I was concerned, had a lot of good times but was tired of the commitment.

 

[Fredflintstone]

I owned at Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach Cabo San Lucas until my last visit last month. I stopped by the Member Services Office and asked about turning my week back in. It was so easy I couldn't believe it! So I could give $1,000.00 to walkaway or if I transferred it to another person the cost is $500.00. For me the decision was easy, my yearly maintenance for 2019 was going to be $982.00 so I charged $1,000.00 enjoyed the rest of my final week there and flew home. I purchased my week in 1993 so I had gotten my money's worth as far as I was concerned, had a lot of good times but was tired of the commitment.

I think they are making it much more accommodating now. In your case they scooped up 1 k and you are happy to be done. On their side, better to get 1 k then nothing but foreclosure costs.

I believe the tide is changing for the owners. Let’s face it...lives change. Nothing lasts forever. There does come a time to move forward and the resort making the transition easier makes them look good.


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[BLKBRD370]

Throughout 2018 my Timeshare Unit ignored my request for a reservation date and now I am billed for MFs again for next year. I gave up on following up after 3 emails to reserve in early 2018. Disgusted.
BB370

 

[Fredflintstone]

Throughout 2018 my Timeshare Unit ignored my request for a reservation date and now I am billed for MFs again for next year. I gave up on following up after 3 emails to reserve in early 2018. Disgusted.
BB370

Well 2 people can play the same game. Why don’t you just ignore the bill? Send it back and tell them since you are being ignored on reservations, you will return the favour and ignore the bill. That should get results.


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[slip]

BTW, the listing above for Kauai Beach Villas is listed as sold already.

 

[Carol C]

My resort has just been bought out and the new company is trying to get everyone to trade their week for their new resort or face paying (threatening) a $7000 to $8000 special assessment to make repairs. If they follow through on their threat, I will not pay it and give them my week back as I suspect so will everyone else. Most of the owners are in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and I don’t think anyone that is retired or about to retire (me) is going to be willing to pay this. Haven’t got my maintenance fee bill yet so we’ll see.

Anyone know of other options if everyone would stick together?

Is your resort in Mexico and RTU, with some years left on contract? I owned where there was a buyout and the new resort chain is AI. Many of us hated AI and I started a Yahoo group (before Facebook) to organize unhappy owners. We won a really good concession but it took lots of work. If you do own in Mexico feel free to PM me for advice.

 

[Patri]

Just got back from a trip and found this thread. Skimmed through, as I have to go to work. But, very poignant considering over the weekend I talked to someone who stopped paying maintenance on a ts in Hawaii. They had purchased from developer 20 years ago, and fees were about $100 per year. Now they are $2,000. Also, some shady practices from the owner and his family. The location dynamics changed in the past few years, making it even more valuable, so they think developer wants people to walk and he will sell or remodel for another purpose.
It was hard for them to ignore the statements, as they are responsible people in all other ways. A few threatening letters arrived, including turning them over to a collection agency. They said go ahead, we don't need to borrow money any more. And it all went away. This was four years ago and no dings on their credit.
They said they got their money's worth over the decades, but apparently that ts couldn't even be given away on eBay, so they felt they had no other option.

 

[BLKBRD370]

Yes, I agree. I never buy something sight unseen. Did you know that Molokai has the highest percent of Hawaiians. I had a Hawaiian friend boat me to North Shore and pick me up in 2 weeks when I did my tenting stint. Hawaiians are slow to let you in but once they have they will do anything for you. Ohana at its best. Also, they are the best neighbors to have once they know you are there for the long haul.


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Thank you, FF. Just in the process of doing that. Will let you know what happens.
mraich

 

[BLKBRD370]

Well 2 people can play the same game. Why don’t you just ignore the bill? Send it back and tell them since you are being ignored on reservations, you will return the favour and ignore the bill. That should get results.


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Apologies, FF. My sign-off should have been BB370.

 

[LannyPC]

We currently do not own any TSs so I can't answer the original question honestly but I think this would be an interesting survey question posed to current owners who currently are trying to get rid of their TSs either by deeding back to the resort, listing it for sale/giveaway like here on TUG, or are using these cancel/exit/relief companies to hopefully divest themselves of their timehsare:

If your MFs were reduced by 25% (a $1000 MF would become $750, $2000 down to $1500, $2500 down to $1875, etc.), would you change your mind and keep your TS?

If they said Yes, then that probably means that they like their TS but the MFs are just a bit too high, probably somewhat higher than what a rental could reasonably fetch.

If they said No, then that probably means that they just want to completely shed that MF. Probably because they can't travel as much. Other reasons could be that their traveling patterns and habits have changed. Or they feel that they could still find something cheaper such as AirBNB, or hotels/motels.

 

[LannyPC]

I prefer to stay at a timeshare or condo type resort any day rather than a Home Away rental or just a hotel.

I prefer that too. However, I look at the cost of staying in a TS (whether renting or owning and paying MFs) versus paying to stay at an AirBNB or hotel/motel. For our personal tastes, needs, preferences, and circumstances, we will gladly take the savings and do without the amenities of a TS.

It's kind of like saying, "I would rather drive a Porsche than a Honda Civic." While that might be preferable, I would choose to take the Honda for that fact that it can do pretty much what the Porsche can but for a lot less money.

 

[WinniWoman]

I prefer that too. However, I look at the cost of staying in a TS (whether renting or owning and paying MFs) versus paying to stay at an AirBNB or hotel/motel. For our personal tastes, needs, preferences, and circumstances, we will gladly take the savings and do without the amenities of a TS.

It's kind of like saying, "I would rather drive a Porsche than a Honda Civic." While that might be preferable, I would choose to take the Honda for that fact that it can do pretty much what the Porsche can but for a lot less money.

I have to disagree. Well- like anything else- it really just depends. I have paid the same or less for a private timeshare rental than I have for a home or condo through Home Away. Renting directly from a resort- now that is usually more expensive than renting a timeshare privately or ta place hrough Home Away for sure.

We rented directly through a timeshare resort once in Colorado at Rams Head Resort and it was over $2000 for 7 nights but I felt it was worth the splurge for our preferences. I wouldn't say that about all timeshares, though.

However, we plan to also rent at a non timeshare resort (Cable Mountain Lodge)in Utah this year (Gosh- I hope the National Parks are fully open by then!) and it is also very expensive- in that over $2000 range. Again, I feel it will be worth the splurge in our case.

The maintenance fees for our timeshares are less than renting from Home Away.

Even staying in a decent, moderately priced hotel or inn is more than many timeshares.

EX:We just stayed at a lovely inn in NH, where we have stayed numerous times before. It was $400 for 3 nights. A pretty large room with 2 queen beds and a small sitting and one bathroom. Breakfast included. There is also a Fairfield Marriott down the road that charges the same for a smaller room and breakfast included.

The maintenance fee for our 2 bedroom/2bathroom plus loft timeshare condo in NH just 1/2 hour from there is $811. In Vermont we pay a bit over $900 for each week.

We have rented a condo in NH and small lake cottages in Vermont. $1200-$1400 for 7 nights.

We even rented a condo from another owner at the resort in Vermont we own at. It was a big one bedroom across the hall from ours. It cost us I think $700 or $800 for 7 nights, which I thought was fair. Covered his maintenance fees plus a little extra. And- also rented from a Wyndham owner who used her points to book 2 condos at our Vermont resort for a few days for XMAS for us and my brother's family and was still worth it compared to staying in a hotel.

 

[Panina]

I prefer that too. However, I look at the cost of staying in a TS (whether renting or owning and paying MFs) versus paying to stay at an AirBNB or hotel/motel. For our personal tastes, needs, preferences, and circumstances, we will gladly take the savings and do without the amenities of a TS.

It's kind of like saying, "I would rather drive a Porsche than a Honda Civic." While that might be preferable, I would choose to take the Honda for that fact that it can do pretty much what the Porsche can but for a lot less money.

I feel differently. Owning timeshares saves me money. Why should I drive a Honda Civic if I could drive a used Porsche that runs better for the same price or less ( Porsche would not be my choice, a Jeep Cherokee would be my choice)?

Find me a descent Marco Island or Key West AirBNB or hotel/motel in February for a week stay that I can rent for under $1200. With my timeshares I have the best accommodations with the least expense.

My trades make financial sense too. Recently stayed at a resort that I traded my under $600 mf week for a resort that would have been over $5000 for the week. It amazes me anyone would spend that much but I know people who do. I also just stayed at a nice hotel, Hampton Inn at a great rate $103 for the night and it just solidified how much nicer and cost effective timeshares are for me.