Best low maint fee weeks traders

[bnoble]

As far as I know, there is no single timeshare that has all of the following properties:

• Free or cheap to acquire
• Low maintenance fees
• Easy to rent comfortably above fees
• Excellent trade power

It's more common to have a free/cheap trader than a free/cheap renter. I suspect that's because the value of a trader is opaque, so it is harder for the market to reach consensus about value.

My other observation: you can drive yourself to distraction trying to find the Very Best Trader. But, it's a fool's errand, because (a) you will never be able to get solid information about all possible options, (b) everyone's goals for trading (and hence trade value) are different, and (c) trade values can and do change over time.

Instead, find a week that feels like a good balance between your various constraints, and go with it. A decent-to-good trader will still give you good leverage in the exchange market. Yes, someone might have spent several hundred dollars less to get a week at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge than I did, but I still spent less than an owner there spends only on annual fees, and I didn't have to spend low-to-mid five figures buying the trader.

 

[bnoble]

Instead, find a week that feels like a good balance between your various constraints, and go with it.

As one addendum: It is very helpful if that week happens to have intrinsic value being used as-is. In other words, a typical family should consider it a quality resort, at a time of year that is good for the resort and when most families can and will travel, with fees that are reasonable compared to local hotel rents. That way, if it no longer a good trader, it is relatively easy to dispose of it.

It's very easy to buy a timeshare. It can be very hard to sell one.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have a great trader in RCI, but I am not fond of RCI and the constant fees of combining leftover deposits, extending, exchange fees and fees at the various resorts we trade into.

I see a future of only II for our travels, but I also see Marriott/ Vistana/ Hyatt and all independent timeshare companies adding fees like Hilton/ Diamond have been doing for years. Makes me not want to trade anymore.

 

[CaliSunshine]

Hmmm, does Massanutten only trade in RCI now? Or is that specific to if you get a "points week"? I want to get into II mostly for the getaways and whatever their "extra vacations" are, but am debating picking up something to just get in II (and in that case, should I size to what I'd want anyway if I used it or ever needed to trade it) vs getting more HGVC points but in scotland where I can also join II.

Downside to the first is I still need to figure out an ownership I could possibly resell down the road, that also has a lower purchase price and MFs than the HGVC scotland 3 BR I'm considering.
Downside to the HGVC option is upfront purchase price, though I'll eventually get that together.

Yes some but not all Massanutten weeks have a ton of RCI points attached. For example Regal Vistas has 178K points for something like 1300 dollars in MFs. That’s enough for three or four 2BR prime weeks in RCI and even more if you’re traveling shoulder weeks.

 

[silentg]

Sometimes you can purchase a timeshare with low maintenance fee, only to have it increase in future years. I don’t mind if there are improvements or renovations, but if the fees increase and no upgrades or anything new. Then might rethink the ownership.

 

[austdav]

As far as I know, there is no single timeshare that has all of the following properties:

• Free or cheap to acquire
• Low maintenance fees
• Easy to rent comfortably above fees
• Excellent trade power

Magic Tree in kissimmee, Fl They will give you a 1bd for free, 2bd avg around $1500 It is a gold crown resort. 2bd mf runs 600 1bd mf runs 525 I have owned since 2019 and they have never raised mf's in that time period. I have been told mf's haven't went up in 20yrs but can only vouch since 2019. I traded this coming year to key west through II. Total cost for a week in 2bd in key west $850. They don't care what travel co. you use. rci, II, sfx\, or both they don't care. There are no additional fees at resort for owners, although resort fee for someone trading in. By the way they lowered our maintenance the year they started charging a resort fee. Certain months they let owners stay the whole month for the price of most 2bd, mf's. While I haven't traded much, (grandkids live here) I have traded to different resorts nearby and in Daytona in different point systems.Have always got the trade I was looking for. Again if interested call the resort. They will do a quick deed and the resort will be yours within the week for hardly no cost. So good I now own 3 units. They are floating weeks though not points.

 

[jp10558]

As far as I know, there is no single timeshare that has all of the following properties:

• Free or cheap to acquire
• Low maintenance fees
• Easy to rent comfortably above fees
• Excellent trade power

Magic Tree in kissimmee, Fl They will give you a 1bd for free, 2bd avg around $1500 It is a gold crown resort. 2bd mf runs 600 1bd mf runs 525 I have owned since 2019 and they have never raised mf's in that time period. I have been told mf's haven't went up in 20yrs but can only vouch since 2019. I traded this coming year to key west through II. Total cost for a week in 2bd in key west $850. They don't care what travel co. you use. rci, II, sfx\, or both they don't care. There are no additional fees at resort for owners, although resort fee for someone trading in. By the way they lowered our maintenance the year they started charging a resort fee. Certain months they let owners stay the whole month for the price of most 2bd, mf's. While I haven't traded much, (grandkids live here) I have traded to different resorts nearby and in Daytona in different point systems.Have always got the trade I was looking for. Again if interested call the resort. They will do a quick deed and the resort will be yours within the week for hardly no cost. So good I now own 3 units. They are floating weeks though not points.

I am tempted by this but many people say don't get anymore stuff in Florida now with the new laws. I wonder how the trades compare vs the Fox Run free on this board? I just can't imagine it having that much trading power because Orlando, but I guess it's by far the cheapest if I just want to see II getaways.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am tempted by this but many people say don't get anymore stuff in Florida now with the new laws. I wonder how the trades compare vs the Fox Run free on this board? I just can't imagine it having that much trading power because Orlando, but I guess it's by far the cheapest if I just want to see II getaways.

Foxrun has excellent trading power. Even my week 52, low season, sees one bedrooms at Disney Vacation Club resorts. I have been very impressed with the trading power. My only concern is the new management company. I am disappointed that VRI sold out to Capital Vacations. I was comfortable with VRI as management.

Capital has a "points product" to sell, and it's just another company trying to sell us what we already own but attaching points to it. As long as fees stay as they are, rising only a few percent per year, I will be okay keeping the week. When that changes, I will exit.

 

[austdav]

I am tempted by this but many people say don't get anymore stuff in Florida now with the new laws. I wonder how the trades compare vs the Fox Run free on this board? I just can't imagine it having that much trading power because Orlando, but I guess it's by far the cheapest if I just want to see II getaways.

I dont know anything about the new laws, but don't think it will affect this place much. They have plenty of reserves. In fact so much that we were told at the owners meeting some wanted to lower mf's. I see no sense in this, mf's are already lower than anyone else. I want to tell you one other thing that may entice you, not that I care what you do.Thats up to you. When I bought in 2019 the following year we were there at Christmas. A couple came in to the desk where I was standing and said they were no longer able to travel would they buy back their week. They said they would take the week back for free, but didn't pay money to take weeks back. Just this last Christmas at the owners meeting I asked if they still did this? They said they charge 2 years mf at most so that it gives them time to resell them. So lets see. You get a 1bd week for the cost of around $150 for the quick deed. You use it a year or so and find it don't work for you and you give it back for $1050 at most. I own SeaWorld too. The grandkids like this better, lots more to do for no cost. Just my opinion but your not really ought anything if it don't work for you. The resort is located right across from Westgate vacation villas on old lake Wilson road. Just past Walmart.

 

[bnoble]

I see no sense in this, mf's are already lower than anyone else.

Personally, I see this as a red flag. It's unlikely that somehow the management at this resort knows how to do things much more cheaply than everyone else. The people working at the resort aren't somehow being paid 3/4ths of market rate, so how are they getting by?

There aren't too many answers, and most of them are Not Good--at least, not in the long run.

 

[dioxide45]

Personally, I see this as a red flag. It's unlikely that somehow the management at this resort knows how to do things much more cheaply than everyone else. The people working at the resort aren't somehow being paid 3/4ths of market rate, so how are they getting by?

There aren't too many answers, and most of them are Not Good--at least, not in the long run.

From the looks of the photos, the resort isn't a real prize. It look rather dated and more like a motel from the 80s than a timeshare. The buildings are only two story so no elevators to maintain and also not subject to the new Florida statutes on multi story condos. It doesn't look like they have in room laundry. So they could invest in better commercial grade washers and dryers. I suspect it is also a rather bare bones operation. It doesn't look like they have any activities and they probably employ a front desk person and a couple maintenance people. Front desk might not even be staffed 24/7. That said, I don't know how they could not have had an increase in 20 years. The employees never expect a raise?

 

[austdav]

Personally, I see this as a red flag. It's unlikely that somehow the management at this resort knows how to do things much more cheaply than everyone else. The people working at the resort aren't somehow being paid 3/4ths of market rate, so how are they getting by?

There aren't too many answers, and most of them are Not Good--at least, not in the long run.

It is an individual stand alone resort that has bee sold out for years. The units they sell are units that have been returned or whatever. The point is they are not putting in more resorts or expanding so they only need to maintain the resort they have. Corporations like Hilton, Marriot ,Hyatt, Wyndham are constantly finding new ways to implement fees to increase profits and make their shareholders happy, not their owners. The pres. at magic tree has 10 units she don't want fees to go up. Same with other board members they own weeks themselves. They are not ceo's that make thousands of dollars. They are individuals that own timeshare. Not a corp. trying to increase profits each year. Look at the math $600 for a 2bd *52 wks =31,200. If you had a 2 bd house with pool & whatever else it don't cost that just to maintain the property. Now * that by 100 units and that's over 3 mil. Evan with all the improvements they make every year they are nowhere near that number. They constantly make improvements too. Do me a favor though if it sounds enticing at all. See how many units you can find on the open market. Last I new their was 1-1br on tug but that's free from the resort, and you know its free and clear with no leans and only cost around 150. I looked for a year and finally got my 3rd 2bd when I was their at Christmas. I had a realtor looking and she never found one either. If these units are no good why are they not available everywhere. Im not a salesman but give it a shot and stay at Sheraton or Hilton for half of their mf's. By the way the same girls have been their since I have been an owner. Think they would have moved on if they weren't being paid appropriately. Savannah, and cee cee are usually at the desk. Paula is the pres. Stop in or call and ask questions. I walked in and bought my 1st week,never been sorry.

 

[pchung6]

Just to remind everyone. Nothing will work forever. RCI/II can adjust the trader power anytime.

 

[jrb916]

2 words....Capital Vacations.

 

[austdav]

From the looks of the photos, the resort isn't a real prize. It look rather dated and more like a motel from the 80s than a timeshare. The buildings are only two story so no elevators to maintain and also not subject to the new Florida statutes on multi story condos. It doesn't look like they have in room laundry. So they could invest in better commercial grade washers and dryers. I suspect it is also a rather bare bones operation. It doesn't look like they have any activities and they probably employ a front desk person and a couple maintenance people. Front desk might not even be staffed 24/7. That said, I don't know how they could not have had an increase in 20 years. The employees never expect a raise?

It was a motel conversion at one time. There is no laundry in each room but onsite. Easy to get too,and use because resort is small. Towell exchange daily though. There is no one on site over night but they are there from morning till I believe 9pm. That is all true! Now! yes there is an elevator. They have putt-putt, a playground, fitness center, movie theater, you can sign out DVDs, they have a game room with different consul systems & you only have to go and get the game for them you want. They have BBQ grills, fire pits, shuffle board, foosball and free coffee. Pool, hot tub and kids pool. They are redoing the hot tub and putting in splash pad for kids this summer. Everything is free. I have traded into Sheraton Vistana at Christmas twice, also into Vistana villiges once. I am going to key west this December, each trade cost $600 mf's plus $250 trade fee. How much do you pay in mf's. Seems this resort is a reel prize.

 

[dioxide45]

It was a motel conversion at one time. There is no laundry in each room but onsite. Easy to get too,and use because resort is small. Towell exchange daily though. There is no one on site over night but they are there from morning till I believe 9pm. That is all true! Now! yes there is an elevator. They have putt-putt, a playground, fitness center, movie theater, you can sign out DVDs, they have a game room with different consul systems & you only have to go and get the game for them you want. They have BBQ grills, fire pits, shuffle board, foosball and free coffee. Pool, hot tub and kids pool. They are redoing the hot tub and putting in splash pad for kids this summer. Everything is free. I have traded into Sheraton Vistana at Christmas twice, also into Vistana villiges once. I am going to key west this December, each trade cost $600 mf's plus $250 trade fee. How much do you pay in mf's. Seems this resort is a reel prize.

Since our Marriott and Vistana weeks are enrolled and lock off units, we are able to exchange through II for about $900 total. Fees went up big time this year, so it was cheaper in the past. Now we did have to pay to purchase (resale) and enroll out Marriott weeks. For someone just coming in, if they make the right presale purchase decision of a Marriott or Vistana trader, it would probably work out to more like $1000-$1200 per exchange all in. So the cost is a little higher, but they do have some more flexibility given the exchange preference with II.

 

[mrtempus1]

Sounds like a good tip. Thanks much.

Any thoughts on Grandview Las Vegas 2br lockoff. I was thinking of renting one side and turning the other side into points

We have a Grandview 2BR Lockoff 80K points annually for about $915/yr on RCI Points. This has served us very well and we manage up to 4 trips a year, 1BR / Studios and Last Calls. Sometimes we only do one or two 2BR trips. We are adding a Club Wyndham to augment because we’ve developed a preference for the Wyndham properties over the last seven years we’ve been with RCI. We’ll probably keep both for a while and see how that goes.

 

[chapjim]

It was a motel conversion at one time. There is no laundry in each room but onsite. Easy to get too,and use because resort is small. Towell exchange daily though. There is no one on site over night but they are there from morning till I believe 9pm. That is all true! Now! yes there is an elevator. They have putt-putt, a playground, fitness center, movie theater, you can sign out DVDs, they have a game room with different consul systems & you only have to go and get the game for them you want. They have BBQ grills, fire pits, shuffle board, foosball and free coffee. Pool, hot tub and kids pool. They are redoing the hot tub and putting in splash pad for kids this summer. Everything is free. I have traded into Sheraton Vistana at Christmas twice, also into Vistana villiges once. I am going to key west this December, each trade cost $600 mf's plus $250 trade fee. How much do you pay in mf's. Seems this resort is a reel prize.

Very well reviewed on TripAdvisor.com and RedWeek.com.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I would never stay at Magic Tree. Too many great resorts to trade into.

Here is my take on this thread:

bnoble is absolutely correct that any week you acquire free or nearly free may not be something that will trade well. I am talking $0-$500.

I remember paying $2,000 15 years ago for Foxrun summer weeks directly from Becky Varn, BOD of the HOA for many years. I bought a few from her to trade into Disney. Worked great, and we even received bonus weeks for our deposits (AC's), which also received great Disney trades. Now the AC's don't get Disney at all. Foxrun summer weeks probably do pretty well for Disney, but at what cost?

I did acquire a Gold Season Marriott's Willow Ridge 2 bed EOY from an ebay auction for that under $500 with closing costs price, but the fees are the same as my Platinum Season Willow Ridge weeks, and the trading power is exceptional on the Plat vs. Gold (most of the time). I have seen Gold weeks on ebay for the same price I paid. I don't buy them, but if I can find a Willow Ridge Platinum for $2,500 or so, I will definitely pay the money for it, as long as I don't have to reimburse MF's for current year's use, which is the problem with taking anything Marriott right now. This year has been booked solid for months. Nothing available for 2024. Marriott is under no obligation to help you get a week with a timeshare you just bought and hoped to book for 2024. They have been quite unhelpful, actually.

Buy it without reimbursement of MF's and then book for 2025 easily enough. Most weeks that are "leftover" for 2025 reservations (at the current time) are still great as far as trading power is concerned.

Marriott-Marriott exchanges are $164. I can trade my one bedroom into one bedrooms on the islands for $855 + $164. I just did get an exchange for Marriott's Ko Olina in a 1 bedroom for President's week next year.

Fees are $1,607 + $95 to lock the two bedroom into two separate parts for two deposits. This is my best trader.

Fees on Foxrun for 2024 are $931 for one exchange into Disney $931 + $229 exchange fee.
Fees for my lockoff Willow Ridge (Marriott) $855 or so for one exchange into Disney + $229 exchange fee.

Always Marriott for us, and Marriott has the preference into resorts we like to visit in Palm Beach, FL Panhandle, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Newport Coast, and many others.

Why not spend the $2,500 and get something you are proud to own. Same with any Marriott in Palm Desert. All have great trading power, but the fees are higher, so that is why I didn't mention that resort. The cost to own is higher as well because people do rent Shadow Ridge, and I need to figure out how to get money for those and stop using them for trading purposes. They trade very well, but are more expensive to use than Willow Ridge.

If I had all of the money in the world, I would want only Abound and would use it for everything, but we are still on a budget and are retired and love to travel. I know what I value for exchange purposes, and I bought multiple units at three very specific resorts, the other being Sheraton Broadway Plantation, which is turning out to not be "as great" (meaning it's not as good as it has been in the past) after the last downgrade in trading power. I don't know why II downgraded our trading power on SBP but it makes me want to complain that we cannot book a specific week to deposit. That could be a conversation in the future for me as an owner of SBP (SBR is the new politically correct name).

We own at only one expensive resort, two weeks, also the most expensive unit type, and I do not regret that decision one bit. It was a bargain for us. We still bought resale, bought through Syed, oceanfront Maui at Westin, and we were grandfathered into Abound with our purchase. We happen to be Chairman's Club, but we bought the resort to use, not to trade or to book anything Marriott. If there is ever a time that we cannot use our week, I will reserve whale season and rent the two studios and two one bedrooms separately, and it will be a great profit. No reason to use the "free" II account that we have with that purchase.

 

[ncaahockeyfan]

@rickandcindy23 - super useful information and appreciate you sharing!

I am trying to decide on an II trader myself and was set on MGC, but you got me looking into MHB. The summer TDI looks awesome, but I wonder how difficult those weeks are to book. The MFs are slightly higher at MGC, but the purchase price is lower at MHB.

If you did it over again would you buy MHB or MGC to trade with?

 

[jp10558]

I think I don't understand Marriott well enough because it just always seems very expensive vs what you get that I care about anyway. And I don't really care about DVC so trading into them is mostly irrelevant I think. What I more wonder is ability to get into HHI. I'm doing Myrtle Beach starting tomorrow, and HGVC has plenty of MB but basically nothing in HHI. Same for Wyndham. For some reason it's all Marriott or independent on HHI, and aside from the week I snagged in the end of January this year, stupid expensive in Extra Vacations.

I'd love to get a good deal on HHI when it was warmer, maybe even this time of year, or May, but I might have to actually just buy there IDK. I did just get the process started on a good Fox Run trader, but IDK if it'll get me into HHI, will just have to wait and see, and see what II has in their extra vacations.

 

[austdav]

"I would never stay at Magic Tree. Too many great resorts to trade into." We are not talking about trading into magic tree, but finding a low weeks mf trader. And while i personally love staying at my gold crown resort. I understand that it doesn't have a fake stone waterfall over the pool etc. that make some of these resorts look fabulous. I agree. Would i trade a marriot to stay at magic tree! No. But i have owned marriot, hyatt, and I had to get rid of them because of fees. I still own a hilton. The point system just works better for me. But i would never recommend hilton as a low cost trader. Which is what this thread is about. I'm not saying paying 1700 and dividing them into 2 weeks is bad but i would have to question where is my mf's going to be in 10yrs - 5yrs even 1yr. I can only tell you that every year they will be higher and over time a lot higher. I have owned since 2019 and never had an increase in mf's. I was told they haven't raised mf's in close to 20 yrs. And I have always traded to where i wanted to go at a lot less cost. They also have a return policy of a max 2yr mf. depending on how long for them to resell, but again 2yr max. My last unit i bought i waited almost a yr. to get. Previous owners paid nothing to get out. Try finding magic tree on tug or redweek. they are not easy to find for a reason especially 2bd units.

 

[Hindsite]

Please remember that any trading in II, the existence of trading in II or the value in II of anything, is discretionary benefits of ownership, so understand the risks associated with changes happening soon, later or never.
Hyatt, Welk and Diamond owners who have got used to trading in II, in Hyatts case excellent value, are now finding themselves having to review the basis of their ownership.
Make sure that whatever you proceed with has an exit plan that you can implement if you find changes happen that alter the value you can get from ownership.
Lots of great value to be had, enjoy!

 

[Bailey#1]

Any recommendations is appreciated

Another thing you may want to think about. If you live near a timeshare that offers you free use for the year. Then you can use the pools, parking, and fitness center almost anytime.

 

[rickandcindy23]

@rickandcindy23 - super useful information and appreciate you sharing!

I am trying to decide on an II trader myself and was set on MGC, but you got me looking into MHB. The summer TDI looks awesome, but I wonder how difficult those weeks are to book. The MFs are slightly higher at MGC, but the purchase price is lower at MHB.

If you did it over again would you buy MHB or MGC to trade with?

MGC is great. If you can swing it, by MGC.

I see ebay ads for Willow Ridge requiring reimbursement of fees for 2024. By the time the ownership is turned over to a new owner, there will be very little inventory available.

Willow Ridge is easy to get at 12-13 months out (13 months with multiple ownerships). Lockoffs are very easy to book and get for the two deposits.