Buying directly or from resale?

[Rocio]

Hi, this will be my first timeshare buying:
Is is worth buying direct with the resort, more expensive, added bonus and finance
or
resale for lower price and cash
Thank you for any suggestions

With a smile
Rocio

 

[gmarine]

With a few exceptions a resale is almost always the better choice.

 

[dchilds]

Either can be better. We purchased direct from Trade Winds Cruise Club. We purchase foreclosed units and resale at Pelican Resort. All other purchases were resale. If there is a specific week and/or unit/building, sometimes resort sales are the only way to go. The foreclosed unit was only about 20% of the original resort price. Trade Winds was full price, but worth it.

 

[vacationhopeful]

There is no correct answer for everyone. Direct is NOT cheap; resale can be either as little as a $1 or 50% of developer prices.

You have to ask more important questions as to your family size and ages, where you live now, what you like to do on vacation, how many vacations a year, expected level of service, time of year, etc. Some people NEVER want to go back to any resort twice; others have to be pryed away from the only place they have ever gone.

Just remember, it is far easier to buy a timeshare than it is to sell one (or give it away or deed it back or any other means to get it out of your name and off your credit report).

Good Luck.

 

[Rocio]

thank you

Thank you all for your in put
With a smile
Rocio

 

[falmouth3]

I'm surprised that the answers so far haven't been more weighted toward resale. Take a look at eBay, redweek.com, etc. and see what units like the one you are considering are going for resale. Keep in mind that on redweek, these are asking prices, not necessarily selling prices. But generally, you'll see that they are WAY lower than buying from the developer.

On eBay, if you do an "advanced search" you can also see the auctions that have closed and see the actual prices that the TS were sold for.

Good luck. Ask a lot of questions here before you purchase. We're happy to help.

Sue

 

[timeos2]

Never say 100%

Roughly 98% of the time you will save big money buying resale over direct form the developer. If lowest cost and best value is the key then resale wins hands down.

But timeshares are funny things. More like cars than houses. You may wish to get a specific unit/view or a newly built resort or simply like a place that isn't in resale yet (or is too small to have an active resale market) so you don't put the cost first but getting what you really want (the Corvette rather than the Focus although both get you to work). The value to YOU is better so it in those cases the fact that you paid more doesn't make it worse or wrong to choose.

So for the majority of timeshare purchases you'd get the best value with resale but buying direct can make sense occasionally.

 

[dchilds]

I'm surprised that the answers so far haven't been more weighted toward resale. Take a look at eBay, redweek.com, etc. and see what units like the one you are considering are going for resale.
Sue

I agree with this statement, and my first response didn't state as such. Let me restate my purchases. We have purchased one full price week, one foreclosed week, and fifteen resale weeks between Pelican, Orlando and Colorado, five of which we have resold. eBay isn't as realistic as it once was. Most of the weeks there are either bad times of year or marginal resorts. Redweek is a good example of the most you can sell a week for, and you can probably make an offer somewhere between 60-80% of the asking price, and may get lucky.

 

[x3 skier]

I have bought from a developer, on eBay, an Estate sale, a Realtor, and finally a Sheriff's Auction sale. Happy with all of them and no problems with any of the transactions even though I was only physically present for the Developer's sale.

Each was a different process but nothing really unique. The biggest factor is dealing with a reputable person or company that you can research here on TUG or elsewhere.

Cheers

 

[Bill4728]

Positives & Negitives buying from the developer.

Positives
-Financing is available ( but the general feeling is that the interest rate is too high and you really shouldn't finacne a TS.)
-Bonuses ( Hotel points or an extra week generally worth about $1,000)
-Faster closings & recognition as owners

Negitive
- Much, much more expensive ( almost always at least $10,000 more)
-Closing can be slow ( you need to choice a good company and hope they can get the job done in a timely manner)
-dealing with owner who may or may not know what they are selling.
-CASH or home equity ( always a good idea to not finance a TS)

 

[Blondie]

If you have the cash then pay cash. Do not finance this purchase as that could add $$$$$$$$ to the price and if your circumstances change and you cannot afford the payments, like many who post here, you are in deep doo-doo.