Buying in Nanea

[zsn]

A little late posting this......so we went to an owner update in WKORV a couple of weeks ago, and they are really pushing WNOV (I blurted out "Oh, the North-North" - and the saleslady were not amused!).

Anyway, they offered to retro our WKORV EY OV 2BR bought on resale, 100K Starpoints and Gold-for-life for my wife and I (I usually make Gold anyway due to work travel) if we bought 81K Staroptions for just under $31k (if we put it on a SPG Amex we would get another 85k points....since we don't have one). This would also make us 3*, FWIW (not much, I am guessing). I would not be financing this with *wood at 10+% interest.

The 81k Staroptions is good for 1 week in a 1BR at WNOV, but they are going to the flexible plan so, who knows what that does to demand and supply....the MF will be $1414 annually. They only have only OF and resort view and this would be not-OF. Looking at the plans, though seems like most rooms will have some view. Financially, OF is definitely out.

It was/is very tempting, if for no other reason than that the resort looks beautiful! Of course, we are now Mainland-side, but we still talk about it......surely if I went to them and said give it to me they are not going to turn me away.......what it the opinion of the wisdom-keepers on this board? Yes...no...maybe.....wait for resale??

 

[DeniseM]

Let me rain on your parade:

-You will be able to use the Staroptions that you already own, and make Staroptions reservations at WNOV, for no additional monies.

-Gold SPG has no value

-3* has no value

-There is no value in requalifying your EOY - it already has Staroptions

-Remember that the MF will go up - substantially, after the developer is no longer subsidizing it - it always does....

-If you want more time in Hawaii, buy resale at the original resort, for a fraction of the cost.

*For $31K - you can probably get close to a 2 bdm. ocean front at the original resort, on the resale market.

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ADDED: This post was written from the position of how to get the most bang for your buck. If money is no object for you, heck - buy what ever you want!

 

[DavidnRobin]

Denise is overall correct, but trends to extremes.
There is some value in SPG Gold (I have experienced this many times now) - BUT not worth buying WNOV. Also some minor value in 3* - BUT AGAIN not worth buying WNOV.

A very few percentage of people - would find buying WNOV useful (and have - even knowing about TUG and resale, but too afraid to speak up), but only for very specific reasons (not yours...), and tons of disposable income...

 

[okwiater]

The only thing I would consider buying at WNOV is ocean front. There is definitely value for some in buying a premium unit at a beautiful new resort. However, there is also a ton of value in buying resale WKORV ocean front deluxe. In either case, you should definitely have lots of disposable income before purchasing a timeshare and should never finance one, let alone pay 10% interest or higher.

 

[DeniseM]

One caveat: I would not buy an Ocean Front Deluxe (corner unit.)

-The maintenance fee is a lot more - and disproportionately higher than the size increase.

-The studio & studio lanai are on the side of the building - not Ocean Front.

-Knowledgeable renters prefer the Ocean Front Center units.

 

[DavidnRobin]

- You may not, but I would... (and have and love) IMO the OFD is the best VOI in the system.

OF WKORV is not for everyone, and certainly not OFD, but I have been in OFC and while the view is great (esp when comparing studio to studio - both have 90-100 sqft balconies) the layout of both the 1Bd-side and studio-side is superior - and the light and overall views are better. You get an incredible panoramic view from both inside and from the balcony of the 1Bd side (w/o leaning over the railing... . While the OFC studio has better straight on view - the OFD studio has a great view as well.

Yes, OFC has lowest $/sqft (because of the studio balcony) - regardless, both are worth owning. There is a premium to owning the panoramic view and space... IMO YMMV

 

[PamMo]

2017 will be an interesting year, after SVN (or Vistana, or whatever it's going to be called after the transition to Interval) assigns OF units at WKORV, WKORVN, and Nanea the same number of StarOptions. Why buy at Nanea if you can buy resale with enough points to guarantee OF at Nanea?

I'm a firm believer that if a particular view, size, or season is really important to you, then that's what you should buy.

 

[DavidnRobin]

OF at Nanea (WNOV) or WKORV/N can only be accessed by non-Owners at 8 months, and there amy not be availability at this point. Also, it is unlikely that the villa will be on one of the coveted high floors (5-6). So if you want OF at these resorts - the best strategy is to buy OF (resale), and use it.

I agree - if you want a particular view, size, or season - buy it (resale).

 

[zsn]

Thanks for all your input. It is very helpful to get a sanity check, every once in a while! There was no real parade....and being where we are, rain is always welcome

David: the have been a few times when SPG Gold has come in handy, but it certainly isn't worth $31k, especially since I've been traveling so much for work, and I get it anyway (have been for at least the last 4 years)!

 

[Ken555]

OF at Nanea (WNOV) or WKORV/N can only be accessed by non-Owners at 8 months, and there amy not be availability at this point. Also, it is unlikely that the villa will be on one of the coveted high floors (5-6). So if you want OF at these resorts - the best strategy is to buy OF (resale), and use it.

I agree - if you want a particular view, size, or season - buy it (resale).

FWIW, not sure it's been mentioned, but it appears OF at the new resort only has five floors. I'm currently in building 7 at WKORVN and watching the construction...on a positive note, OF looks to be really OF, unlike WKORVN.


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[Rman]

I was just there as well the Ocean front will be similar to the WKOR villas ocean front, I walked in front of both when at the beach, was hard to tell which one is closer, but will wait to see what they do with the beach in front of the villas at Nanea.

 

[LisaRex]

To me, the biggest drawback to owning Nanea at all, whether it's resale or from the developer, is that they've coded it into 2 view classes: OF and EE (Everything else). And since, according to their marketing video, some of the villas face the highway, that means that unless you buy OF, you have a chance of paying a boatload of dollars... only to find yourself facing the highway. That is a total deal breaker to me, even if I was willing to fork out the dough to the developer. Which I'm not, cause Mama didn't raise a fool.

No, having stayed in multiple OF villas on both sides,* for far LESS money, I'd buy OF on the resale market...on either the north or south resort. Both sides are sublime. I actually don't mind the 45 degree angled view of the north side v the 90 degree view of the south side. I love looking at Black Rock over the bay just as much as I love a direct view of the ocean.

I do enjoy the larger and wider lanais on the south side, so if a roomy lanai is really important, then definitely target the south side (keeping in mind that OFD studios face the side, nor the front). If you can live without a roomier lanai, it opens up your options and sellers. If like us, you're out and about most of the day, then having a larger lanai may be a nice to have vs a must have.

My only real caution when choosing sides is for people traveling with younger kids. Be warned that the south side layout has a goofy layout. They all have an inner vestibule, which I find odd, but the OFD villas also have a long hallway (completely wasted space IMO) that leads to the vestibule. It really does feel like two completely separate villas. The north side layout is much more family friendly because the sides adjoin via an inner door, which can be propped open, similar to adjoining rooms in a hotel room. If I was traveling with young kids, I'd either buy the north side or plan on using the 1 bdrm side (and utilizing pull-out couches) vs using the 2 bdrms.

*On this particular trip, I had two reservations, one an SO reservation, which I was upgraded to a 5th floor OFD villa, and another as the guest of an OV owner, which I was upgraded to a 2nd floor OFD.

So I can also say that while 5th floor had sweeping ocean views, the 2nd floor was also outstanding. My guests actually preferred their 2nd floor studio view.

 

[Ken555]

FWIW, not sure it's been mentioned, but it appears OF at the new resort only has five floors. I'm currently in building 7 at WKORVN and watching the construction...on a positive note, OF looks to be really OF, unlike WKORVN.


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Confirmed. I looked thru the fence this morning and counted the lanais... There are only five for the front building and the roof is already on.


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[DavidnRobin]

Confirmed. I looked thru the fence this morning and counted the lanais... There are only five for the front building and the roof is already on.


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Hi Ken - from the photos - the OF buildings seems further back than B2 and B3 - is this correct?

 

[Ken555]

Hi Ken - from the photos - the OF buildings seems further back than B2 and B3 - is this correct?

Good question. Just got back to my 6th floor building 7 view...and from here the front of the OF new building looks quite close to the beach walkway, though perhaps not quite as close as 2 and 3. Still, it's only perhaps 10' back from the path. Will try to get a more accurate comparison for you.

I think the new OF views will be outstanding. Unfortunately the OV units directly behind the OF won't have great views since the OF extends wider and will block their view, so those OV units will only have side views. So if not OF, then I'd likely prefer units near the mid or rear of the building to get a better view. Of course, that's just the way it looks now...could change...YMMV, IMHO, etc etc fuzzy math never works out in the end and wow what great weather in Maui today!


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