Buying into high demand areas

[hypnotiq]

Hi all,

I realize this is probably a pretty open ended question but I'll ask it anyways.

I've seen countless references in various threads I've been reading on/off for almost a year now recommending to people not to buy in: Mexico, Orlando, Caribbean, and a couple others I may be forgetting. Everytime Ive seen the advice, I've seen it coupled with: "Its easy to trade into <insert location above>. Instead you should buy in a higher demand area (I forget the exact phrasing).

However, I've never seen any recommendations as to where those areas are.

Is there a compilation of what these are on here that I haven't stumbled across yet? Or at the very least, a Top 5-10 list?

The only thing I've gathered so far is that HI is high demand.

Thanks,
Nico

 

[exyeh]

Nico, I think worldmark is a good choice if you want to trade, its very powerful can exchange into almost any place you want to go.

 

[vacationtime1]

Hawaii is high demand, but MF's tend to be high as well. Buy it to use; don't buy it to trade.

Effective low cost traders include the Southern California coast during summer, deserts during springtime, and Myrtle Beach during summer. It is very resort and season specific.

That said, the best advice is buy where you want to vacation, preferably somewhere you can drive from your home. That way you never need to worry about excess supply or trading power.

 

[Passepartout]

Park City or Colorado or Whistler or Massanuttan during Winter holidays would be high demand. As stated, S. Cal beach resorts during Summer. Oregon Coast in Summer. Hawaii, most anytime. Cape Cod or Maine Coast in Summer. Mexican coasts (either) in Jan/Feb. or Easter week- if you can get 'em.

Vacationtime1's advice can't be overstated. If you buy where you will use and want to go, in the season you want to use it, you can't go wrong. Floaters aren't as valuable (imo) as fixed school break weeks.

Jim

 

[hypnotiq]

Sorry, I should have been more clear in my original post.

I just purchased a TS in Cabo (eBay) because its someplace I know I'll go every year.

I have 6 weeks of vacation a year and I'm very flexible on when I can go, so I was looking into possibly picking up another TS that will give me nice trading power so I can go different places each year but not be terribly upset if I end up at the place I bought.

 

[jhac007]

Southwest Florida (in the winter) and Hilton Head, SC (in the summer) are others that have high demand!

Jim

 

[jackio]

East Coast beach areas should have good trading power (NJ, Delaware, Ocean City, MD, Virginia Beach, NC Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach) if they are in the summer. July to Mid-August trades better than June and late August.

 

[hypnotiq]

If one was interested in picking something up in HI, specifically Maui or Kauai, what would you guys recommend?

 

[vacationtime1]

We own three Hawaii timeshares, two Marriotts on Kauai and the Westin Ka'anapali. We use them differently.

You need to determine what level of amenity you want / want to pay for. You need to decide about the importance of views to you (views are frequently deeded in Hawaii properties). Kauai and Maui have different "feels" to them: Kauai is beautiful and laid back; Maui has more going on.

I recommend on site research. It's not at all painful.

 

[rrlongwell]

Sorry, I should have been more clear in my original post.

I just purchased a TS in Cabo (eBay) because its someplace I know I'll go every year.

I have 6 weeks of vacation a year and I'm very flexible on when I can go, so I was looking into possibly picking up another TS that will give me nice trading power so I can go different places each year but not be terribly upset if I end up at the place I bought.

You did right the 1st time. Buy were you would want to go is the first priority. All other priorities follow. I would not recommend the theory of buy for trading value. I do not think it should even be on the list. Trading Power is to much of a varable over time. It changes or can change on short notice.

 

[Passepartout]

Not knowing what your desired level of luxury and amenities is, makes recommendations iffy, but judging by where you live and your stated flexibility of travel, you might look at this mini system: http://www.viresorts.com/resorts/resortLocations.html Vacation Internationale is a great management outfit. They have a nice group of resorts- not Marriott or Westons, but quite nice and comfortable nonetheless. MFs are reasonable- and owners control the board. These memberships can be bought on the resale market, though I doubt you'll find a significant points bucket for a buck. They trade internally, through TPI or RCI.

Jim

 

[hypnotiq]

Thanks guys! I'm primarly looking at Maui right now (its my fav of the two islands). I have a near 2yo daughter that I have 50% of the time, so its some place Im going to want to be able to take her with me as she gets older. I definitely tend to lean towards nicer type of accomodations (I love PBSB in Cabo, for example).

I'm not terribly interested in holiday seasons (Turkey day, Xmas, NYE). I live in Seattle, so its definitely going to be some place Ill wanna to escape when the weather is crappy around here. And no, its not crappy all the time. So that means, typically Ill be looking to travel between Oct-May.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Thanks guys! I'm primarly looking at Maui right now (its my fav of the two islands). I have a near 2yo daughter that I have 50% of the time, so its some place Im going to want to be able to take her with me as she gets older. I definitely tend to lean towards nicer type of accomodations (I love PBSB in Cabo, for example).

I'm not terribly interested in holiday seasons (Turkey day, Xmas, NYE). I live in Seattle, so its definitely going to be some place Ill wanna to escape when the weather is crappy around here. And no, its not crappy all the time. So that means, typically Ill be looking to travel between Oct-May.

If $15k is in your budget I strongly recommend buying a Marriott Maui 2 BDRM Oceanview lock-off unit.

If you don't know what a lock-off is do some reasearch but its basically a 1BDRM unit with a studio attached that you can lock-off (separate) into two units that you can use at different times, one week in the 1BDRM section and one week in the studio section if you so choose, or you can use as the full 2BDRM unit at one time.

The lock-off feature provides so much flexibility and value it really is amazing. Here's some of the things you can do with it;

* Use 2BDRM - tremendous value to use in itself. If you don't own these units are expensive to rent compared to $1899 Maintenance fees
* Split unit and use 1BDRM, rent studio for $1600-$1900 easy profit
* Split unit and use in back to back reservations thereby getting 2 weeks for 1
* Rent the entire 2BDRM unit for $2750-$3000 easy if you can't go at all one year.
* Split and trade 1BDRM for 2BDRMs in non-prime seasons, rent studio.

To me a 2BDRM Maui Marriott with a view is one of the best value out there if you want to go to Maui frequently.

 

[Carolinian]

The key is high demand and low supply, but with the new hidden forumula RCI uses for setting its numbers that still does not guarantee a high trading power.

Some high demand / low supply areas are:
Sanibel / Captiva, Florida, particularly winter
Key West, Florida, particularly winter
So. Cal. beach summer
east coast beach summer
Charleston, SC
Alexandria, Va.
San Francisco
St. John, USVI, particularly winter
Bermuda summer

and abroad:
London, England
Paris, France
Tuscany, Italy, most of the year
French Riviera summer, especially August
Venice, Italy
southern England in warm season (but Cornwall less so)
Ireland in warm season