Grand Solmar - resell purchase questions

[penncomm]

We are looking at purchasing a resell membership for the Grand Solmar in Cabo. This website has been very helpful!

I'm hoping that a current Solmar owner can help us out with a couple of questions...

1) On Solmar's website, it describes the "accelerated" option as only available to owners who are over 67 years old. But I've heard that this is a brand new restriction and does not affect older contracts. Can anybody clarify? If we purchased an existing contract, would we fall under the old rule or the new one?

2) We would really like to get a 1 bedroom; but if a studio resell is a lot less, does it make sense to just get a studio and pay the fee to upgrade each year? Is that easy to do (we would be in the 15-45 week window)?

3) I tagged along with my friend who actually did the timeshare tour last month. The salesperson kept mentioning that he would also have access to 3 additional weeks each year for $200-$400/wk that he could use or rent out. Is there any reality to that? (I'm assuming no).

Thanks!

 

[oldbuyer]

I'm a PG owner and have the upgrade option to GS. A couple of points to consider.
A resale purchase voids all additional terms of the original contract as that was specific to the first owner. You will need to read the contract closely and remember the actual contract is in Spanish. The English version may or my not be a direct translation. (this contract language/interpretation scam is typical of all Mexican contracts).
Acceleration may not be available to you even if one of the new owners is over 67. Definitely not if you are under age 67 even if the original owner was over 67.
Bonus, extra weeks and II membership are also not included and are offered only during the original sales presentation.
You also have to pay a transfer fee that is at least 10% of the original purchase price to put the contract in your name. This is a minimum of $1000. If you purchase a studio contract and want to upgrade to a one bedroom, it is only available 90 in advance of the already prepaid studio week and it's at a slight discount off of the rack rate. Last time I checked an upgrade was about double the studio MF. If you need a 1 bedroom buy a 1 bedroom contract as the savings in the MF will offset the upgrade cost in just a few years.
This developer/management company has become pretty slimy after the owner died. The transfer fee at PG went from 250 to 500 to 10% (over a 4 year period) of the original cost (now typically 1300+). None of the transfer fees were specified in the contracts so PROFECO would not prosecute them.
Buyer beware. Still a nice resort to rent at.

 

[penncomm]

has anybody else had experience purchasing a resell at Grand Solmar? Would love to hear about your experience/advise. Thanks!

 

[oldbuyer]

has anybody else had experience purchasing a resell at Grand Solmar? Would love to hear about your experience/advise. Thanks!

There was a recent thread posted on Trip Advisor in the Cabo section and the OP said the transfer fee was recently raised to 40% and then then reduced to 20%.
You might contact that OP to confirm the fee. At 20% you are looking at a minimum $2500 fee just to make the transfer which makes the value of the contract less than zero (pay you to take it).