Help - Buying first Marriott Aruba Timeshare Resale!

[WelcomeHome]

Hi,

I joined TUG because I'm strongly considering buying a Marriott Aruba Ocean Club resale. There are 2 listed in the TUG classified - both are 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom - sleeps four - Platinum season (Winter).

They are both showing an asking price of approx $16,000 - is there any way I can find out what past resale prices have been or what Marriott is charging for the same thing - in other words, how do I know if this is a good price or if a should negociate and by how much?

As the buyer, do I pay the closing cost and approx how much will that be - who picks the "closing company?"

Is there anything else I should check on that's important before I make "the move." I sincerely appreciate any and all help I can get. My wife and I are in our 50's and this is a big (but hopefully very wonderful) decision for us.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[vacationlover2]

What season is it? If gold, it's too expensive. I just got a 2BR lockout at Surf Club for $12,500.

 

[JimC]

Closing costs are normally paid by the buyer. Aruba is a bit different in that they are not deeded. So closing costs are about $100 to transfer the ownership on Marriott's books plus the cost of an escrow agent.

 

[Dave M]

Keep in mind that almost all sellers overprice their week when listing it for sale. Thus, you have some work to do, both in determining a fair price and doing some tough negotiating.

For help in determining a fair price on a resale offering, see the "How to Sell" article (located at the top of the list of topics for the Buying, Selling, Renting forum). For help in negotiating, see this thread for info on making offers.

For help in determining what questions you should consider, see this Timeshare Purchaser's Checklist.

 

[WelcomeHome]

Platinum Season!

The season is Platinum (Winter) - I'm editing my original post to reflect that!

Thank's everyone for your advise so far - you guys are fantastic. I'm hoping to get more info about past resale selling prices for Aruba Ocean Club - Platinum! - 1 bed & 1 bath.

Please keep the info coming - your boosting my confidence with every new bit of info I get!

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Bob P]

Try this... $11,900 Plat. 1/1
http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/s...sortId=5898&price=&unitType=&bathrooms=&week=

 

[WelcomeHome]

Try this... $11,900 Plat. 1/1
http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/s...sortId=5898&price=&unitType=&bathrooms=&week=

Bob,

I looked at this link and while the price looks good the site uses the term "floating" week. How do you know that means "Platinum" and not "Gold." I left a message on their answering machine to find out which season "floating" was but they're already closed for the day so I left a message.

Does anybody know if this is a good or reputable timeshare company - any feedback there?

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[m61376]

You can call Marriott sales and they will give you all the current pricing. Marriott has the right of first refusal (ROFR) at this resort and has exercised it, although not as actively as for Surf Club units. Recently another Tugger bought at ~55% of Marriott's pricing, also for Ocean Club Platinum 1 BR.

Keep in mind that most sellers list high and are negotiable. Some aren't, but that is no reason to overpay. Try to negotiate your best price and, even if it seems too low and you risk ROFR, it never hurts to try; what gets nabbed one day may pass, at a lower price, the next. So don't overpay because you are afraid of losing it. It is aggravating, but it just means that you have to try again.

You didn't ask an opinion on this- but I am going to offer one anyway .... your posting implies that it is just you and your wife travelling, so you only need a 1 BR. However, you might want to consider a 2 BR lock-out unit, because it gives you flexibility. If you want to bring family/friends, you can use the whole unit. If it is just the 2 of you you can split it and go for 2 weeks, either to Aruba or trade one half. If you deposit the 1 BR in II (the trading company) you will also get an AC, so theoretically a single 2 BR unit can net you 3 weeks of vacation a year. The purchase price is higher (obviously) but not as high as 2 units, and the annual MF's are around a hundred dollars or so more for a 2 BR than a 1 BR. I don't know if it is something you have considered and decided against (in which case :ignore, but if you hadn't thought about it I thought I'd throw it out.

Good luck- we just bought at the Surf Club and I actually amazed myself at what a good time we had. This is the first time that I enjoyed a vacation which was just relaxing...usually my family needs a vacation after one of my trips .

 

[m61376]

Bob,

I looked at this link and while the price looks good the site uses the term "floating" week. How do you know that means "Platinum" and not "Gold." I left a message on their answering machine to find out which season "floating" was but they're already closed for the day so I left a message.

Does anybody know if this is a good or reputable timeshare company - any feedback there?

Thanks again,
Dave

With the exception of a few holiday weeks, Marriott sells floating weeks in seasons. Oftentimes individual ads omit the season; it always pays to inquire, but more often than not I found with the Aruba ads they turned out to be Gold. Another misnomer- the Marriott properties in Aruba are oceanfront resorts. They may advertise a unit as being Oceanfront when actually they are referrring to the resort- you must verify that it is an OF or OV (Ocean Club only has OF and OV rooms).

BTW- besides the usual resale places, the Owner's Assoc. has a website with reslae listings: http://arubaoceanclub.com/pages/resales.html

 

[Smooth Air]

Check TUG sales database.( but, unfortunately, may not be up to date). Also, go back in the TUG "For Sale" section & see past & current list prices. There's no rush. Take your time. Also read the recent reviews on Marriott Aruba. Have you ever stayed there in Platinum season? If not, you shd b/f buying.The advice you rec'd here about buying a 2BR as oppsed to a 1BR is good advice.

 

[qlaval]

... I'm strongly considering buying a Marriott Aruba Ocean Club resale... 1 bedroom & 1 bathroom - sleeps four - Platinum season (Winter).
They are both showing an asking price of approx $16,000 - is there any way I can find out what past resale prices have been or what Marriott is charging for the same thing..

Hi Dave,

I've just bought TWO 1 Bedroom Platinum at the Ocean Club a few months ago...

I've paid $13,175/each!
Marriott selling price is $23,100/each
So almost two for the price of one...:whoopie:

I probably made 25 offers before finding that deal.

More the seller was willing to sell for $24K for both but after some thinking I decide to gave him $26,350 to avoid ROFR

Not long ago I saw someone selling two weeks for 25K.
Take your time and you should be able to find something like that to.

Pierre

 

[Sunbum]

Try this... $11,900 Plat. 1/1
http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/s...sortId=5898&price=&unitType=&bathrooms=&week=

Are you sure this is not Gold?

 

[qlaval]

Are you sure this is not Gold?

My guess is it is Gold season.
Nowhere it is state that it is Platinum.
I can't see someone asking a $11,900 starting price
It wouldn't pass ROFR anyway...

 

[WelcomeHome]

"Looking Ahead" from original poster!

OK -now that I have some great advice and I'm all psyched about experly securing my 1 bedroom, Platinum season Aruba ocean club timeshare resale, how do I find our what other timeshares are equalvilant exchanges?

Also, what happens when I opt to go to a timeshare of greater or lesser exchange value in certain years? (Do I simply pay some extra money if it's a higher rated timeshare or does the person exchanging with me pay me some extra money if his timeshare has a lower rating? I hope this makes sense. We will usually be vacationing in February if that matters.

Thanks again,
Dave

P.S. - The advantages of a 2 bedroom lockout sounds terrific for the potential 3 weeks including the AC but I don't have the additional vacation time available at present. (The rest of our available vacation time is spent at my existing Disney Timeshare.)

 

[vacationlover2]

Welcome home,

I just sent you a PM.

 

[m61376]

OK -now that I have some great advice and I'm all psyched about experly securing my 1 bedroom, Platinum season Aruba ocean club timeshare resale, how do I find our what other timeshares are equalvilant exchanges?

Also, what happens when I opt to go to a timeshare of greater or lesser exchange value in certain years? (Do I simply pay some extra money if it's a higher rated timeshare or does the person exchanging with me pay me some extra money if his timeshare has a lower rating? I hope this makes sense. We will usually be vacationing in February if that matters.

Thanks again,
Dave

P.S. - The advantages of a 2 bedroom lockout sounds terrific for the potential 3 weeks including the AC but I don't have the additional vacation time available at present. (The rest of our available vacation time is spent at my existing Disney Timeshare.)

Exchanges are generally done through II, the exchange company (there are some other exchange companies that accept Marriotts, but II is the official exchange company); you are also free to arrange private exchanges, but of course that is more difficult. Anyway, the Aruba Marriotts are very strong traders and will allow you to pull great trades. Aside from the exchange fee to II, there are no other monetary transactions, so if you are lucky and manage to get a 2BR great trade you've done a little better; however, if you opt to make a trade to a less desirable property you don't get compensated for "trading down." The advantage to buying one of the top traders is the ability to more easily get what you want. The disadvantage to paying big $$'s for a top trader is that many times you will feel like you are trading down without being compensated for it.

Some people would rather pay a little more upfront and know they have a tiger trader while others enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction that they may get a great trade from a much less expensive week.

Personally, if you follow the sage advice of buying where you think you will be happy going most of the time- and you enjoy going to the property you've purchased, then relative trade value for the years you trade becomes less important.