How many TS are too much?

[chemteach]

We own 11 weeks. We go on 4 vacations a year, all with 2 units so friends can join us, and rent out the others. Luckily, we bought our first resale (and then couldn't resist buying Westin Mission Hills from the developer). Haven't regretted any of the purchases, though often want to sell a few. I've been off ebay for a year and woe is me, I got on a week ago and now have 2 snipe bids ready to go... I sometimes wait to tell hubby I purchased a unit until after the fact. He's been very supportive and enjoys all our vacations. He's not a workaholic, but if not for timeshares, we would probably only vacation 1 or 2 weeks a year maximum. The timeshares have afforded us a great opportunity to vacation in places we would only have dreamed of going. My kids are way too spoiled by all this! They recently said their favorite vacation was the one where they got to eat lunch in the pool. (Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach) Our friends really appreciate my addiction. Unfortunately, even though I warned her against it, my sister within the last year bought about 4 weeks worth of timeshare vacations. She's having just as good a time with it all as I have, taking family and friends on great vacations. So now we need timeshares anonymous for friends and family.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I don't yet have access to everything, so I have more buying to do over time, since my goal is to own one of everything. But, I may sell down to about 40-50 and buy into a Destination Club. That new forum has opened my eyes to some new opportunities. Thanks Steamboat Bill.

This is an interesting thread as there are several possible "correct answers" depending on your game theory.

The obvious answer is 53 (or 54 depending on leap year) as that is one more week than you actually need to permanently live in a timeshare 365/24/7.

However, if you can buy 26 or 27 two bedrooms and split them and use flex exchange, then you could "possibly" do the same 365/24/7. I would assume that the number would also change if you buy three or four bedroom units and split them.

Someone (PerryM) could answer only one - WorldMark and simply rent the credits and put them into your account.

Others may say there is NEVER too many as they intend to rent, barter, re-sell them for a profit.

My answer is a combination of properties is perfect:
1. Timeshares for the location and weeks that you like to visit every year (i.e. ski week in Utah)
2. Destination Club for luxury, size, and variety
3. Cash for rentals via VRBO, redweek, eBay, etc.
4. Full ownership condo, hotel-condo, second home for capital appreciation and rental income.
5. Fractionals - if you really love the location and limitations (Ritz, Four Seasons, etc)

 

[ownsherown]

I ask myself this question, now that I think my TS purchase bug has been itched. I have had a total of 8 TS that I purchased 2 from the developer and the rest resale. I have since sold 4 and am down to 4 (1 is a fairly new purchase). So far I think I have what I need to have the flexibility and various vacations I want, but looking at some of the other resale deals is tempting. How many TS do you have, how many is ideal for a family with small children and a couple with grown ones. What have you purchased and why?

I have 8 so far.
2 2 bd fixed ski weeks Winter Park, 1 2bd LO ski week Utah for trading.
1 46K points for access to RCI last calls etc.
1 floating week Virginia Beach for my grown son and SO for deep sea fishing
2 - -2bd EY, 1 -1bd EEY Scottsdale AZ for Bike week.

So far resisted couple of good deals on ebay that I really didnt need.
I limmit myself by limiting my MFs not to exceed the yearly property taxes on our house.

 

[beanb41]

We have three weeks one in Australia and two in NZ. all are managed by significant Timeshare management companies within Aust and NZ and provide great opportunities for internal exchanges at reduced rates. We also have the opportunity to obtain rental weeks which we can deposit with exchange companies. Often rental weeks are cheaper than maintenance fees. I use DAE as my exchange company of choice and they provide free upgrades ie deposit a studio and get a 2 brm. I wouldnt think of getting anymore as my current situation works very well for us.

 

[icydog]

In defense of owning so many timeshares and owning so many DVC points, DVC points are like potato chips. You must add more. It is the nature of the timeshare since everyone loves it so much. I find the same is true of Marriotts but they are more expensive to purchase than DVC and must be purchased for a whole week.

 

[b2bailey]

How many is too many?

Anyone reading this, if you have 10 or more, look for the telltale signs of addiction to snagging great deals. When you reach 20, look for therapy, maybe your wife/husband is correct, you are losing it. Do you buy without telling your spouse? Ever feel like an addict hiding his crack stash, from family, when the timeshare contracts come in the mail?

UH OH...I thought the 'telltale' level would be much higher than 10.
I'm fast approaching 20.

Just learning about renting. I used to dump them into RCI or II and then
learned about their restrictions against renting.

Got into this for my 'retirement years' which seem to be a moving target away from me.

 

[tombo]

I have over 20 weeks and I am losing it! Not only do I hide new purchases from my spouse, I can't even remember which deeds she actually signed and which ones I forged her name on. I just sold a week and she actually signed to sell it, but the signature on the original paperwork looks nothing like her signature. Hopefully no one will compare the signatures. I even have a notary who is an enabler in my addiction. The notary notarizes paperwork on new purchases and sales when she only sees me sign and my wife's forged signature is already on the paperwork. I have to have the deeds and MF bills she doesn't know about mailed to my office. When my wife asks how many weeks we now own, I just tell her she is better off not knowing. Oh what a tangled web we weave when the addiction to timesharing is out of control. I think I need a 16 step program!

 

[wbtimesharer]

Whoops I did it again.

I ask myself this question, now that I think my TS purchase bug has been itched. I have had a total of 8 TS that I purchased 2 from the developer and the rest resale. I have since sold 4 and am down to 4 (1 is a fairly new purchase). So far I think I have what I need to have the flexibility and various vacations I want, but looking at some of the other resale deals is tempting. How many TS do you have, how many is ideal for a family with small children and a couple with grown ones. What have you purchased and why?

EBAY is the bane of all recovering TS addicts going throught the 12 step program. I was all done with buying for a while and up pops a unit in RCI points I wanted and well, I am now a new owner.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRr. I need to have my computer and Treo phone confiscated.

 

[Kona Lovers]

I have stopped logging onto eBay. No more TS purchase please.

This is what I've had to do as well.

BTW, which step is this in the 12 step plan?

Marty

 

[anapur]

Same problem with hiding from my spouse.

Isn't it possible to put my new purchases only in my name without her having to sign anything?

I do not get that.... Why does she have to be an owner too?

I have over 20 weeks and I am losing it! Not only do I hide new purchases from my spouse, I can't even remember which deeds she actually signed and which ones I forged her name on. I just sold a week and she actually signed to sell it, but the signature on the original paperwork looks nothing like her signature. Hopefully no one will compare the signatures. I even have a notary who is an enabler in my addiction. The notary notarizes paperwork on new purchases and sales when she only sees me sign and my wife's forged signature is already on the paperwork. I have to have the deeds and MF bills she doesn't know about mailed to my office. When my wife asks how many weeks we now own, I just tell her she is better off not knowing. Oh what a tangled web we weave when the addiction to timesharing is out of control. I think I need a 16 step program!

 

[Transit]

Just 1 and thats it !

Wow... I feel like an underachiever here.

 

[tombo]

I could put them in my name only, but if I died before my DW, it would be expensive and a pain for her to get them deeded to her. Of course if I die and she has 23 weeks to keep up with, the gift might be a curse instead of a welcome memory. She might burn some deeds and sprinkle the ashes on my grave.

I have put my children's names on the deeds of several of my favorite weeks in addition to mine and my wife's so they won't have to transfer them after we pass. The other weeks they can let go or deed to themselves if they want. They too might have anger and shame over the extent of my addiction when the number of weeks owned are exposed to all.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Abstinence Is Easier Than Moderation.

EBAY is the bane of all recovering TS addicts going throught the 12 step program. I was all done with buying for a while and up pops a unit in RCI points I wanted and well, I am now a new owner.

Congratulations. I know how that is -- even though for me it's more of a problem with eBay horns.

So it goes.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[funtime]

Tombo - time to sell

Tombo, it is time to streamline. My sister and I sold four weeks in the last six months in a resort that we absolutely love -- The Falcon Point in Avon. It is a favorite of ours. However, those were the weeks that were easiest to sell out of more than 20 weeks. Two summer weeks, a eoy ski week and an Easter week. I sold one on Bidshares and two on Redweek and my sister sold one on Ebay. I too am way over 10 and it is hard to sell them. But explore Bidshares and yes -- even ebay -- and if there are any of your weeks that you can sell for your purchase price and closing fees (and maybe a few hundred more if you are lucky) try to sell a few. Redweek is also good but usually not for the off brand weeks. You will appreciate some of your other timeshares once you start offloading some. And, to make selling easier, we realize we can always pick up weeks on ebay later if we seriously streamline. Selling is harder than buying and it has temperered my buying habits. Good luck! Funtime

 

[tombo]

Streamlining sounds good. I have several currently for sale, and you are correct that it is a lot harder to sell them than to buy them, and not nearly as fun. I bought them all resale at very good prices, so I shouldn't lose money, and I should make money on some. Even if I do streamline a little, I have several weeks I don't ever want to sell, but for a price any week I own is for sale. Heck if I make a bundle of money from my sales I can afford to buy more timeshares. :hysterical:

 

[london]

Downsizing Timeshares

Selling weeks is always a challenge. Pricing is the key, and sometimes you have to let them go on the cheap.

Once you start selling, your urge to pick up weeks on Ebay will diminish quite rapidly, I know mine did.

Live and learn. Keep the weeks you enjoy the most.

Now have 10, going down to 6.

 

[swift]

So, to those that own a gazillion timeshares do any of you full-time it or do you know someone that does?

 

[AwayWeGo]

A Bigtime Timeshare Operator.

So, to those that own a gazillion timeshares do any of you full-time it or do you know someone that does?

Even though I only have 4 timeshares (way short of a gazillion) I met a guy 1 time -- formerly active right here on TUG-BBS, but I didn't know that when I met him -- who has so many timeshares that I don't see how it can't amount to a full-time job advertising'm & reserving'm & renting'm out & keeping track of everything involved.

Hats off to folks like that. To me it seems like a lot of trouble to go to just to make easy money.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[Kona Lovers]

Well, I made the mistake of logging on to ebay, and sure enough, there's a TS I would really like to buy, bargain price, and now it will bug me. Hopefully I can get preoccupied and let it pass. But it sure is tempting.

Marty

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Perhaps a cure for eBay addiction is to post good buys on TUG and hope someone else out snipes you.

 

[Carol C]

Perhaps a cure for eBay addiction is to post good buys on TUG and hope someone else out snipes you.

A cure has been found!

 

[b2bailey]

What is a 'snipe'

Or maybe I don't want to know for fear I will start doing it.

 

[lprstn]

Wow... I feel like an underachiever here.

Consider yourself one of those strong people that can take a drink and not get drunk. My addiction with TSs is just that I love to escape. Thank goodness I am not a big ebay browser anymore...its just something about that "YOU WIN" that drives you to buy more...and a TS for just a couple of hundred $$ is very tempting....

 

[Lisa P]

How many TS do you have, how many is ideal for a family with small children and a couple with grown ones. What have you purchased and why?

If you want to use them all yourself, and if you're a working person/family, then I think the ideal number is "one less" than the number of full weeks of vacation time you get. That leaves you with enough vacation days leftover to take some long weekends or to go on a cruise or other non-timeshare vacation.

We like to bring other families with us on some of our vacations. We also like to gift a week or two per year. So we make good use of more time than this. When we can't, we rent out the excess.

My DH has his own business (don't work = don't get paid), so our vacation time is flexible but not as much as many have, here. We have 3 grown kids in college who generally join us on vacation. Taking 3 full weeks of vacation in timeshares, adding a 2nd unit for some weeks, plus a few long weekends or midweek getaways would give us an ideal usage of 3 separate weeks, plus an AC, plus our points. But here's what we actually own:

• Wyn/FSP points for our use, renting out or RCI trading
• 1 fixed week in NC for trading and home resort bonus nightly rentals;
• 2 fixed weeks in NC for renting out or II trading;
• 1 floating week in TX for II trading and;
• 2 floating weeks (one's only biennial) in WI for renting or RCI trading.

This totals 7 separate ownerships, which, with points-stretching and ACs, could easily yield 7-12 weeks/year. So we may or may not sell ~3 of the weeks this year or next. I guess that, ideally, we'd keep 1-2 RCI traders, 1-2 II traders (3 altogether) and our points. We really like having access to both of the big exchange companies, and perhaps independents some day.

 

[mshatty]

Or maybe I don't want to know for fear I will start doing it.

A snipe is a software program that bids on an ebay auction in the last few seconds. If you have set the bid high enough, you should win the auction.