Longtime WMH owner looking for ideas...

[srfndoc]

We bought in the first phase of WMH a long time ago (10k purchase price for a 2BR LO, every year) and have used it to trade to most of the resorts within the Westin network for many years (although not always easily). As I'm sure you all know, MF have steadily increased from around $800/yr to the $2019.93 I just paid today. I see they have something called Westin Flex but have not looked at that yet. So my questions are:

1. Is the value in my unit really just the ability to trade to II now (no real resale value as I see people giving them away for free)?
2. We do like the 'getaway' weeks and generally use that to book WMH and our SO to book elsewhere or trade to II. If we buy something on the resale market we don't get those, is that worth the MF's we pay?
3. I see people buying Maui units on Ebay for 3-6k that seem to be passing ROFR, would my money be better spent walking away from WMH and buying one of those resale if we really just want to go to Maui now? That's basically 1-3yrs of MF's for WMH.

Our kids are older now so it may just end up being us booking when we want. We did enjoy using the timeshare over the years but have some decisions to make now.

Thanks for any input.

 

[jabberwocky]

What season do you own at WMH (or how many SO do you get per year)?

 

[srfndoc]

Silver season (56300 SO).

 

[jabberwocky]

Silver season (56300 SO).

Unfortunately you own a week that is not worth much and you will have a tough time giving away. You are currently paying around $0.036/SO.

In comparison, owning a 2BR OF week on Maui (with a lower buy-in cost) at WKORV-N will be $0.015/SO. WFlex runs at $0.02/SO.

A couple follow ups:

- Is Maui the destination you'd go to regularly? Do you want to go there annually?
- What size unit do you need (studio/1BR or 2BR)?

A couple of routes you could go with this (either give it back to Vistana and buy a new resale, Flex would also be better) but it will depend on your goals and how much new cash you are willing to put up.

 

[needvaca]

Silver season yields way too high a maintenance fee to staroptions ratio.
Contact Vistana to see if you can deed it back to them. If you haven't paid your 2020 maintenance fees yet, don't. Tell them you can no longer afford the maintenance fees. Hopefully they will accept the deedback.

Then start looking on TUG and Redweek for a mandatory Platinum Sheraton Vistana Villages Bella or Key West 2BR. They are close to free on the resale market. It will come with 81,000 staroptions at a maintenance fee of $1,250. Much more bang for your maintenance fee buck. If you can't find a Platinum, even a free Gold 2BR with 67,100 staroptions is still a good value.

 

[srfndoc]

Silver season yields way too high a maintenance fee to staroptions ratio.
Contact Vistana to see if you can deed it back to them. If you haven't paid your 2020 maintenance fees yet, don't. Tell them you can no longer afford the maintenance fees. Hopefully they will accept the deedback.

Then start looking on TUG and Redweek for a mandatory Platinum Sheraton Vistana Villages Bella or Key West 2BR. They are close to free on the resale market. It will come with 81,000 staroptions at a maintenance fee of $1,250. Much more bang for your maintenance fee buck. If you can't find a Platinum, even a free Gold 2BR with 67,100 staroptions is still a good value.

I did send an email to the contact address for deed buy backs but never heard anything from them. I already paid my fees today so too late for this year but something to look at next year.

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

If I were in your shoes, as mentioned I'd try and deed it back to them and then just use TUG/Redweek to make reservations for Maui without going the purchase route (even though resale prices seem attractive). That way you'll never have to worry about annual maintenance fees and selling anything on in the future.

 

[SteelerGal]

Definitely deed it back. Since it’s an annual they may actually take it back. I own resale WDW Gold Plus EOY, and I am having a difficult time unloading.

 

[pchung6]

Then start looking on TUG and Redweek for a mandatory Platinum Sheraton Vistana Villages Bella or Key West 2BR. They are close to free on the resale market. It will come with 81,000 staroptions at a maintenance fee of $1,250. Much more bang for your maintenance fee buck. If you can't find a Platinum, even a free Gold 2BR with 67,100 staroptions is still a good value.

I really doubt you can find free or close to free mandatory Platinum SVV Bella or KW. The reasonable price is around $1500 + closing fee for 81,000 annual SOs or $800-1000 + closing for EOY. Gold week with 67100 SVV should be free.

 

[Nismomax99]

What’s the difference between the Gold and Platinum?

I’m kinda new to all of this and just bought a resale from a private owner 67,100 points gold Bella

 

[vacationtime1]

What’s the difference between the Gold and Platinum?

I’m kinda new to all of this and just bought a resale from a private owner 67,100 points gold Bella

It's the usage period. In your case, your gold season unit is worth 67,100 StarOptions; platinum season is worth 81,000 StarOptions. Same MF's -- which usually makes platinum season more cost/effective as a StarOption generator, although a 67,100 Bella unit is definitely worth having.

 

[jabberwocky]

It's the usage period. In your case, your gold season unit is worth 67,100 StarOptions; platinum season is worth 81,000 StarOptions. Same MF's -- which usually makes platinum season more cost/effective as a StarOption generator, although a 67,100 Bella unit is definitely worth haing.

+1 on this - I'll just add that if you are wanting to book as a "Home Resort" reservation in the 8-12 month period then you will be limited to booking the size of unit that you own in the same season. You can't use the 67,100 SO to book a shorter reservation in the platinum period until you are within the 8 month SO window.

 

[Nismomax99]

Is $3568 a fair price for the resale? Apparently I have to pay the HOA for year 1431 in order
To obtain the points for Usage this year.

Also I was told that these 67,100 points would be worth approximately 1,800-2,100 Marriott Vacation Club when the Westin,Sheraton, Hyatt Product integration. Any truth to that?

 

[jabberwocky]

Is $3568 a fair price for the resale? Apparently I have to pay the HOA for year 1431 in order
To obtain the points for Usage this year.

Also I was told that these 67,100 points would be worth approximately 1,800-2,100 Marriott Vacation Club when the Westin,Sheraton, Hyatt Product integration. Any truth to that?

This seems high to me. There is an 81,000 Platinum Key West SVV mandatory unit on eBay for less than $2000 right now. Fees should be the same for this unit.

Some sellers may in include free first year usage as an incentive - but it is common to pay the MF if you want usage in 2020.

No one knows anything about how or whether SO can be converted into MVC for DC points. Beware anyone who advertises this as a feature.

 

[needvaca]

Is $3568 a fair price for the resale? Apparently I have to pay the HOA for year 1431 in order
To obtain the points for Usage this year.

Also I was told that these 67,100 points would be worth approximately 1,800-2,100 Marriott Vacation Club when the Westin,Sheraton, Hyatt Product integration. Any truth to that?

too high. I got mine for free (albeit a bargain). you shouldn't have to pay more than $1000-$1500 for it.

 

[needvaca]

here's one for $1400 on Redweek https://www.redweek.com/posting/R843314
here's a gold 2BR lockoff with 81,000 staroptions for $1500 on Redweek https://www.redweek.com/posting/R865980
here's a platinum 2BR with 81,000 staroptions for $1700 on Redweek https://www.redweek.com/posting/R856787

lots of good deals. I would back out of your deal for $3500 or counteroffer at $1500 showing him these comps

 

[vacationtime1]

Is $3568 a fair price for the resale? Apparently I have to pay the HOA for year 1431 in order
To obtain the points for Usage this year.

Also I was told that these 67,100 points would be worth approximately 1,800-2,100 Marriott Vacation Club when the Westin,Sheraton, Hyatt Product integration. Any truth to that?

The price is way too high; check eBay for comparables. You will see a price difference between the 81000 and 67100 SVV units, reflecting the StarOption / MF ratio.

(Note: Be careful to purchase only a Bella or Key West unit at SVV; StarOptions do not transfer on other units.)