Mixing Ownership Types in VSE

[GR81]

I understand that a resale purchase today will be charged a separate annual VSE fee over any weeks/points that were owned prior to the launch of the Abound program.

If I purchase a mandatory resort week now will those associated Star Options, at the 8 month window, be combined with previously purchased developer Star Options and available to be used across the VSE system for a reservation?

How do I best ensure that my existing developer purchases and any potential resale purchase are associated/assigned to the same VSE account?

Thanks for your input

 

[sponger76]

How do I best ensure that my existing developer purchases and any potential resale purchase are associated/assigned to the same VSE account?

It can be hard, Vistana seems to screw this up quite often. I had to fight for a couple of months, via phone and email, to get it all sorted out on two different resale purchases. With that being said, the way it SHOULD work, and sometimes does, is that when the resale purchase happens, as part of the transfer paperwork provided to Vistana the new owner (you) should provide their Vistana membership number. This is not exactly the same as the contract number for your existing VOI(s), although the same digits from (one of) your preexisting contract(s) is usually part of it.

 

[vacationtime1]

How do I best ensure that my existing developer purchases and any potential resale purchase are associated/assigned to the same VSE account?

The first step is to be sure that title to your existing timeshares and title to the new timeshare are identical (that includes order of names, middle names or initials, etc.).

 

[daviator]

It is essential that you make sure the new ownership is titled exactly the same as your existing ownership, or MVC/Vistana may refuse to add it to your existing account. Not only would that prevent you from combining StarOptions as you describe, but you could end up having to pay club dues separately each year for both memberships.

When I say titled exactly the same, I mean EXACTLY. Same people, listed exactly the same way and in the same order. If you have a middle initial on one deed and don’t on the other, they probably won’t let you combine the ownerships. If you’re listed first on one deed and second on the other, no dice.

If everything is titled the same you should be able to get them in a single account and be able to combine the StarOptions with your existing ownership, or at least that’s my understanding.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Must exactly match. I recently ran into this issue. The deed was incorrectly filed by the escrow processor with a middle initial incorrect. Vistana combined the account online for the owner with the correct name, but there was a footnote that Staroptions could not be combined and they issued a separate Interval account. When I called to combine into one Interval account they said they couldn't because the names were not the same. Those are clues something is wrong.

We are now filing a corrective deed and hoping title can finally combine. I hope it doesn't take another 3 months to correct, and they do not bill MF in the meantime. That would be another mess to clean up.

PSA: always check the deed information from your escrow processor. Twice I have had to file corrective deeds from two separate processors. If not caught up-front it could be a mess and costly to clean up later.

 

[CarpeDiem65]

We did this back in June when we purchased a WKV resale which had 2023 usage. All the prior comments regarding exact names on titles applies And is ultra important. We completed a form “Vistana Signature Experiences - External Changes/Transfer Form” which shows the sellers contract and the buyers existing contract(s). This form was submitted as part of the closing documents. It took about 2 months for it to show up on our Vistana account. We were then able to immediately use the SO's. We booked WKV for Apr 2024. Banked our 2023 SO's as we did not want to use them this year and used the banked SO's to book Lagunamar in Feb 2024. Everything worked quite smoothly.

 

[GR81]

We did this back in June when we purchased a WKV resale which had 2023 usage. All the prior comments regarding exact names on titles applies And is ultra important. We completed a form “Vistana Signature Experiences - External Changes/Transfer Form” which shows the sellers contract and the buyers existing contract(s). This form was submitted as part of the closing documents. It took about 2 months for it to show up on our Vistana account. We were then able to immediately use the SO's. We booked WKV for Apr 2024. Banked our 2023 SO's as we did not want to use them this year and used the banked SO's to book Lagunamar in Feb 2024. Everything worked quite smoothly.

Thanks. Do you recall where you got the form - the closing company or perhaps VSE?

 

[CarpeDiem65]

Thanks. Do you recall where you got the form - the closing company or perhaps VSE?

The realtor I used had it. Unfortunately, I do not have a blank form.

 

[vacationtime1]

Must exactly match. I recently ran into this issue. The deed was incorrectly filed by the escrow processor . . . .

PSA: always check the deed information from your escrow processor. Twice I have had to file corrective deeds from two separate processors. If not caught up-front it could be a mess and costly to clean up later.

My practice is not to fund a resale escrow until I have approved the deed. Many closing agents are less than meticulous, but none of them are going to record the deed until you pay.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Good practice. I didn't think they would generate a deed without escrow in hand. They do make mistakes. High volume.

 

[vacationtime1]

Good practice. I didn't think they would generate a deed without escrow in hand. They do make mistakes. High volume.

No one has given me a problem on that. I have no issue advancing their escrow fee, the ROFR fee, and the estoppel cost (I'm also a stickler about receiving and reviewing the estoppel).

 

[rcv82]

I have 11 Vistana VOIs. They are a mix of developer and resale (mandatory and voluntary). Most just have my middle initial on title, but a couple have my full middle name due to one state’s requirements. One still has my ex-wife as a joint owner. While I had to go through working with Vistana a couple times after different purchases, they have always eventually (after a few months) put all of my VOIs in one account without too much hassle. So I know they can combine most any combination when you get to the right person and want to do it, although it does sound like they have recently become more resistant to this. (The joint one does have its own corporate II account however.)


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[daviator]

I have 11 Vistana VOIs. They are a mix of developer and resale (mandatory and voluntary). Most just have my middle initial on title, but a couple have my full middle name due to one state’s requirements. One still has my ex-wife as a joint owner. While I had to go through working with Vistana a couple times after different purchases, they have always eventually (after a few months) put all of my VOIs in one account without too much hassle. So I know they can combine most any combination when you get to the right person and want to do it, although it does sound like they have recently become more resistant to this. (The joint one does have its own corporate II account however.)


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They absolutely can, and have, done it in the past. I think they've become resistant to combining accounts, particularly for those who have purchased resale, because it's one more way they can discourage resale purchases as well as make a bit of extra money from separate accounts and separate Club Dues. The differences in titles gives them something to hang their hat on. It's basically a vindictive move they do to resale purchasers.

I am not aware the developer purchasers have had the same trouble.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

We corrected all names and trust info to be the same. Even though I can see both deeds on one login, still cannot combine SOs and II because older grandfathered resale Abound enrolled deed has us listed as Name, Trustee (representative) vs. Name (owner) on the new resale SO only deed in their system even though both are exactly in same Trust account and deed title.

I've written Vistana title once again to correct since they set us up incorrectly in the system. Sigh.

Anyone else run into this problem?

Also any potential issues with us listed as trustees for check in? Our original deed had us listed that way but we both have checked in together. So no issues. But what if only one? Other gotchas as Trustee?

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I am happy to report that my new resale staroptions deed can now be combined with the staroptions from my pre-Aug 2022 resale. Of course no Abound for the new deed but not expected.

Thanks all for the advice. It took several months and emails/calls including correcting a name on a deed by the escrow company by filing a corrective deed with the county.

It can be done but everything needs to be exactly the same in Title.

 

[dioxide45]

I am happy to report that my new resale staroptions deed can now be combined with the staroptions from my pre-Aug 2022 resale. Of course no Abound for the new deed but not expected.

Thanks all for the advice. It took several months and emails/calls including correcting a name on a deed by the escrow compamy by filing a corrective deed with the county.

It can be done but everything needs to be exactly the same in Title.

One thing that I would be interested to know, when it gets added to II, will it be the same II account as your other weeks (perhaps you can confirm now). If it is the same II account, does it get $0 exchanges into other Marriott and Vistana resorts? Since they are combined, I would expect still just one Abound/VSN Fee for all your mandatory weeks? If all the previous are confirmed, then the only thing that is different is no electing for Abound Club points, and of course the PIA to get the VIOs combined under the same account.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@dioxide45 They initially set us up with a separate II account, however the escrow company incorrectly spelled a name on the deed so it didn't match exactly with the old deed. This has now been corrected and I have requested an II merge. Hope this will be fixed soon.

On a positive note, the different II accounts brought this issue to our attention, so we were able file a corrective deed with the sellers vs. discovering many years in the future when we are trying to sell.

I am not sure if I will be able to verify $0 trades because we will use these deeds or for Startoptions and don't plan to trade in II except as a rare occurrence.

 

[dioxide45]

I am not sure if I will be able to verify $0 trades because we will use these deeds or for Startoptions and don't plan to trade in II except as a rare occurrence.

You should still be able to go in and do a mock exchange without actually finalizing it.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

You should still be able to go in and do a mock exchange without actually finalizing it.

It appears they combined my ownership in II because I now see all units in my II account and the same account number on the deeds in Vistana.com.

Happy to test however I have never exchanged in II so please walk me through how to create a mock exchange without messing this up.

 

[dioxide45]

It appears they combined my ownership in II because I now see all units in my II account and the same account number on the deeds in Vistana.com.

Happy to test however I have never exchanged in II so please walk me through how to create a mock exchange without messing this up.

1. Assuming you are in a full browser, when logged in hover over Exchange in the menu at the top then select "My Units".
2. From there select click on the "Vacation Exchange" button for the applicable unit(s).
3. When you are on the Vacation Exchange screen, Select the "Resort Name or Code" radio button and enter a unit code for a MVC resort (MGV is a good one as there are always lots of deposits). Enter a date range. I usually pick dates way out so if you somehow mess up, you can still take advantage of the 24 cancellation. You can't cancel exchanges in 24 hours if checkin is within 7 days. This has never happened though. Once you have the date range in, click "Continue".
4. For any one of the search results click the "Exchange" button.
5. On the next screen click "Continue".
6. Then on the next screen there is an acknowledgment box you have to check and then click "Continue".
7. The next screen will ask if you want EPlus or to add a guest certificate. Make sure both are unchecked then click "Continue". The page you are now on will show the Exchange fee. You are still a full screen away from actually confirming anything. At this point you can just log out of the II website.

 

[Denise L]

This is interesting because I have never logged into my Vistana II account before, but I thought I would look right now and noticed that it shows a number of my Maui weeks. I had always assumed that it would just list my developer purchased intervals (2), not my resale purchases (3). Also, it seems to list 6 VSN intervals and 4 Abound intervals under my Profile (makes sense because 1 was post-8/2022). 6 seems like it is wrong (should be 5). Not that I would ever exchange any of these in II for the high MFs we pay, but how can you tell which week is which type unit if one was to actually try to exchange? Would an OF list differently than an OV? Just curious.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@Denise L For a 2 bdrm lockoff they would have 3 entries: 2 bdrm; 1 bdm lockoff; studio lockoff. They would also have this by use year. So 6 entries for 1 deed for 2 years.

 

[Denise L]

@Denise L For a 2 bdrm lockoff they would have 3 entries: 2 bdrm; 1 bdm lockoff; studio lockoff. They would also have this by use year. So 6 entries for 1 deed for 2 years.

I see a lot of these because we own 5 intervals, all lockoffs. So I see 15 of these that all look the same. Is there any way to know which interval is being exchanged?

 

[dioxide45]

I see a lot of these because we own 5 intervals, all lockoffs. So I see 15 of these that all look the same. Is there any way to know which interval is being exchanged?

That is a problem with II and Vistana, from the II side you don't know which unit ties to which VOI. You are better to initiate a deposit from within Vistana.com.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

1. Assuming you are in a full browser, when logged in hover over Exchange in the menu at the top then select "My Units".
2. From there select click on the "Vacation Exchange" button for the applicable unit(s).
3. When you are on the Vacation Exchange screen, Select the "Resort Name or Code" radio button and enter a unit code for a MVC resort (MGV is a good one as there are always lots of deposits). Enter a date range. I usually pick dates way out so if you somehow mess up, you can still take advantage of the 24 cancellation. You can't cancel exchanges in 24 hours if checkin is within 7 days. This has never happened though. Once you have the date range in, click "Continue".
4. For any one of the search results click the "Exchange" button.
5. On the next screen click "Continue".
6. Then on the next screen there is an acknowledgment box you have to check and then click "Continue".
7. The next screen will ask if you want EPlus or to add a guest certificate. Make sure both are unchecked then click "Continue". The page you are now on will show the Exchange fee. You are still a full screen away from actually confirming anything. At this point you can just log out of the II website.

Thanks for the detailed walk through. I tried it and it said $0 for a trade to MVC.

Although it is nice, we will only be using the units or trading in staroptions (or Abound for our grandfathered deed). Nice to know for II in case we want to try something different or SOs become unavailable.