Need answers to some basic FF questions...

[burgundyna]

Hi,

Just starting learning about TS a few days ago. Researched Marriott and WorldMark programs. Now, I am trying to understand the FF program and have some basic questions:

1) When you are the owner of points rather than deeded property, are the points also connected to a home resort (and always)? I saw an ad for 84K points for $1000 but the seller did not identify a home resort.

2) If there are home resorts connected to points, are the points from sought after locations given more weight/value/priority than points associated with lesser home resorts?

3) Approximately how many points (range for an average demand resort) would you need to get a 2 bd unit during the summer. Would 84K points suffice.

4) What is the resale rate for FF points. I read a lengthy discussion on a Worldmark thread stating that Worldmark points at $70 or below is a good price. Is there a similar threshold price where one can say is a good price for FF points?

5) Is it better to purchase points or deed in the FF system

6) How does FF and Worldmark compare. Why would one person purchase FF over Worldmark and vice versa.

7) Can someone explain the FF points chart provided on this BBS forum? Why are the point allocations so small?

Any information you can provide on the FF system would be much appreciated (including anyone you know who are selling FF resale points).

Thank you.

 

[mshatty]

My answers are in red.

Hi,

Just starting learning about TS a few days ago. Researched Marriott and WorldMark programs. Now, I am trying to understand the FF program and have some basic questions:

1) When you are the owner of points rather than deeded property, are the points also connected to a home resort (and always)? I saw an ad for 84K points for $1000 but the seller did not identify a home resort.

Yes there is always a home resort. Your points will be deeded either through a fixed or floating week or through an UDI ownership.

2) If there are home resorts connected to points, are the points from sought after locations given more weight/value/priority than points associated with lesser home resorts?

If you are asking are one home resort's points more valuable than another home resort's points, no. However, there are some home resorts that are more popular and as a result if you always want to go there, you should consider purchasing points there for the 13 to 10 month Advance Reservation Priority (ARP). From 10 months to check in, points are points.

3) Approximately how many points (range for an average demand resort) would you need to get a 2 bd unit during the summer. Would 84K points suffice.

No. Personally, I would not purchase less than 231,000 points. New resort point requirements are increasing. 2BR point values during Prime time range from 154,000 points to more than 300,000. 231,000 points will cover 80 to 90% of 2BRs in FF resorts.

4) What is the resale rate for FF points. I read a lengthy discussion on a Worldmark thread stating that Worldmark points at $70 or below is a good price. Is there a similar threshold price where one can say is a good price for FF points?

$10 to $20 per 1,000 points is the current range of resale.


5) Is it better to purchase points or deed in the FF system

Your question is really should I buy a converted fixed or float week or an UDI deed. At 10 months to check in, points are points. During the ARP period, the converted fixed week can only reserve the exact fixed week that the points are tied to; you will use all of your points to reserve the fixed week. During the ARP period, a float week can reserve any week at the home resort up to the amount of points the float week represents. During the ARP period, UDI points can reserve any week up to the amount of points that are assigned to the home resort. UDI and converted float week deeds act very similarly. Fixed weeks have less flexibility during the ARP period.

6) How does FF and Worldmark compare. Why would one person purchase FF over Worldmark and vice versa.

Different programs, different tastes. FF is more prominent in the central and eastern US. Worldmark is more prominent in western US.


Worldmark owners do not have their ownership tied to a home resort. They are owners of the whole. Their MF are exactly the same for all owners, depending on the amount of credits they own. FF owners' MF are based on the home resort. In addition to MF, FF owners pay a program fee, FSP, based on the number of points they own.


Buying FF resale is much cheaper than buying WM resale.


7) Can someone explain the FF points chart provided on this BBS forum? Why are the point allocations so small?


Multiply the point chart by 1,000 for each listing. It is a shorthand.


Any information you can provide on the FF system would be much appreciated (including anyone you know who are selling FF resale points).

Join the Yahoo Fairfield_timeshare group. It has loads of files, database, resellers, and other information about Fairfield. It will overwhelm you. Here's a link.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fairfield_timeshare/



Thank you.

 

[Jya-Ning]

1) When you are the owner of points rather than deeded property, are the points also connected to a home resort (and always)? I saw an ad for 84K points for $1000 but the seller did not identify a home resort.

Just some correction. Most of FF points are deeded, so it tied to home resort. However, very long time ago, they did try to create some product similar to WM, but quickly give up on that trial, but they honor these points. Thus you will see some point contract that does not tied to any home resorts. I don't believe the one you are looking are that type. That program will have extra adminstration cost, thus its MF will be in the high end.

It depends on how you plan to use these points, and how long you will keep it. And how close your kids are close to be independent. 84k will be good enough for 1BD internally on older resorts at their prime time. But if it is good MF, total price is within a reasonable range, even if there is SA (just reduce your bid range by the SA), I will have no issue to buy it if it is UDI, if I like that resort, I can add more UDI points later. Otherwise, I will use it to combine with others in 10 month period, or on exchange with RCI (if it is RCI affliated).

Jya-Ning

 

[burgundyna]

What are all of the acronyms you are using?

What is UDI, MF, and SA?

Also, I totally did not follow Mshatty's explanation to my question no. 5.

Can you elaborate.

 

[mshatty]

What is UDI, MF, and SA?

Also, I totally did not follow Mshatty's explanation to my question no. 5.

Can you elaborate.

UDI = Undivided Interest
MF = Maintenance fees
SA = Special Assessment

Your question number 5 can be interpreted two ways. Should I buy a fixed week, no points, or should I buy points?

If you buy a FF fixed week that has not been converted to points, then you will have that week at the resort each year or for whatever interval it is. You cannot use it to exchange to another FF resort except through an exchange company or through an internal FF exchange program called FAX. You pay an exchange fee each time you exchange. So you use it or exchange it.

Should you buy points? If you want FF points, it comes in three flavors. 1. a converted fixed week; 2. a converted float week; and 3. an UDI deed. All give you points at a home resort. Depending on which FF resort you purchase resale, you could purchase one of these three flavors. The description I gave in answering your no. 5, explains the ARP reservation structure of each one.

 

[burgundyna]

Thanks!

Thank you very much. Everyone here is so helpful!