Purchasing in Branson (maybe!)

[tanguayc]

We live about 12 hrs from Branson, so it is a pretty easy drive for us. We would really like to purchase something on Tablerock Lake. We have stayed at Emerald Pointe once and really loved it. Is there anything else on the lake that would have the views over the lake? That is what we are looking for. A place for my husband to fish and for me to lay around the pool or deck overlooking the water. If anyone can give me anyother suggestions, I would appreciate it, otherwise I will start hunting for a purchase at Emerald Pointe.
Finally, other than e bay, redweek, etc, where do you look for good buys? Should I go directly to Westgate website and see what they offer? I would not buy from them (been there, done that!) but just to see what price they are asking. I did find 3 or 4 units at myresortnetwork.com, but the lowest price was about $9,000. Is that about average? Thanks for any help or advice you can give me.
(Please feel free to delete any part of this mesage that is not allowed)

 

[dougp26364]

$9,000 is WAAAAAAYYYYY to much for Emerald Point or just about any timeshare in Branson IMO. I've seen Emerald Point units go for under $1,000 on E-bay and my bet is you can get in for less than $500 if you're patient enough.

JLB will chime in soon with a good list of possibilities for you. The only other resort I can think off off hand would be the Branson Yaht Club.

Most of what I see on E-bay are Surrey, Fairfield, Roark and Sunterra but, if you watch you'll see others including Emerald Point sneak in there. Just make sure you're not bidding on a white season week when/if you bid.

 

[tanguayc]

Just make sure you're not bidding on a white season week when/if you bid.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the quick response! What is white season and why would it be bad? If we would buy we would be looking to use this and not exchange. We like to go in early spring or late fall. Should we then look for a fixed week or floating?

 

[JLB]

#1 Big Cedar Wilderness Club. Everything you need without leaving. Very upscale.

Branson Yacht Club Marina on-site, separate from resort. Big Lake/dam view.

Stillwaters: Two timeshare buildings located in a traditional resort. Private marina with rental boats and PWCs. Cove/lakeview. Nice resort.

Indian Point Resort: Various views. Some lake front, some not. Under construction. Nearby marina.

Lantern Bay/Royal Aloha: Nearest to SDC. High on a hill, but low on our list, but some like it. It's the resort you see from the train ride at SDC.

Ozark Mountain Resort: Dock and Beach. Mostly in the woods. Located up a long cove.

Kimberling Inn: Old resort, nice location at KC bridge. 300 units are in newer, lakefront building. Lots of dock. Restaurants. Nearby marina. Nearest to JLB and the Margaritaville Dock.

Stormy Point: Nice, new, unique lake resort, not on lake, but purchasing an nearby, old lakefront resort down the road, to provide lake facilities.

Paradise Point: Newer resort between BCWC and EP. Checkered past, now part of a full ownership resort.

West Branson Bluffs: Drop back and punt.

Roark: Only resort on Taneycomo. Has dock and pontoon boat. Bear Branson Landing and downtown Branson. Older resort.

Swiss Villa: Youy'll have to climb in the Wayback Machine with Sherman for this one.

JLB will chime in soon with a good list of possibilities for you. The only other resort I can think off off hand would be the Branson Yaht Club.

 

[tanguayc]

Thanks, JLB! If you had to choose, which would go with? My biggest "want" is great lake views. Other than that, we do want 2 bdrms, lock out if possible. We really don't need to be in Branson, just within 10-15 minutes if we want to do a show or go for dinner. Also, how often do timeshares show up on e bay? I found one on myresortnetwork about 8 mo. ago for 3500. I'm wishing I had bought then!!

 

[JLB]

It's really hard to say where I would buy in a place where I would never buy.

What time of year would you like to be here? The last person that was asking this same question wanted to be here in October, and that can be done by having an RCI member enroll you for Extra Vacations and Last Calls, for something like $149 for 3 years, so you can book your own.

That's what she did.

But, if you have to buy, when you get to more specifics, like resorts and unit number, let me know and I'll give specific answers--even go check them out.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=branson+timeshares+for+sale&btnG=Google+Search

 

[JLB]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Branson-Yacht-C...3QQihZ001QQcategoryZ15897QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you prefer trout fishing and an older resort, Roark is very inexpensive.

 

[tanguayc]

Thanks for the link, JLB. I did see that one earlier today. I have never stayed there. Are all units lake front? If so, it may worth a bid. My husband likes to fish, but we prefer newer units. Thanks for all your help. I will take you up on that offer to check out any possible buys! If we buy in your area, I sure would like to meet you! You have always gone above and beyond to help fellow tuggers. Thanks.

 

[JLB]

The property is lakefront. Different developers (Grandvista and Escapes) have different buildings, with different views. Westgate bought Grandvista's holdings, but is not doing anything on the property. The property is the former Rock Lane Resort and is maintained by another person, Jim Heckman or something like that. There are some BYC owners here and OY.

We were driving by one day last month and I noticed the RCI Gold Crown was removed from their sign on the road. Knowing Westgate, I suspect them of doing that, but it might be nice to know why it came down. At least why RCI came down.

I took a look and everything Westgate has bought has been downgraded to Silver Crown. That is a feud between RCI and Westgate dating back to the early 90's, and nothing else. The former Grandvista resorts are just as nice now as they were under Grandvista. Well, maybe except for some of the portraits on the walls.

Escapes at Branson Yacht Club (the same resort) is still a Gold Crown.

Thanks for the link, JLB. I did see that one earlier today. I have never stayed there. Are all units lake front? If so, it may worth a bid. My husband likes to fish, but we prefer newer units. Thanks for all your help. I will take you up on that offer to check out any possible buys! If we buy in your area, I sure would like to meet you! You have always gone above and beyond to help fellow tuggers. Thanks.

 

[dougp26364]

Just make sure you're not bidding on a white season week when/if you bid.

Thanks for the quick response! What is white season and why would it be bad? If we would buy we would be looking to use this and not exchange. We like to go in early spring or late fall. Should we then look for a fixed week or floating?[/QUOTE]


White season is off season for Branson. Generally speaking, that's the first 9 weeks of the year or Jan, Feb and the first week of March. There's very little going on in Branson during those times and the weather isn't so good. IMO, those weeks aren't worth the price of the MF's.

 

[JLB]

If I was considering BYC, I would want to know if the affiliation is going to be with Westgate, Escapes, or neither. With a unit number I can check the view.

So far the word is that Westgate is not going to do anything with BYC, yet they have a role in collections and some other stuff. I would suspect they are the only real timeshare company doing anything at BYC, so they offered their management capability. I don't know how it is at other Westgate resorts, but in Orlando CFI continues to run their resorts regardless of what they say about there being owners associations. I don't think an owners group could ever take on Mr. Seagull.

JMHO.

I would want to talk to owners like DSchaefe or Libraria and the guy who takes care of the place (his property). He has been promising an owners meeting for a couple of years now.

We visited Libraria when they stayed there last year. At first she thought functions would be at Stonebridge (Escapes), but it turned out they were at Branson Woods. We went to a nice owners preview show and buffet.

Like I said above, the downgrading to Silver Crown of BYC and Emerald Pointe (Westgate Branson Lakes) is just petty politics. They are both nice places.

 

[ace2000]

I own at the Stonebridge right next to Silver Dollar City. It's a sister resort of the Yacht Club.

One advantage of either two, is since they are both Escapes! resorts they share the ammenities (Stonebridge - excellent golf course, Yacht Club - for the lake). And they are located within just a few miles of each other.

They are almost giving away Roark on Ebay right now... I have seen several weeks that cannot be sold for even $1. That in itself is very strong reason not to buy a bad week. You will have to pay to get rid of it or you will be stuck with the fees for life!

I recommend Stonebridge or the Yacht club, especially with the Gold Crown status of Stonebridge. Yacht club is at Silver status.

 

[JLB]

That's why I said what I said above, about Libraria expecting to be going to Stonebridge activities when they stayed at BYC, but they were sent to Westgate's instead.

And that's why I would want to know if a resale unit was Escapes or Westgate, and if the benefits other Escapes and Westgate owners have with those two companies are being extended to BYC owners.

We have been discussing BYC ever since Westgate bought out Grandvista and those things have never been cleared up.

Stonebridge is nice, as is Ledgestone Golf Course, where my recently deceased Uncle marshalled. I almost bought a resale TS there a couple years ago because some of the early ones included membership in the golf course. I didn't because even as a member, or a timeshare owner/guest (Stonebridge or BYC), it is still an expensive place.

It would be nice if Jim Heckman, or whatever his name is, could come here and talk about BYC.

One advantage of either two, is since they are both Escapes! resorts they share the ammenities (Stonebridge - excellent golf course, Yacht Club - for the lake). And they are located within just a few miles of each other.

Yacht club is at Silver status.

 

[branson is 10]

Tanguayc: check you e-mail