Question about borrowing StarOptions

[mtnpilot]

I'm thinking about getting a 2BR at Vistana Villages with 81000 Staroptions on the resale market. Is it possible to "borrow" Staroptions from the following year in order to get a unit with 1481000 Staroptions? I've heard that you can't "combine" points from different units to use at one other resort. Is this true?

Thanks!

 

[DeniseM]

You can borrow Staroptions from the next year, but you can only do it at 3 mos. out from your desired check in date. You have to pre-pay your MF at that time.

SVN Reservation Chart

You can combine Staroptions from different resorts - that changed about a year ago.

Where do you want to exchange into?

 

[mtnpilot]

Westin Riverfront, Sheraton Mountain Vista, and Sheraton Steamboat, mainly. I think a 3-month window will be slim with these resorts...

 

[DanCali]

...I've heard that you can't "combine" points from different units to use at one other resort. Is this true?

Thanks!

Starwood does allow you to combine StarOptions from multiple units to use at one other resort. So if you did own an SVV with 81,000 SO and another with 67,100 SO you could book a 2BR in Hawaii for 148,100 SOs.

It used to be the case that you couldn't, but now you can. Any such rule is subject to change by Starwood without much notice...

Westin Riverfront, Sheraton Mountain Vista, and Sheraton Steamboat, mainly. I think a 3-month window will be slim with these resorts...

I imagine availability at 3 months depends on the season at these resorts. Summer is probably much easier than ski season.

If you actually want to go to these resorts every year,why not just buy there? They don't have StarOptions in the resale market, but that also means resale prices are relatively low. You can probably get a SMV (weeks 16-20 and 40-47) for next to nothing. The MFs for a 2BR would be low and you can try to get a 2BR ski week at 8 months out. Peak season would cost more upfront - but at least you know you'll get your ski week.

 

[James1975NY]

If you actually want to go to these resorts every year,why not just buy there? They don't have StarOptions in the resale market, but that also means resale prices are relatively low. You can probably get a SMV (weeks 16-20 and 40-47) for next to nothing. The MFs for a 2BR would be low and you can try to get a 2BR ski week at 8 months out. Peak season would cost more upfront - but at least you know you'll get your ski week.

Danny,

If you purchase an SMV week on the secondary market, not only will you not get StarOptions, but you will NOT be able to request any other season than the one purchased.

If you own a shoulder season week at SMV and want to do ski season, you will have to do a trade with RCI or II. Chances are, the ski week will be difficult through the exchange.

 

[DanCali]

Danny,

If you purchase an SMV week on the secondary market, not only will you not get StarOptions, but you will NOT be able to request any other season than the one purchased.

True - my bad. I own voluntary resorts so I am not used to thinking that you can't exchange seasons. I guess if you bought that season you'd have to hope for nice snow by week 46, or exchange via II. Alternatively, buy a ski week...

I've seen SMV non-ski weeks being given away on eBay... Does anyone know how much do ski weeks actually resale for given that this is a voluntary resort? There is an Annual ski week on RedWeek asking for $12K and an EOY asking for $6K... Given that lack of access to SVN I guess there is less interest in these.

 

[James1975NY]

True - my bad. I own voluntary resorts so I am not used to thinking that you can't exchange seasons. I guess if you bought that season you'd have to hope for nice snow by week 46, or exchange via II. Alternatively, buy a ski week...

I've seen SMV non-ski weeks being given away on eBay... Does anyone know how much do ski weeks actually resale for given that this is a voluntary resort? There is an Annual ski week on RedWeek asking for $12K and an EOY asking for $6K... Given that lack of access to SVN I guess there is less interest in these.

From my experience Danny, the Ski weeks at SMV are going at around $10-$12k. Anything else is tough to say....not enough experience or data there becuase most of my Buyers would purchase StarOptions (mandatory resort) and trade into the lower seasons anyway.

 

[grgs]

I've seen SMV non-ski weeks being given away on eBay... Does anyone know how much do ski weeks actually resale for given that this is a voluntary resort? There is an Annual ski week on RedWeek asking for $12K and an EOY asking for $6K... Given that lack of access to SVN I guess there is less interest in these.

Somewhat limited data from e-bay:

1/27/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,701
5/9/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,950
5/17/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,211
9/20/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 9,700
7/19/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 9,600
9/1/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,900
12/22/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 12,900
3/24/2009 2 bd LO EY Plat 4,000

5/25/2006 2 bd LO EOY Plat 3,800
11/8/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 5,200
11/13/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 6,250
12/29/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 4,550
10/29/2008 2 bd LO EOY Plat 3,700
1/6/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 2,137
6/25/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 5,650
7/15/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 4,050

Glorian

 

[RLG]

Somewhat limited data from e-bay:

1/27/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,701
5/9/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,950
5/17/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,211
9/20/2007 2 bd LO EY Plat 9,700
7/19/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 9,600
9/1/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 13,900
12/22/2008 2 bd LO EY Plat 12,900
3/24/2009 2 bd LO EY Plat 4,000

5/25/2006 2 bd LO EOY Plat 3,800
11/8/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 5,200
11/13/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 6,250
12/29/2007 2 bd LO EOY Plat 4,550
10/29/2008 2 bd LO EOY Plat 3,700
1/6/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 2,137
6/25/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 5,650
7/15/2009 2 bd LO EOY Plat 4,050

Glorian

Thanks for posting this info Glorian. I'm thinking about selling one of my weeks and this info is very helpful in figuring out what I should be asking. I have a general idea of the ebay market for SMV from when I was buying, but didn't save the exact details.

Did you note if any of the auctions were reserve auctions that didn't sell, buy-it-now or were closed early? The reason I ask is that a couple of the auction prices stick out.

The ones for 9600 and 9700 stand out since, in each case, other units sold for 35% more within a few months.

Also, are you sure the 3/24/09 auction is actually annual use? The price seems to fit the EOY sequence and looks out of whack for EY, particulary when the EOY units were selling for more within weeks.

 

[grgs]

Thanks for posting this info Glorian. I'm thinking about selling one of my weeks and this info is very helpful in figuring out what I should be asking. I have a general idea of the ebay market for SMV from when I was buying, but didn't save the exact details.

Glad that this may be useful to you!

Did you note if any of the auctions were reserve auctions that didn't sell, buy-it-now or were closed early?

I don't include auctions that don't make reserve or close before a sale is completed. I used to, but the list was getting too big (I track a bunch of different Starwood properties).

The 9/1/08 & 12/22/08 units were both buy-it-now, but not the 3/24/09

The reason I ask is that a couple of the auction prices stick out.

The ones for 9600 and 9700 stand out since, in each case, other units sold for 35% more within a few months.

Also, are you sure the 3/24/09 auction is actually annual use? The price seems to fit the EOY sequence and looks out of whack for EY, particulary when the EOY units were selling for more within weeks.

In regards to the 3/24/09 auction, it's always possible I made an error. I think it more likely it was just an anomaly. There really haven't been that many units, so it's hard to say what the market rate for a 2 bd EY Plat should be.

Glorian