Resale Purchase Input Requested

[TigerTom]

Thought I seek the counsel of TUG on a handful of purchase opportunities I am trying to decide upon. I am looking to purchase one of the following. Personally I am a big fan of Marriott but open to Starwood, we are a family of three with a 13 year old. Our desire is to have a home resort to go to, want a week purchase vs. points and would like to trade our home resort once every year or so with MOC as a desired destination to trade to.

Drum roll please...here are the choices we are considering:

1- SVV- St. Augustine. 2BR/2BA EY, Purchase Price Bargain basement, under $100, MF $908

2. Marriott Grande Vista- Marriott Resale. $8900, 2BR/2BA, EY, 110k MR points, MF $1100 , plus purchase incentive free 8 day/ 7 nt good for 1br villa for any MVC property (not leaning toward buying the 3000 or so points)

3. Marriott Grande Vista- ebay $4-5k, 2br/2ba, EY, MF $1100

4. MOC- Marriott Resale- $14k, 1br, Oceanview, EY, MF $1800, 100k MR points
free 1 week purchase incentive for free stay at a Marriott VC property

Again, don't plan to go to my home resort every year 1 out of two years. Looking for the most economical way to buy something we would enjoy and would be a good trader. Don't want to be stuck doing the Orlando gig every year, just got back from SVV, and my feet are tired.

Your expert input is appreciated.

 

[StevenTing]

I would go with #4. This way you will always have your week at MOC. It should relatively easy to rent out that week and the use those funds to go where ever you want the other years. The only downside to this option is that the Maintenance fee is higher than the others.

 

[TigerTom]

Thanks Steven, Trying to minimize my cash outlay. Deep down I see #4 providing the same advantages but just wonder if I can achieve an economical way of trading Orlando for Maui.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

Thought I seek the counsel of TUG on a handful of purchase opportunities I am trying to decide upon. I am looking to purchase one of the following. Personally I am a big fan of Marriott but open to Starwood, we are a family of three with a 13 year old. Our desire is to have a home resort to go to, want a week purchase vs. points and would like to trade our home resort once every year or so with MOC as a desired destination to trade to.

Drum roll please...here are the choices we are considering:

1- SVV- St. Augustine. 2BR/2BA EY, Purchase Price Bargain basement, under $100, MF $908

2. Marriott Grande Vista- Marriott Resale. $8900, 2BR/2BA, EY, 110k MR points, MF $1100 , plus purchase incentive free 8 day/ 7 nt good for 1br villa for any MVC property (not leaning toward buying the 3000 or so points)

3. Marriott Grande Vista- ebay $4-5k, 2br/2ba, EY, MF $1100

4. MOC- Marriott Resale- $14k, 1br, Oceanview, EY, MF $1800, 100k MR points
free 1 week purchase incentive for free stay at a Marriott VC property

Again, don't plan to go to my home resort every year 1 out of two years. Looking for the most economical way to buy something we would enjoy and would be a good trader. Don't want to be stuck doing the Orlando gig every year, just got back from SVV, and my feet are tired.

Your expert input is appreciated.

Buying a timeshare is a very personal thing. Lots of options and the ones that are best for you depend on your own interests, those of your family, finances, etc.

I would question the MOC. From NC, Maui is a long flight and not inexpensive. So you might find that you don't use it as much and use it as a trader. Because of the high MF, it is an expensive trader.

Comparing the GV through ebay versus through MVC, if you think that 4-5K will pass ROFR, then no sense to give Marriott another 4-5K (unless you're a stockholder :hysterical.

 

[silentg]

I sent you a PM

 

[taterhed]

#4 does sound tempting. (value, location, resale, rent)

What are the restrictions on the '1 week' anywhere? There have been a lot of 'smoke and mirrors' with relation to the free weeks. I would get it clearly written in stone. Also, what size/location/time restrictions on the free week? A 2br week in the Napili towers is over $3k--that's a lot of money off the purchase price--especially for a MGV.

I'm not trying to be a downer--I'm a M. owner of 2 weeks....
Trading into Hawaii with a school schedule can be very tough and requires patience and risk (buy tickets 1 yr out--book/trade when you can).
Also, the MOC units (getting the towers is almost impossible) can be done, but a 1br MOC unit doesn't have a full kitchen; something that families with kids often like. AND, traveling to Hawaii for 'just' 7 days from the east coast is brutal. Don't forget, the flight from NC is NOT direct. In your case, that's 12 hours of flying (each way) and $2500 in airfare.

Here's my alternate suggestions (even though you didn't ask):

• MKO Marriott's Ko Olina has 2 br lock-offs that trade well and (if OV) rent well. Cheaper than Lahaina. Good resale for now. Full kitchen facilities. If you only need 1br, then trade the other half or rent the other half (1br) and plan on trading-up to a 1br or 2br during flex/bulk with Marriott pref. (possible--but what's the worst that could happen? rent another studio if needed). Or, lock-off and reserve 2 weeks, plan on trading the studio up to a 1br (or 2) and spend 2 weeks in Hawaii.
• MGV Use Grande Vista as a trader and maybe just go every other year to Hawaii. Probably easier to get MKO on trade than MOC. Also, MAW Waiohai (only 2br, so easy to trade up) pops up and could be a good 2nd week choice on trade.

Hope it helps.

Please, please: really get everything in writing--with details restrictions, limits, dates, sizes etc...--before considering a purchase direct from M.

ps. You didn't mention, but if you're military or have military benefits, there are some very good solutions for 'back-up' on those trades you're trying to get at 180/60/30 days from travel time.. They work well on Oahu and Kuwai--not so good on Maui/Hilo

 

[JIMinNC]

I think the caution offered above about distance to Hawaii from NC is something you need to at least consider before you buy in Hawaii. We are in NC and used to own a Maui timeshare in another system and found that the high maintenance fees and the distance became an issue over time. In the early years, we went to Hawaii about every other year and were reasonably successful in trading the years we didn't go for a second week on a different island to pair up with our home week to make a two week trip in the years we did go. As time went on, we started going less frequently, so the high fees became a bit of a nuisance, because when you own Hawaii, unless you use the week in Hawaii, you will almost always be trading down to a resort with a lower maintenance fee than what you are paying.

Have you thought about an EOY resale at MOC plus an EY at Grande Vista? An EOY MOC OCV 1BR from a non-Marriott broker would be $5000 or so and an EY 2BR Grande Vista would be about the same at $5000 or so. Combined MF would be about $2000 per year ($900 for EOY MOC and $1100 for EY Grande Vista). So for only $200/yr more in MF and $4000 less upfront than an EY MOC from Marriott Resales, you have a week in Orlando every year to use or trade PLUS a guaranteed MOC week EOY.

I can't address how well Orlando trades and whether it would trade well or not. But I did notice that you said you have a 13 year old. It wasn't too long after that age that our kids each started losing interest in going to Orlando - especially with parents. So I would caution you to make sure that the 2BR Grand Vista meets your needs as a trader or consider looking for something with better trade value in case Orlando loses its appeal as your child moves into high school and college.

 

[taterhed]

I think the caution offered above about distance to Hawaii from NC is something you need to at least consider before you buy in Hawaii. We are in NC and used to own a Maui timeshare in another system and found that the high maintenance fees and the distance became an issue over time. In the early years, we went to Hawaii about every other year and were reasonably successful in trading the years we didn't go for a second week on a different island to pair up with our home week to make a two week trip in the years we did go. As time went on, we started going less frequently, so the high fees became a bit of a nuisance, because when you own Hawaii, unless you use the week in Hawaii, you will almost always be trading down to a resort with a lower maintenance fee than what you are paying.

Have you thought about an EOY resale at MOC plus an EY at Grande Vista? An EOY MOC OCV 1BR from a non-Marriott broker would be $5000 or so and an EY 2BR Grande Vista would be about the same at $5000 or so. Combined MF would be about $2000 per year ($900 for EOY MOC and $1100 for EY Grande Vista). So for only $200/yr more in MF and $4000 less upfront than an EY MOC from Marriott Resales, you have a week in Orlando every year to use or trade PLUS a guaranteed MOC week EOY.

I can't address how well Orlando trades and whether it would trade well or not. But I did notice that you said you have a 13 year old. It wasn't too long after that age that our kids each started losing interest in going to Orlando - especially with parents. So I would caution you to make sure that the 2BR Grand Vista meets your needs as a trader or consider looking for something with better trade value in case Orlando loses its appeal as your child moves into high school and college.

Excellent post: many good ideas.

MGV/MGR is a good trader and gets you into lots of M. locations: islands, Hawaii, Cali, Skiing etc... Also trades well in II or gets 'extra weeks' in the 2nd Tier exchanges (SFX, Plat, DAE). I don't plan on using ORL until I have grandkids or maybe do the food/wine Epcot thing.

Williamsburg is another 2br l/o trader that people use. HHI has units as well--and very close to you. Prices and MF's vary.

 

[TigerTom]

All- Some great advice and your points are what I have batting around the past few weeks.

It does come down to a pay up or trade up scenario. I am concerned with Maui once every year given we are in NC. Just returned from MOC in July. We were there 7 nights, and in Hawaii abt. 10 days. It is a haul and may not work every year. Larger cash outlay, higher MF to trade down doesn't sit right with me.

I prefer the approach, buy in MGV. Lower commitment and the possibility to trade up. Not a bad thought to buy a EOY in MOC as well, thanks for the idea.

The free week Marriott is offering is for a 1BR at any property. I can take their word right

 

[frank808]

I lost a mgv platinum 2br ey unit to rofr. Might have to be over $5500 to pass the rofr monkey at mgv. I believe there were others on this forum that said their mgv purchase was lost to rofr. So buying direct might only be about $1500 to $2000 more than outside resale. This takes into the account the free 1br vacation in a high maintenance marriott like maui and the 110k mrp points (say about $2000 value).

 

[del2327]

The free 1BR Marriott is giving you if you purchase sounds like what we were given when we purchased a resale unit less than a year ago. We received a 1 BR Marriott Ocean Pointe unit which had previously been deposited with Interval. It was put into our Interval account and the deposit had to be used within the next 12 months after we received it. In other words, what we received was a 1 BR unit that had already been deposited with Interval at least one year earlier and we had to locate another unit within Interval which we wished to trade into. So, yes while the free 1 BR week you would receive would technically be usable at any property, MVC or not, it would likely be up to you to use it to actually obtain a week that you want to use with the following year. I do not think the 1 BR week you would receive is something where you could tell Marriott the location or the week which you want to receive. We were able to use it to trade into a 2BR at Grande Vista for President's Week.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[NTP66]

All- Some great advice and your points are what I have batting around the past few weeks.

It does come down to a pay up or trade up scenario. I am concerned with Maui once every year given we are in NC. Just returned from MOC in July. We were there 7 nights, and in Hawaii abt. 10 days. It is a haul and may not work every year. Larger cash outlay, higher MF to trade down doesn't sit right with me.

I prefer the approach, buy in MGV. Lower commitment and the possibility to trade up. Not a bad thought to buy a EOY in MOC as well, thanks for the idea.

The free week Marriott is offering is for a 1BR at any property. I can take their word right

FWIW, you can routinely get an EOY 1BR OV unit at MOC for under $5k through Tug, Redweek, and a host of other sites. I paid $4k for my even year 1BR OV unit at MOC, and it passed ROFR. I thought about using Marriott's own resale department, but decided that I could use that extra cash for other stuff.

 

[Quadmaniac]

FWIW, you can routinely get an EOY 1BR OV unit at MOC for under $5k through Tug, Redweek, and a host of other sites. I paid $4k for my even year 1BR OV unit at MOC, and it passed ROFR. I thought about using Marriott's own resale department, but decided that I could use that extra cash for other stuff.

Personally I would not buy a 1 br as the MF is $1850 vs a 2br MF $2030. For a difference of $180 MF, it is a better value to buy the 2 br, lock it off and rent out the studio for $1000-1400 depending on the week / time of year, reducing your net cost to say $630-$1030 per year. If you happen to have more people or want more room, you have that option of using the studio portion instead of renting it out.

I find that it is not super difficult to trade into Maui. I've traded into it at spring break, summer and Christmas. It took some time, but if you are persistent in daily searches, your chances are pretty good.

 

[NTP66]

Personally I would not buy a 1 br as the MF is $1850 vs a 2br MF $2030. For a difference of $180 MF, it is a better value to buy the 2 br, lock it off and rent out the studio for $1000-1400 depending on the week / time of year, reducing your net cost to say $630-$1030 per year. If you happen to have more people or want more room, you have that option of using the studio portion instead of renting it out.

I find that it is not super difficult to trade into Maui. I've traded into it at spring break, summer and Christmas. It took some time, but if you are persistent in daily searches, your chances are pretty good.

I agree with that, but the MF on an EOY is around $900. I was in a similar boat as the OP in that I'm flying out of Philadelphia, so tickets are generally in the $900-1k/each range for my family of 3, and it's about 12 hours in the air. So, an EOY unit is perfect for us.

 

[Quadmaniac]

I agree with that, but the MF on an EOY is around $900. I was in a similar boat as the OP in that I'm flying out of Philadelphia, so tickets are generally in the $900-1k/each range for my family of 3, and it's about 12 hours in the air. So, an EOY unit is perfect for us.

EOY is great if that is all you need, it is just such a rip off charging $1850 for a 1br and $2030 for a 2br. Personally I think the 1 br MF should be like $1200 to make it fair but whats fair and what happens are not always the same. EOY 2br would be about $1015 so difference of less than $100. Just my 2 cents on it....

 

[JIMinNC]

Personally I would not buy a 1 br as the MF is $1850 vs a 2br MF $2030. For a difference of $180 MF, it is a better value to buy the 2 br, lock it off and rent out the studio for $1000-1400 depending on the week / time of year, reducing your net cost to say $630-$1030 per year. If you happen to have more people or want more room, you have that option of using the studio portion instead of renting it out.

I think this is another very valid point for the OP to consider. The EOY 2BR OV MOC might cost $3-4K more upfront than the EOY 1BR OV MOC, but given the small difference in annual MF, I tend to agree that the 2BR does give more flexibility and value as compared to the 1BR.

Since I'm not someone who is particularly inclined to play in the owner rental market, either as a renter or as a landlord, instead of renting the Studio as Quadmaniac suggested, I would look at the advantage of the 2BR as providing the opportunity to lock it off and trade the Studio portion, giving the OP and extra vacation for only about $90/year extra in MF and a few thousand more upfront. The 2BR is clearly a better value.

So with the combination of a 2BR EOY at MOC, plus an annual 2BR at MGV, the OP would have:

1) A 2BR week at MGV to use or trade every year
2) A 2BR week at MOC to use or trade every other year

Alternatively the OP could split the 2BR MOC and have:
1) A 2BR week at MGV to use or trade every year
2) A 1BR week at MOC to use or trade every other year
3) A Studio at MOC to trade every other year

 

[TigerTom]

Thank you all for your input.


Leaning toward doing the following:

Orlando- SVV, St. Augustine-I will adopt a 2br annual.

Maui- MOC 2BR OV EOY

Thanks for your input. It helped clarify my thoughts. We want ownership and occasional access to Hawaii but deep down I did not want to commit upfront money to Orlando ownership. This scheme will meet our needs.