StarOptions transfer on resale?

[KimT]

Hello all,

I just bid on and purchased a 1BD Sheraton Vistana Villages (Key West) resale on Ebay. After paying and completing the closing documents, I received an email stating that they (closing agent) "just received notice that although this is a mandatory phase of Sheraton where normally staroptions would transfer, the staroptions will no longer transfer at any phase on the resale market." The email indicated that this was because Marriott "merger" changed this rule.

Does anyone know if this is true? I bought this resale just to add to my current Staroptions. They are offering to refund me my money, so I will cancel if this is true. I really don't need another unit, i just wanted to increase my staroptions.

Thanks all.

Kim

 

[vacationtime1]

I very much doubt this is true, but why not ask for a copy of the “notice”?

 

[KimT]

I thought the same and already requested it. I am waiting for the response.

 

[timsi]

Hello all,

I just bid on and purchased a 1BD Sheraton Vistana Villages (Key West) resale on Ebay. After paying and completing the closing documents, I received an email stating that they (closing agent) "just received notice that although this is a mandatory phase of Sheraton where normally staroptions would transfer, the staroptions will no longer transfer at any phase on the resale market." The email indicated that this was because Marriott "merger" changed this rule.

Does anyone know if this is true? I bought this resale just to add to my current Staroptions. They are offering to refund me my money, so I will cancel if this is true. I really don't need another unit, i just wanted to increase my staroptions.

Thanks all.

Kim

It is a possibility Marriott is trying to cancel the mandatory status going forward but more likely I would say there is something wrong with the listing and the agents are blaming Marriott.

 

[vacationtime1]

It is a possibility Marriott is trying to cancel the mandatory status going forward but more likely I would say there is something wrong with the listing and the agents are blaming Marriott.

Good point. What does the estoppel show? If it says “mandatory”, the eBay seller may be trying to break the deal.

 

[SteelerGal]

I recently purchased SVV-Bella phase. I was told their were StarOptions attached.

 

[DanCali]

It is a possibility Marriott is trying to cancel the mandatory status going forward

If this were remotely possible to pull off, Starwood Vacation Ownership would have done it 20 years ago.

 

[sponger76]

I recently purchased SVV-Bella phase. I was told their were StarOptions attached.

That is correct, the Bella phase of Vistana Villages is Mandatory, so you would be eligible for StarOptions.

 

[KimT]

The item description doesn't specifically say "mandatory," but it identifies the following:

Name of Resort:​	Sheraton Vistana Villages Key West Phase​
​	​
Buyer’s First Year of Usage:​	2023​
Usage:​	Annual - Free Closing​
Unit Info: ​	Float Unit 1 bedroom 1 bath, sleeps 4, Full Kitchen ​
Week info: ​	Float Week#1-5, 18-22, 35-38 & 48-50 High Season 37,000 StarOptions Points ​
Estimated Maintenance fees & Taxes:​	$771.07 – Due Annually January 1st Includes SVN Fee Property Tax: Included in maintenance fees​
Ownership:​	Perpetual Deed (Week#22 Unit#14203) Paid In Full​

 

[timsi]

@DanCali I never thought they would give exchangers the same rights as the owners either and cut benefits for a majority of the Vistana owners, but here we are. This is not the first report that Marriott told people who wanted to buy or sell mandatory resorts that they will not be part of VSN.

 

[timsi]

@KimT The old estoppels included a section that would specify if the contract would be part of VSN or not. I would call Vistana to clarify this. To me, at the minimum they are trying to confuse and detter the potential buyers, but it could be worse.

 

[vacationtime1]

@KimT The old estoppels included a section that would specify if the contract would be part of VSN or not. I would call Vistana to clarify this. To me, at the minimum they are trying to confuse and detter the potential buyers, but it could be worse.

The "old estoppels" are called "Resale Information Sheet" (which is what I meant in post #5 above) and has a specific line item as to whether the StarOptions will transfer. Have they changed the format of this document (does anyone here know for certain)? Because if not, the "estoppel" OP has may not be real.

 

[Venter]

I suspect what they mean is that the banked Staroptions for the use year is not transferrable anymore. People used to get the 'left over/banked' Staroptions transferred with resale. I got a email from Vistana about this some time ago even though I did not buy anything at the time. Staroptions will still be available for the next use year if it transfers in time.

 

[SteelerGal]

StarOptions should be w/ that phase however there will not be able to exchange in the new Abound Program.

 

[andrewjjtimeshare]

Hello Kim,
You had purchased the account from us at Buy And Sell Timeshares.
Marriot is rolling out their abound program, with that there are some changes coming to the staroptions.
We are still researching to make sure if these staroptions will transfer or not.
They have transferred at all "Mandatory" resorts up until just recently.
We have done hundreds of transfers of the staroptions on the resale market, But Marriott is making some changes and we are trying to figure out how and when those changes will apply to the account you purchased.

I am getting with the sales manager today and we will do more research online to find out if the account you purchased will transfer as staroptions or not. Marriott is never good at thoroughly updating their owners with the newest membership updates. I assure you we are working on this and I will be emailing you back this afternoon with an update.

 

[CPNY]

I’d get out of the contract if you can. 1. That’s not a great week to own at all. 2. It’s not eligible in abound and they are basically giving you the out. Get out if you can. You have 10 days of recision with resale since it’s in Florida. Cancel that contract.

If you decide to keep it, I also have a post 8/9 SVV Key west phase resale and the SO DO transfer. However, it states in my dashboard that it’s not enrolled for Abound.

 

[timsi]

I’d get out of the contract if you can. 1. That’s not a great week to own at all. 2. It’s not eligible in abound and they are basically giving you the out. Get out if you can. You have 10 days of recision with resale since it’s in Florida. Cancel that contract.



If you decide to keep it, I also have a post 8/9 SVV Key west phase resale and the SO DO transfer. However, it states in my dashboard that it’s not enrolled for Abound.

If this is the one the OP won, it was $1.25 including the transfer costs. It is not the best ratio of $/SO but it is not a bad deal, especially for someone how may just need to add SO to the account. The 1BR can also be decent Interval trader even if it is not high season.

37,000 StarOption Points Sheraton Vistana Villages Key West Timeshare Florida | eBay

Sheraton Vistana Villages Key West Phase. Sheraton Vistana Villages. 37,000 StarOptions Points. 12401 International Drive. FILE NUMBER: 70272. Perpetual Deed (Week#22 Unit#14203). HOW DO I KNOW THIS IS LEGITIMATE?.

www.ebay.com

I think the news is here that the mandatory may go away.

@andrewjjtimeshare Can you please more specific why you think Marriott may restrict enrollment to VSN upon reselling mandatory resorts? I do not think they can really do it, it may just be poor training for the people you may have been in contact with.

 

[KimT]

Update. Andrew and his manager were able to get some clarification from Vistana. The response was that any ownership purchased as a resale at a mandatory property will still have the access to all other VSN features - aside from the new Abound program. We were also provided the resale estoppel that indicates Club Resorts VSN will transfer with ownership. As we are solely looking to add SO, we plan to move forward.
Thanks for all the responses.

 

[vacationtime1]

Given who the seller is, I'm surprised that he did not know this.

To his credit, he made the effort to find out.

To his greater credit, he held up the transaction until he knew he could deliver what he had promised to deliver (transferable StarOptions) and kept you well informed during the process.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

The item description doesn't specifically say "mandatory," but it identifies the following:

Name of Resort:​	Sheraton Vistana Villages Key West Phase​
​	​
Buyer’s First Year of Usage:​	2023​
Usage:​	Annual - Free Closing​
Unit Info:​	Float Unit 1 bedroom 1 bath, sleeps 4, Full Kitchen​
Week info:​	Float Week#1-5, 18-22, 35-38 & 48-50 High Season 37,000 StarOptions Points ​
Estimated Maintenance fees & Taxes:​	$771.07 – Due Annually January 1st Includes SVN Fee Property Tax: Included in maintenance fees​
Ownership:​	Perpetual Deed (Week#22 Unit#14203) Paid In Full​

I see VSN fee on the estoppel you shared. Why would you pay this if no Staroptions

 

[dioxide45]

Seems some people at Marriott don't know the difference between VSN and Abound...

 

[CPNY]

Mandatory isn’t going away. Post 8/9 just isn’t eligible for Abound. I used SO from a post 8/9 resale for a VSN reservation this week

 

[KimT]

Hi all. Just a follow up.
It took about 2+ months to process, but we did receive the StarOptions from the resale and have already used them to book our next stay.

 

[grrrah]

Mandatory isn’t going away. Post 8/9 just isn’t eligible for Abound. I used SO from a post 8/9 resale for a VSN reservation this week

I'm pretty sure it's been confirmed, but just for clarification, you have to pay the VSN fee ($170+ala cart fees) in addition/separate from the Abound fee ($230+), correct?

 

[daviator]

I'm pretty sure it's been confirmed, but just for clarification, you have to pay the VSN fee ($170+ala cart fees) in addition/separate from the Abound fee ($230+), correct?

The Abound fee replaces the VSN fee, and you should only pay one Abound fee across all your VOIs, assuming they are titled identically. The only exceptions, I think, are Harborside at Atlantis which is not yet part of Abound (so if you owned there, you might have to pay a separate VSN fee for that property) and I want to say Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas in Vail, Colorado, which is also not yet part of Abound...