The era of $10K new money trade-ins is dead. My experience from Owner's Update at Parc, with trade-in deal approvals going all the way to Corporate.

[Snezz1e]

interesting thread. I am not sure there is a way that I would go from Legacy Elite Premier to Max since I would lose benefits. They would have to make all my resale count toward retail and then put us at Premier + but even with it, I would lose some benefits.

I didn't do enough research on Craig option for Elite Premier before I started buying resale. A part of me wished I went this route. Less time wasted looking for good deals. If I can get a good MAX trade in deal the overall portfolio would be so much better long term with significantly lower MF and no exchange rate risk.

If I can't get trades after many attempts I'll sell/give away the golds and what I'll have left will be about slightly better than the Craig route. But no elite benefits which I think can have some decent value. Who knows, I might just sell almost everything and buy Craig if it's still a good deal at that point. Probably lose at least $10k in process but the potential upside if I can get a good trade in deal is too great for me not to try. No matter what happens I'll still be way ahead of people who bought worthless gold deeds at full retail value.

 

[HuskerATL]

I didn't do enough research on Craig option for Elite Premier before I started buying resale. A part of me wished I went this route. Less time wasted looking for good deals. If I can get a good MAX trade in deal the overall portfolio would be so much better long term with significantly lower MF and no exchange rate risk.

If I can't get trades after many attempts I'll sell/give away the golds and what I'll have left will be about slightly better than the Craig route. But no elite benefits which I think can have some decent value. Who knows, I might just sell almost everything and buy Craig if it's still a good deal at that point. Probably lose at least $10k in process but the potential upside if I can get a good trade in deal is too great for me not to try. No matter what happens I'll still be way ahead of people who bought worthless gold deeds at full retail value.

We went all in for the Craig Lodges option, buying 7 weeks, and getting EP in the process. The MFs are low and, right now, the exchange rate is in our favor but that can change. I don't think it will change so much that it would make the MFs a bad deal, but who knows. Between the free reservations and free unlimited guest certs, that savings covers, at least, one MF week each year. Then the other perks such as Lyft, HH Diamond but get it with Aspire anyway, upgrades (depends on the property but about half the time we get it), basically no fees for converting, saving, etc. It is worth it for us. I would not buy Craig Lodge if you have an interest in Max though. They basically told me that they can't do anything with those if you go Max. The points would be usable in Max but they would not count toward the Max Tier level. If you do look at Craig, work through Andrew, https://www.craigendarroch.com/sales/ , that way they are elite qualifying. The other nice thing, no closing costs...just an admin fee and point activation.

We just use the points at other places...such as the 5 reservations that we have at Ocean Oak at the end of June and first week of July for us, friends, and family...including a OF for us...so makes for an inexpensive OO stay.

 

[GT75]

Overall, this means the era of ~$10K new money trade-ins is officially proclaimed dead, since it went all the way to corporate where it failed.

You could be correct in your evaluation but I am not so sure. It could have been dependent upon many factors such are the number of resale deeds you were trading in and also the purchase property.

 

[Eric B]

Note the only thing that cannot be easily traded in is Elara deeds.

Marbrisa has issues for trading in as well.

 

[HuskerATL]

Marbrisa has issues for trading in as well.

I think many affiliates do. You can't trade in Craig Lodges either but they are a Cert of Holiday versus a deed.

 

[Snezz1e]

We went all in for the Craig Lodges option, buying 7 weeks, and getting EP in the process. The MFs are low and, right now, the exchange rate is in our favor but that can change. I don't think it will change so much that it would make the MFs a bad deal, but who knows. Between the free reservations and free unlimited guest certs, that savings covers, at least, one MF week each year. Then the other perks such as Lyft, HH Diamond but get it with Aspire anyway, upgrades (depends on the property but about half the time we get it), basically no fees for converting, saving, etc. It is worth it for us. I would not buy Craig Lodge if you have an interest in Max though. They basically told me that they can't do anything with those if you go Max. The points would be usable in Max but they would not count toward the Max Tier level. If you do look at Craig, work through Andrew, https://www.craigendarroch.com/sales/ , that way they are elite qualifying. The other nice thing, no closing costs...just an admin fee and point activation.

We just use the points at other places...such as the 5 reservations that we have at Ocean Oak at the end of June and first week of July for us, friends, and family...including a OF for us...so makes for an inexpensive OO stay.

Another reason I wanted to try out for MAX first was because I calculated I needed about 80k/year just for myself. Figured I buy 100k to get Centrum and give rest to friends/family at my significantly lower cost or convert to Hilton points. Also Centum will probably have higher priority than Elite Premier for free upgrades so I'll be first in line. Don't really need MAX properties since it's exclusively NYC for me but could be useful for friends/family.

Now that I have access to owners portal to make bookings I now see I only need less than half the number of points if I book exclusively through RCI. I just have to be okay with booking 8-10 months out and extremely limited cancelation flexibility which I kind of am. The Craig route would of given me enough points to do this and a little extra for times when I'm not as flexible in booking so far in advance.

 

[GT75]

Note the only thing that cannot be easily traded in is Elara deeds.

All of the SC properties (AOC, Ocean22, Ocean Enclave, Ocean Oak, & Liberty Place) can not be traded in for non-SC properties. Nor can non-SC properties be traded in for SC properties.

 

[HuskerATL]

Another reason I wanted to try out for MAX first was because I calculated I needed about 80k/year just for myself. Figured I buy 100k to get Centrum and give rest to friends/family at my significantly lower cost or convert to Hilton points. Also Centum will probably have higher priority than Elite Premier for free upgrades so I'll be first in line. Don't really need MAX properties since it's exclusively NYC for me but could be useful for friends/family.

Now that I have access to owners portal to make bookings I now see I only need less than half the number of points if I book exclusively through RCI. I just have to be okay with booking 8-10 months out and extremely limited cancelation flexibility which I kind of am. The Craig route would of given me enough points to do this and a little extra for times when I'm not as flexible in booking so far in advance.

It would be interesting to see who they give priority to, EP or Centum. EP is the highest level for Legacy and, of course, Centum is for Max.

When using RCI, make sure to look at the fees section.

 

[ernststarhemberg]

It would be interesting to see who they give priority to, EP or Centum. EP is the highest level for Legacy and, of course, Centum is for Max.

When using RCI, make sure to look at the fees section.

Curious how HGV plans to balance that. Since they're trying to get everyone to enroll in Max I suppose they'd be incentivized to give Centum an upgrade priority over Legacy anything, but who knows!

 

[Snezz1e]

All of the SC properties (AOC, Ocean22, Ocean Enclave, Ocean Oak, & Liberty Place) can not be traded in for non-SC properties. Nor can non-SC properties be traded in for SC properties.

You'll are complicating my trade in plans. Better to know now than later I guess. Elara and OE was two of my three places I wanted to buy. Now I'm left with mainly Ocean Tower. I didn't want to buy exclusively at one place in order to spread out risk that one location MF increase at a higher rate than average. Was interested in NYC like Quin Studio Penthouse but Eric B said it was likely sold out. Still trying to determine if Studio Penthouse at Residences has similar MF/p if anyone knows.

Now I'm regretting even more failing ROFR on 1 of my 2 OE purchases. 2x 13,440 trade for a 28,800 might of worked perfectly as a trade.

 

[GT75]

You'll are complicating my trade in plans.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news (I actually am not positive about Liberty Place but added it to the list since it was developed by Strand) HGV sales do have these quirky rules. They also have rules on how much "new money" must be included. I don't know if there is a difference between resale of developer trade-in deeds. I think that corporate sales stated that I needed to provide $50K new money to purchase at HI (OT) with a trade-in of both retail and developer purchases. Wow, I certainly didn't bite on that "wonderful" deal.

 

[Snezz1e]

Maybe a EOY deed purchase will work. My 2 x 13,440 for 28,800 example might not bring in enough new money but a 13,440 for 28,800 EOY might. I read in an old thread they charge 65% for EOY. Maybe more lenient on new money requirement as well since they are already charging premium on EOY.

 

[ernststarhemberg]

Liberty Place seems to be one of those places that can be selective. Relatively small property, I don't often see Liberty Place deeds pop up resale, and when they do they aren't cheap!

 

[HuskerATL]

Liberty Place seems to be one of those places that can be selective. Relatively small property, I don't often see Liberty Place deeds pop up resale, and when they do they aren't cheap!

HC properties tend to be higher and have higher MFs.

 

[ernststarhemberg]

We go to Charleston a lot. Considered getting a Liberty Place deed, but if we plan the trip exactly 9 months out we've never had trouble getting a 2BR in the regular booking window - gotta grab it at exactly the 9 month mark and walk it forward though! They go quick! Liberty Place is an excellent property, the nearby Hilton hotels are pretty rough, desperately need updating. The nearby Hampton isn't horrible, but the one in the old Citadel (Embassy?) is just bleh.

 

[HuskerATL]

We go to Charleston a lot. Considered getting a Liberty Place deed, but if we plan the trip exactly 9 months out we've never had trouble getting a 2BR in the regular booking window - gotta grab it at exactly the 9 month mark and walk it forward though! They go quick! Liberty Place is an excellent property, the nearby Hilton hotels are pretty rough, desperately need updating. The nearby Hampton isn't horrible, but the one in the old Citadel (Embassy?) is just bleh.

We are going there for fall break this year.

 

[lotus921v]

I can always acquire more points for closing costs, so fewer points for better MFpp isn't a problem for me. Max + 14% improvement in MFpp felt worth it. (Plus, I think, I'd get to the first tier under max because I have Coylumbridge 11200 that counts as retail) People are willing to give up their Vegas Gold deeds left and right. There's always a good number of people who won't fall for typical broker spiel and list Blvd 2 BR Gold for an unreasonable price, only for it to get no movement for months, and then ending up as "hot deal" "priced to sell" for $500 or $800 and broker gets everything anyway, when they can go with me and be done with it in a matter of two weeks.

I thought Coylumbridge got removed from the program?