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Time Share Use Question/ Advice

**emmak**

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Hi! I have been doing a lot of research on timeshares this past week and am so happy to come across this site. It's an incredible wealth of information! My husband and I are considering buying a time share for a very nominal fee from a friend and I want to make sure I have considered everything before we make the deal.

Background: Currently we vacation on the lake near where this time share in NH and have been for the past 9 years, so we know the area well. We have a small Hobie Cat getaway boat and like to take it up for the day to go sailing (we live about an hour away). However, we rarely do this mainly because we don't have somewhere to change etc after sailing and go to dinner. We have considered staying overnight at a local hotel but during the season most hotels want a 2-night minimum and our 2 dogs, cat, hamster and fish at home would get lonely :). We have 3 sons that are 12, 10 and 7. Every time we go to Disney we strongly consider buying into DVC but then back out due to cost and whether or not it's 'worth it.'

Current situation: time share in question is for 20,000 points and $450 yearly maintenance fee. They are selling it for $500 and we haven't disused the other costs- which from what I am reading are transfer fee from the resort and any closing costs. I am planning to ask them to split those costs since they haven't been brought up yet. Am I missing anything here?

Out intent is to use property for the ammenities we have access to 365/ year- mainly the pools and a place to change after sailing for the day. This is worth the $450 a year it will be costing us (maintenance fees). However, the added perk for us would be the actual points which I would hope to be able to apply towards use at different places throughout the country and abroad with RCI. We travel a lot as a family and I LOVE new adventures. My husband likes them too but is always nervous about the cost of my planned trips :). My thought is that with our annual points I can significantly cut the cost of fun winter/ spring vacations. We basically chase the sun and do still like doing Disney and cruises so I was thinking every other year we would use the point to travel. End of the day though, we originally wouldn't be considering this if it wasn't for the fact that it is 1 hour from our house with use of the amenities year round.

My questions are as follows:
1) Am I 'missing' any costs or things I should be considering?
2) Does it make sense to buy something at a resort we have no real intention of using to stay overnight?
3) Because we are buying points, does this mean we can book something for an equal amount of points without having to trade properties through a company like RCI (there is an annual fee here too right? is it a standard fee?) ?
4) Is 20,000 points a ridiculously low amount of points? 40,000- if we are thinking every other year? Can I book something partially with points and pay for the rest? I know someone who is looking to get rid of their property with 90,000+ points but maintenance is $600/yr and I don't know how much she wants to sell it for....

Thank you for reading all of the and for any advice, tips, feedback or resources I should read! I really appreciate it!

Emily
 

dayooper

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What resort are you looking at? You mention points, what system are the points in?
 

cman

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Oh sorry, it is at Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton, NH
There's currently 3 ads for this resort in the TUG Marketplace for $1.00. They're offering more points and will pay all closing costs.

The points are something called Accor Vacation points. I've never heard of them, so hopefully someone else will chime in. At this point, you're asking the right questions, but please proceed with caution.
 

**emmak**

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There's currently 3 ads for this resort in the TUG Marketplace for $1.00. They're offering more points and will pay all closing costs.

The points are something called Accor Vacation points. I've never heard of them, so hopefully someone else will chime in. At this point, you're asking the right questions, but please proceed with caution.
Thank you so much for your feedback. This is exactly what I am looking for! The purpose of knowing the point system (Accor Vacation) is so I can determine the 'value' of the points with RCI- is that correct? Thank you again! I will be doing more research and although I do not want to back out on a friend, $ is $!
 

TheTimeTraveler

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Oh sorry, it is at Steele Hill Resort in Sanbornton, NH



Prior to purchasing be sure that you will always be able to obtain the time frame in which you desire. My guess is their busiest (no vacancies) time is in the winter for skiing, the summer for lakes region use, and late September/early October for leaf peepers..... Any other time (vacancies) is likely easy to obtain.

If you do proceed with your purchase consider using LT Transfers. Very reputable! www.LTTransfers.com

Keep all of us posted.





.
 

**emmak**

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Prior to purchasing be sure that you will always be able to obtain the time frame in which you desire. My guess is their busiest (no vacancies) time is in the winter for skiing, the summer for lakes region use, and late September/early October for leaf peepers..... Any other time (vacancies) is likely easy to obtain.

If you do proceed with your purchase consider using LT Transfers. Very reputable! www.LTTransfers.com

Keep all of us posted.





.
thank you! We actually do not plan to use the resort at all- we would be using the report for day use only and then use points to stay elsewhere. I "think" it makes sense, but I did just email the properties listed on the TUG marketplace as they are listed for $1 and cover closing costs. These forums are full of so much useful information!
 

dayooper

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HGVC: The Flamingo, The Boulevard
There's currently 3 ads for this resort in the TUG Marketplace for $1.00. They're offering more points and will pay all closing costs.

The points are something called Accor Vacation points. I've never heard of them, so hopefully someone else will chime in. At this point, you're asking the right questions, but please proceed with caution.

Accor vacation club looks like an Asian/Australian/New Zealand Club. Going to the Steele Hill site, those vacation points are good for three different NH resorts. I have never heard of any of them. Not sure why the Tug marketplace ad would mention Accor as I don’t see any reference to Accor on the resorts page. I would ask the seller or your friend on those. Steele Hill, nor any US resort, is listed as one of Accor’s resorts. Maybe they have a deal?

RCI points are different than Accor, I would assume. I don’t know if Steele Hill is eligible for RCI points. Not sure their TPU’s either. In my opinion, I would tread very cautiously on those units listed with Accor Vacation Club points and wouldn’t purchase till I knew exactly what they were. LT Transfers would be the first place I would call if I decided to purchase the unit. Good Luck!
 
Last edited:

sue1947

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Worldmark and VI
Thank you so much for your feedback. This is exactly what I am looking for! The purpose of knowing the point system (Accor Vacation) is so I can determine the 'value' of the points with RCI- is that correct? Thank you again! I will be doing more research and although I do not want to back out on a friend, $ is $!

Kind of, but not really.
Looking at the website, you would be purchasing a very small points based system. You trade x number of points for a night's stay at one of their resorts with the cost, in points, varying by season, etc. First step is to ask your friends what a week in a 2 BR in high season would cost. That will tell you if the 20000 is enough for you.
Next question is whether they offer day use. Looking at their website, I saw no mention of that. Most timeshares do NOT offer day use, but some do. As that is your main purpose to purchase, you need to make very sure that exists.
I also noted on their website that pets are not allowed. That is true of almost all timeshares. There are only a few exceptions, but it will very much limit what you can exchange into.
Next: Steele points are NOT RCI points. With a points system, you might exchange x number of points in your system for a week elsewhere. Ask your friends how many points are needed to exchange into a 2 BR in high season. Is it RCI Weeks or Points? Have they exchanged before and, if so, how strong of a trader is it? It may not be desirable enough to get you the trades you want, especially if you need school holidays.
With point systems, they always tell you that you can trade for a couple of days anytime you want. If you want weekends or school holidays, you are competing with a whole lot of people who want the same thing. You need a very strong trader to win that competition. Off season weeks in areas with lots of timeshares are more likely but you need to manage expectations.
I know nothing about this particular resort or system, but these are the questions you need to ask before diving in.
 
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