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Timeshare portfolio theory?

mamiecarter

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In the last year or two I have been buying timeshares thinking about it as a vacation investment portfolio. Now that I have assembled a workable portfolio I need advice about balancing it and exchanges.

First I bought a week 32 studio at Deer Run Village in the catskills on E Bay supper cheap. My husband and I liked it so much in spite of the run down quality of the resort that we plan to use it evey year. It's within driving distance of our New Jersey home. This turned us on to timesharing and I joined TUG and started E Bay shopping in ernest.

Next I joined Dial an exchange and bought a every even year week 18 at Blue Ridge Village in NC and an every third year two bedroom lock out also week 18 at vacation village in the berkshires. These were really, really cheap and I figured trade them untill I retire in a couple of years and can travel in May. So now I have a week deposited at Dial an Exchange and a week on deposite at Platnum Exchange. They can sit there untill I find something nice I want.

What I can't figure out is what to do with two nice summer weeks I am still wrapping up the purchase on. I got two studio weeks at Sea Mist Maine, July 21 and July 28. My husband wants to go July 21 and trade the July 28 week. It should trade well though it will get deposited with someone rather late.

Next is a one bedroom Gold Crown Summer float week at Branson, Surrey Carriage Place. I never plan to go there. If I joined II could I have a chance of trading a July or August week there for London next year for Presidents week?

Or would the Sea Mist have a better chance? I wouldn't mind spending two weeks myself at Sea Mist or it should rent well for one week a year.

I joined RCI but haven't used them yet except for a last call week. II sounds like a better deal. What do you Think?

Where do I want to go on trades? The whole Western USA sounds great. I don't think I would want to go to the same place twice so trades would be perfect. Then North Carolina in the Summer, the Florida panhandle in the winter, North Georgia in the Spring, Hilton Head in the spring or fall. I think the Sea Mist and the branson should get me some of these. Am I right?

I love Europe in the winter, Spring or Fall. Do I need to buy a better trader for Where I want to go?

You can tell by what I have written I like great destination with modest accomidations. I go to top rated resterants occasionally for the food but am uncomfortable with the over attentive waiters. One day I will try a Gold Crown on the off season but I will feel kind of awkward.

Can someone recomend a purchase or two to round out this portfolio? How about some trade advice? Anyone else thing of their timeshares in terms of portfolio theory?

Thanks in advance for all the help!
 
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Lee B

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My first reaction is to tell you to slow down for awhile. Although TS is a cool way to get good accomodations at cost, it isn't the only way to travel well. Use and trade what you have, think about the maintenance fees you will be paying to each place, and think about the exchange fees and memberships.

At least you only bought resale, and at good prices at that. Over the long term though, the maintenance fees are the true costs of ownership. If you add the maintenance fee of an interval plus the cost of exchanging it, you might do just as well using alternative means. This includes low-cost interval rentals from RCI directly or through their many many outlets.
 

mamiecarter

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Thanks, Good Advice!

OK. so I should use what I have and see how it works out for a while. This is so much better than buying a vacation home and maintenance fees beat taxes and upkeep.
 

getreal

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Lee B is right on the money.

If you are going to be retiring soon, you'll have the schedule flexibility that working folks can only dream of.

In travel there is always a big tradeoff between cost and flexibility, and I bet you'll get fabulous off-season and last minute specials on timeshare, airlines, internet tour companies, cruise lines etc etc
 
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