total greenhorn needs help

[jerem0621]

My wife and I are just starting to look into timeshares. I see these cheap timeshares on ebay all the time and the yearly maint. fees are cheap. I want to buy a timeshare to trade, so I want to buy as cheap as possible and still have trading power. We have two small children so the 3br villas are overkill. We vacation in Orlando once or twice a year. If I buy into a cheap RCI affiliated timeshare, will I have to join RCI? After this do I bank my week and then try to trade? Any suggestions or advise would help me a bunch. Here is an ebay ad I was looking at. Could I actually use this to trade or is this just a waste of $400.00?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colorado-Mounta...ryZ15897QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Ebay item # 290150267338

Thank you,

jerem0621

 

[jejones3329]

I am new also, I bought a silverleaf timeshare off of ebay last week. I bought it because of the bonus time. I am sure others can give better advice but I wanted to pass on that I was shocked after reading on here at some of the sites where you can get weeks cheaply, http://www.daelive.com/ has weeks for $99.00 . There is no membership fee , is apparently left over weeks and at that price you have to use within the month. Also http://www.wyndham-vacations.com/ which is owned by RCI has great deals. If you are buying to trade make sure you add in the membership fees and the exchange fees. My understanding is that Orlando has overbuilt so is a good place to get bargains to. Best of Luck with whatever purchase you make.

 

[susan1738]

My 2 cents worth

I think your BEST bet would be to buy a Colorado mountain week that is in ski season, or a summer week at the beach, if you want to optimize your trading power for the life of your ownership. Orlando, I think, you can pull with just about anything . . . maybe not all resorts in Orlando, but still, you can get something there. Although this ebay deal may seem incredible, I would keep looking . . . sometimes people will even pay the closing costs for you (save you another $445). Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[sfwilshire]

You didn't say how small your children are, but once they are in school, it becomes more of a challenge getting what you want. Orlando in the summer is pretty readily available with any kind of trader if you're not too picky, but if you want Spring or Christmas break, it gets tougher.

If Orlando is typically your destination, I would suggest (against the typical TUG wisdom which says never buy Orlando) just buying a floating week in a nice Orlando resort. Call as early as you can to reserve the week you want and you'll probably have no problem. Since you won't be paying exchange fees, you can afford to pay the somewhat higher Florida maintenance fees.

If your vacation interests include other places, then buy the best trader you can afford. A little more upfront will save you lots of aggravation when trying to make your exchanges.

Sheila

 

[rickandcindy23]

Take it from someone who knows firsthand...........

We own three summer Colorado weeks and one blue season/fall week in Frisco and I have traded into Orlando extremely easily with a blue week, at any time of year and at any resort.

You are definitely on the right track. Although I don't think Alpenrose is particularly a great resort, being very small, with interior hallways and generally not much to write home about, this would be a GREAT PURCHASE for travel to Orlando. The units ARE clean, they do have location, right above the town of Breckenridge, which is literally one block from the resort, down the hill. You would be able to exchange into just about anything Orlando has to offer, including two and even three bedrooms.

I have seen amazing inventory in Orlando with my blue week. No way would I ever buy in Orlando when I can trade in without paying those high maintenance fees. You don't even have to exchange with RCI. You can use DAE for exchanges.

There was availability ALL SUMMER for Orlando with my blue, offseason week. You will probably see MORE with a red week in Breckenridge.

We own a ski week and although ski is great to own, it does not trade any better than our summer weeks. Summer is extremely popular in Summit County, where Breckenridge is located, and those weeks were scarce all summer. RCI prizes all deposits from Colorado.

I know that some people say, "Buy where you want to stay," but I am all about what is cheapest, and buying Colorado and trading in is way cheaper than buying Orlando. PLUS, I love being able to choose from the fifty resorts in Orlando. We only stay in Gold Crowns. I would hate going to the same resort every year.

If you want more info, I would be happy to provide it. Just send me a message.

 

[spatenfloot]

Be sure to verify the maintenance fee amount with the resort. Many ebay listings have incorrect MF or neglect to mention separate taxes.

 

[jerem0621]

Thanks!

Thank you for your information! If I buy this timeshare do I have to pay dues with RCI? If so will I have to have a seperate RCI membership for each timeshare I purchase in the future or will one membership per year do? It just makes me nervous about the cheap prices available on ebay. My wife an I went to the DVC presentation at Saratoga Springs but we couldn't stomach the 16500 they wanted to become members. I love the idea of owning a timeshare outside of orlando and then trading into Orlando or Pigeon Forge/Gatlinberg. Those are our two favorite places to go. How do I verify the dues advertised on ebay?

Jeremiah

 

[spatenfloot]

To join RCI or Interval, you will have to pay a separate membership fee and an exchange fee when you trade. To verify the MF, call the resort and ask them.

You might want to consider a resale Worldmark account. It can use both exchange companies and trades really well. If you use Interval's flex time (exchanges within 59 days), you can stay at a Marriot in Orlando for only 4000 credits.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Jeremiah, our oldest son is named Jeremy!

I hope you got my PM.

 

[BillR]

Be sure to verify the maintenance fee amount with the resort. Many ebay listings have incorrect MF or neglect to mention separate taxes.

EXPECIALLY IN FLORIDA!​

 

[sfwilshire]

I love the idea of owning a timeshare outside of orlando and then trading into Orlando or Pigeon Forge/Gatlinberg. Those are our two favorite places to go.

The ages of your kids will come into play for PF/Gatlinburg as well. It can be a pretty tough trade for summer and October. Not much of a problem the rest of the year as long as you plan ahead a bit.

Sheila

 

[Polly & Jere]

Jeremiah, our oldest son is named Jeremy!

And my name is Jere; have a brother Rick (Richard), and his daughter (my niece) is a Cindy.

Small world, huh?

Jere

 

[geekette]

Thank you for your information! If I buy this timeshare do I have to pay dues with RCI? If so will I have to have a seperate RCI membership for each timeshare I purchase in the future or will one membership per year do? It just makes me nervous about the cheap prices available on ebay. My wife an I went to the DVC presentation at Saratoga Springs but we couldn't stomach the 16500 they wanted to become members. I love the idea of owning a timeshare outside of orlando and then trading into Orlando or Pigeon Forge/Gatlinberg. Those are our two favorite places to go. How do I verify the dues advertised on ebay?

Jeremiah

You might consider Bluegreen points. Two Orlando resorts, plus one each in PF and Gatlinburg. Get the size you want each time, partial weeks, etc.

And another 30-40 resorts to choose from without RCI trading fees.

Check out the Yahoo Group for Bluegreen.

 

[canuck89]

To join RCI or Interval, you will have to pay a separate membership fee and an exchange fee when you trade. To verify the MF, call the resort and ask them.

You might want to consider a resale Worldmark account. It can use both exchange companies and trades really well. If you use Interval's flex time (exchanges within 59 days), you can stay at a Marriot in Orlando for only 4000 credits.

What is a "re-sale Worldmark account"?

You TUGgers are great - one of you should (seriously) write a "Timeshares for Dummies book - you coud make a mint!!!

 

[TimeshareTraveler]

More information


We bought Unit 105, week 32 at this resort off of Ebay for $100 about three years ago. We bought it to experiment with trading through RCI. Until this year, we have banked or traded the unit. This year we decided use the week. It is by no means a 5 star resort. However, we were pleasantly surprised at how well maintained it was. It had been recently remodeled. The kitchen was well-stocked. The bathroom was very small, but updated. The quarterly newsletter indicates a small group of owners who enjoy their stays in Breckenridge and strive to update and maintain the place. For instance they are planning to pave the paking lot and were working on the roof. Not noisy, but with friendly neighbors. The location to Main Street was great. We walked to town easily several times a day. Found it easier than finding a park. A grocery store is 1 block away. The weather was fantastic. Really an enjoyable vacation. We will not hesitate to use it again.

As for the trading. We still have one week banked, but the other we used to trade into Sedona Summit the last week of September. We got a one bedroom. We are not interested in Orlando, so I don't know how it would trade there, but in my random searches, I would say I see better resorts in shoulder season and comparable resorts in the high season. No complaints, but I am still learning the ins and outs of trading. If you have questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[Bill4728]

What is a "re-sale Worldmark account"?

Worldmark- WM sold by Trendwest (now called Wyndham) is a TS mini system. A "re-sale Worldmark account" is a WM membership which is sold by a current member. (for $0.70 per point instead of the $1.80 /pt which Trendwest is charging).

You TUGgers are great - one of you should (seriously) write a "Timeshares for Dummies book - you coud make a mint!!!

A TS salewomen wrote one last year, It not great but isn't terrible either.

 

[Mel]

Like sfwilfire suggests, Orlando still might be the best ownership for your needs, if that is where you are likely to travel each year.

If you know you will travel between Christmas and New Year's for instance, you could buy a fixed week 52, which might also have the benefit of including week 53 the years that it exists (the extra day each year plus lead year adds up to 5 extra weeks every 28 years).

If you want some flexibility you might buy a floating week at an Orlando resort, but be prepared to call well ahead of time to reserve the week you want to travel if it is a popular week.

Even if Orlando is an easy trade, there are extra fees to do so. My Orange Lake ownership comes with an annual fee of around $600, as do some other area resorts (others are well over $1000). RCI or II membership will cost you at least $50 a year in mulptiple-year increments. The exchange fee will be $150 or more (these keep rising lately). That's an extra $200 over the cost of your maintenance fee, if you're trading in. If you are likely to use resort faciclities and activities, you will also get owner discounts, though I don't usually include them in the equation. If you were going to own something else to trade for other vacations, an join the exchange company anyway, I wouldn't include that in the equation either.

If the money is about even, there are some advantages to owning outside Orlando - you can visit different resorts each time (you will probably have to, as many of the best resorts restrict exchangers from coming back for the next 4 years). If plan to use it to trade, other areas may have better trade power.

 

[Polly & Jere]

You might want to consider a resale Worldmark account. It can use both exchange companies and trades really well. If you use Interval's flex time (exchanges within 59 days), you can stay at a Marriot in Orlando for only 4000 credits.

This is the best choice I've seen here in this thread, IMO. I bought my WM last, and wish I had just invested the money I spent on the four others into a Worldmark account instead.

I can hardly believe the incredible deals and trading potentials with WM....Bonus Time, Inventory Specials, Exchange Plus deals... and I've seen WM owners trade into prime time Disneys, Marriotts, Sheratons, Shells, and the best of what RCI and II offer.

If you want value.... bang for your buck... I'd advise looking into Worldmark. They are a subdivision of Wyndham, (the world's largest) which also includes Fairfield and Trendwest.

Good luck,

Jere

 

[easyrider]

Worldmark is great

We bought a 6000 point wm with 18000 banked points for under $3000.00 and then bought an Eagle Crest 2 bed for $97.00 + closing that for $39.00 exchanges into 10000 wm points.
We used 20000 points for a trip to orlando and ended up with 2 huge 2 bed 2 bath at silver lake resort for Thanksgiving. Did Disney for a week then off to Hollywood Beach (RCI week)for another week.
We also traded into Morritts in Grand Cayman first try with WM points on the date we wanted.
Went to the Worldmark party weekend in Vegas las week and stayed at the WM Boulavard. They sent 4 of us to dinner at Ceasars Palace for diner, drinks and the Celine Dion show.
Used bonus time for 3 different locations in Washington and Oregon. Paid very little for 2 bed units at Eagle Crest, Leavenworth and Seaside.

I think Worldmark is a great trader so far.

 

[easyrider]

About Orlando

I dont think I would use any points or trade to go to Orlando after seeing all the rentals on ebay. Condos and houses near atractions are plenty and cheap. Skyauction.com has a bunch of Orlando offerings and so does the tug distressed week forum.

 

[bugzapper]

Converting a fixed week to WorldMark points

We bought a 6000 point wm with 18000 banked points for under $3000.00 and then bought an Eagle Crest 2 bed for $97.00 + closing that for $39.00 exchanges into 10000 wm points.

Am I to understand that you purchased a fixed week at Eagle Crest that you converted to WM points for $39.00? (I wasn't aware that this was an option for WorldMark.)

If I did in fact understand correctly what you did, are you able to decide each year whether you want to use your week or convert it to points? Are there other WorldMark resorts that have fixed weeks that can be used in this way? Did you save any money on MFs (fixed week vs. points)--or was your savings purely in the purchase price? Was it necessary to already have a pre-existing WM points account in order to do this conversion?

 

[easyrider]

Thats the Dealio with WM

If you own a TS week thats at a WM resort you can for $39.00 convert that week into the point value. Since my Eagle Crest is a WM resort floating week it trades for red season point value (10,000 points) for $39.00, or we can use the week.

Our WM we bought on ebay is a 6000 point with MF of about $420.00 a year.This one cost about $3400.00 with closing. It did have almost 18,000 points banked and 6,000 points that we could borrow for a total of 24,000 points to use when we bought it. These points cost about 7 cents a point after the membership buy in ($420.00 MF/ 6000 points). The menbership cost about 56 cents a point ($3400.00 purchase price /6000 points ) but did include the 18,000 banked points.

The Eagle Crest we bought on ebay was $97.00 + closing or about $550.00 total with a $600.00 per year MF. It turns the $600.00 MF into 10,000 points for about 6 cents a point. This gives us 16,000 points a year to trade or use for about $1063.00 per year for an average of less than 7 cents a point.

We usally go to the Eagle Crest Resort to attend family functions near Sunriver and Bend Oregon with bonus time or about 4 cents a point cash value for our unit. We like bonus time.

You do have to be a WM member to convert points at a WM resort.