Westin Lagunamar Question

[suzannesimon]

I'm in the process of buying what was marketed as a Plat Plus Float. The agent truly believed that's what he was selling. When the title company sent me the closing paperwork, I noticed it was a float unit, fixed week 51. The agent is now saying that it is a fixed week 51 that also floats. Needless to say, I don't have a lot of confidence in his information.

It isn't really a problem for me because if I don't want to use 51, I'll just rent it and rent the week I want from someone else. Most years I'll probably come out ahead. Does anyone know if Starwood sold "floating" 51's? Since it's a voluntary resort, Star Options aren't available. If it does float, can I reserve a year out or do I have to wait until 8 months out as if it were Star Options?

I called Starwood and when they found out I wasn't the owner or the closing agent, the refused to give me any info on it. They said I had to talk to the owner who I've had no contact with and he lives in Mexico City

 

[cubigbird]

I own the same week 51 - Christmas, however it is an annual fixed EVENT WEEK and guarantees usage during the Christmas holiday week. To my knowledge, WLR sold up to 50% of weeks 51 and 52 as such. If it is an annual fixed week you should see wording along the lines of "annual fixed" or "event week." I am also aware that floating week 51 does exist but it is not an event week and just a designation for inventory and does not guarantee Christmas and it's a separate inventory from the event week. That is a normal platinum plus week.

Ask the agent to get a screen shot from the seller of the ownership in MSC and that will tell you.

FWIW - WLR is wonderful that time of year if you go week 51 and the rental rate through SPG for a 2BD LO during that week can easily top $800/night, if it ever shows available.

 

[Helios]

I thinks that means that your unit will auto reserve at 12 months out and you need to confirm before the 10 month mark. If you don't, it will be released to other owners of your unit type in your season. At 8 months it will be available for everybody. That's how WSJ VGV work.

I wouldn't worry, actually it seems like you are getting a good unit that is fixed for Xmas.

 

[cubigbird]

I thinks that means that your unit will auto reserve at 12 months out and you need to confirm before the 10 month mark. If you don't, it will be released to other owners of your unit type in your season. At 8 months it will be available for everybody. That's how WSJ VGV work.

I wouldn't worry, actually it seems like you are getting a good unit that is fixed for Xmas.

They were sold as event weeks. You want to ask them specifically about it being an "event week"

 

[suzannesimon]

The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.

 

[SMHarman]

The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.

There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.

 

[suzannesimon]

There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.

Thank you - that's excellent news. If I choose to float, I could select a week in the Platinum Plus season since Star Options are out of the question?

 

[SMHarman]

Thank you - that's excellent news. If I choose to float, I could select a week in the Platinum Plus season since Star Options are out of the question?

Yes and only in the pp season. So Feb (week's 5-17) but not Jan (week's 1-4) for example.

 

[cubigbird]

The estoppel says float unit, fixed week 51. Christmas next year is actually Week 52 so I'll have to clarify if it is an event week or always Week 51 after it closes. I actually rented 3 units at the Royals for my family for Christmas 2016 so if it turns out this is always 51, I'll go down a week early and relax before my family descends for Christmas.

While it isn't Harborside this should rent really well. From actually being there week 51 (every year so far) I have noticed the resort has been completely full. As I mentioned above, if it ever even shows up, the 2 bedroom rental rate is north of $750/night.

Christmas is a great time to be in Cancun. The weather is very nice and there is a lot going on.

Out of curiously what did you pay for the week?? I've seen eBay listings online at $20k but they didn't end up selling.

 

[cubigbird]

There is wording in the docs about 53 week years. You get to choose 51 or 52. 52 gets to choose 52 or 53. Starwood gets a week in the year and pays housekeeping.

You can still float just you have a guarantee you need to confirm for 51 or you release that And book a week you want.

That might be the difference for "event weeks." My event week auto books 18 months in advance and I don't have to confirm it. I literally can just show up and check in on check in day. I do, however, have to cancel it if I want to change to another week or go somewhere else.

 

[suzannesimon]

I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.

 

[pacman777]

I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.

I thought deeded fixed weeks could not float for resale purchases. I could be wrong.

 

[suzannesimon]

I thought deeded fixed weeks could not float for resale purchases. I could be wrong.

You can't get Star Options but it looks like a fixed week can float in their own season.

 

[VacationForever]

I actually bought event week 52 at WLR for about 45k which I rescinded. It was just hard to commit to going there every year and I don't want the hassle of renting out on my own for years which I don't want to go..

 

[dsmrp]

I just got lucky. I searched for Lagunamar sales online and an agent popped up that had one. He admitted he didn't do much business there. They were asking $8,000 and we settled on $7,000 for a Platinum Plus week. I was happy with that compared to Redweek where I usually find them. It wasn't until weeks later when I was going over the paperwork from the closing company that I noticed it was a fixed week 51. I inquired further from the agent and he still thought it was floating. The closer requested a new Estoppel to be sure and it is Week 51 Fixed. I don't think the owner owned it more than a year and probably didn't know what he owned.

Congrats! sounds like you got a very good, great deal.