Westin St John Master Thread - Part 3 [Dec. 2017 and forward]

[GrayFal]

Many (many) people have bought resale WSJ without issue (including us), but wise to go in eyes-wide-open.
Often times it is the Seller not knowing what they exactly own because Sales is not entirely transparent, and USVI is on island time when it comes to transfer and taxes.
Just do your due diligence and research - like you are doing.
Unfortunately, too many do not.
Congrats!


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Especially if you are buying in VGV you have to deal with the property tax being billed separately and you need a tax clearance to close.
With CV and SB you are buying X amount home options that are part of a trust? And a certificate of ownership is issued. No deed to be recorded. Taxes are included in the MF and paid by Vistana. All transfer paperwork is done in-house by Vistana in Florida. That is why if you have cooperating parties it can move quickly.

 

[mclowe]

I just looked at a closing timeline.
Won eBay auction 4/6, got closing docs 5/1. Mailed notarized info to them 5/7 and new ownership was in my account 6/25/19. @alexadeparis I am sorry yours took so long.

We are in closing right now.

9/22 - Offer accepted
9/23 - Seller sent confirmation of 2021 ressie in our name (fixed unit, fixed week)
9/28 - closing statement signed
9/29 - wired funds to escrow
9/30 - was told everything is done except for the tax clearance letters (Bay Vista so WSJ pays taxes) but they had already been ordered
10/22 (today) - still waiting to hear back but will give it another week or so before I check in with the attorney

 

[DST]

Especially if you are buying in VGV you have to deal with the property tax being billed separately and you need a tax clearance to close.
With CV and SB you are buying X amount home options that are part of a trust? And a certificate of ownership is issued. No deed to be recorded. Taxes are included in the MF and paid by Vistana. All transfer paperwork is done in-house by Vistana in Florida. That is why if you have cooperating parties it can move quickly.

Thank you - good to know on the property taxes, we are buying in SB. We are working with a great couple so I am hopeful that it goes smoothly

 

[GrayFal]

Just wanted to share this. I am hoping it can be seen without logging in
Ownership Guide Coral Vista and Sunset Bay

https://vistana-web-static.s3.amazonaws.com/vistana-web/assets/pdf/guides/OWNERSHIP_GUIDE_WSJ_CV_SB_NON_CLUB.pdf

Important part in this photo - How HomeOptions work within your season Diamond/Resort

 

[GrayFal]

We are in closing right now.

9/22 - Offer accepted
9/23 - Seller sent confirmation of 2021 ressie in our name (fixed unit, fixed week)
9/28 - closing statement signed
9/29 - wired funds to escrow
9/30 - was told everything is done except for the tax clearance letters (Bay Vista so WSJ pays taxes) but they had already been ordered
10/22 (today) - still waiting to hear back but will give it another week or so before I check in with the attorney

If this is VGV, your deed has to be recorded on STT. It can be a looooong haul as @alexadeparis stated .

 

[mclowe]

@GrayFal we bought Bay Vista. Is that just as long as VGV or might it be shorter?

 

[echino]

Bay Vista is deeded too.

 

[GrayFal]

@GrayFal we bought Bay Vista. Is that just as long as VGV or might it be shorter?

That is the one section I know nothing about!

 

[cyntravel]

Thank you Pat for all your help!

 

[RLS50]

Quick question. I think I know the answer, but just looking for confirmation from other owners.

If one owns a week in Bay Vista or Coral Vista, can the Home Options be used to reserve any available unit in any of these 3 sections (Virgin Grand, Bay Vista, Coral Vista, etc) at the 12 month mark?

Would this also include Sunset Bay section? Or is that different.

 

[GrayFal]

Quick question. I think I know the answer, but just looking for confirmation from other owners.

If one owns a week in Bay Vista or Coral Vista, can the Home Options be used to reserve any available unit in any of these 3 sections (Virgin Grand, Bay Vista, Coral Vista, etc) at the 12 month mark?

Would this also include Sunset Bay section? Or is that different.

Each of the 4 HOA or phases is separate. At 12 months you can reserve in Sunset Bay using only SB HomeOptions in your season. At 12 months you can reserve at Coral Vista using only CV HomeOptions in your season. At 12 months you can reserve your floating week at Bay Vista in your season. Some people paid extra to buy a specific week/unit in Bay Vista but can choose to float it in their season. Virgin Grand has different rules with fixed weeks that Can float.

See post 1179 above with rules for SB and CV resies.

 

[RLS50]

Each of the 4 HOA or phases is separate. At 12 months you can reserve in Sunset Bay using only SB HomeOptions in your season. At 12 months you can reserve at Coral Vista using only CV HomeOptions in your season. At 12 months you can reserve your floating week at Bay Vista in your season. Some people paid extra to buy a specific week/unit in Bay Vista but can choose to float it in their season. Virgin Grand has different rules with fixed weeks that Can float.

See post 1179 above with rules for SB and CV resies.

Got it, thanks for confirming.

One remaining question I need confirmation on...what about at the 8 month mark and in? Is an owner in CV, BV, or SB ever allowed to use their Home Options for another section? Or must they always use within their own section one way or the other?

 

[GrayFal]

Got it, thanks for confirming.

One remaining question I need confirmation on...what about at the 8 month mark and in? Is an owner in CV, BV, or SB ever allowed to use their Home Options for another section? Or must they always use within their own section one way or the other?

Bay Vista is not a HomeOption ownership, it is a week based system. As a resale owner you can only reserve a week at a time there.

Resale owners can only reserve in their owned section.

 

[mpc5473]

Does anyone know what capacity WSJ is operating at? If the units are not all available for usage, has anyone challenged the expiration of usage rights that expire at the end of 2020?

 

[cubigbird]

Got it, thanks for confirming.

One remaining question I need confirmation on...what about at the 8 month mark and in? Is an owner in CV, BV, or SB ever allowed to use their Home Options for another section? Or must they always use within their own section one way or the other?

At 8 months HomeOptions become staroptions and anything in the system can be booked subject to availability. This includes other phases at WSJ.

 

[echino]

At 8 months HomeOptions become staroptions and anything in the system can be booked subject to availability. This includes other phases at WSJ.

Not if bought resale.

 

[GrayFal]

Thank you Pat for all your help!

Your welcome @cyntravel

 

[cubigbird]

Not if bought resale.

True. If bought resale, HomeOptions stay as home options and you can only book in your phase.

 

[Kventrell]

Does anyone know what capacity WSJ is operating at? If the units are not all available for usage, has anyone challenged the expiration of usage rights that expire at the end of 2020?

We stayed there from Oct 29-Nov 2 and it seemed roughly less than 50% occupied. We were upgraded from a studio to a 2 BR VGV just by asking. Beaches were not crowded at all. Strict compliance with "no mask, no service" policy everywhere we went.

 

[letsgomets]

We stayed there from Oct 29-Nov 2 and it seemed roughly less than 50% occupied. We were upgraded from a studio to a 2 BR VGV just by asking. Beaches were not crowded at all. Strict compliance with "no mask, no service" policy everywhere we went.

How would they enforce an occupancy restriction with owners anyway? Not let half the owners come down?

 

[GrayFal]

How would they enforce an occupancy restriction with owners anyway? Not let half the owners come down?

I was there 10/15-10/30. They aren’t restricting occupancy as far as I know but I agree having been there the same time in 2019, 40-50%. The last three days there was definitely more people.

 

[letsgomets]

Thanks. Trying to decide whether to use our xmas week in BV this year.

 

[GrayFal]

Thanks. Trying to decide whether to use our xmas week in BV this year.

My husband and I are 65+
We have health concerns.
Because of the resorts physical layout we felt safe.
The pool and beach areas both are following social distancing rules.
We went in the pool and chatted with others and enjoyed ourselves at a distance.
We had our groceries delivered from Star Market and my husband walked over to St John market a few times. We didn’t eat out but had take out a few times.
Resort employees were all masked and most guests were compliant.

Looking forward to coming back.

 

[letsgomets]

Thanks. It's the plane travel that makes us uncertain. We have plane reservations for xmas week (cancellable), but not sure if we'll go or just rent it out. Very torn!

 

[GrayFal]

Thanks. It's the plane travel that makes us uncertain. We have plane reservations for xmas week (cancellable), but not sure if we'll go or just rent it out. Very torn!

We felt very safe flying Delta non stop from NYC.
St Thomas airport was not crowded but everyone had to line up with their Covid testing results. You were masked and outdoors. We also wore face shields. Recommend this.

We felt unsafe connecting thru Charlotte - it was packed! And not the best at mask compliance. We went into a restaurant where they were following social distancing until they called our boarding.

You have to do what your are comfortable with.
Going forward will only do nonstop