What Should I Buy - Wyndham Resale?

[ManOhMy]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where? - I will be using points for the Caribbean or Florida Gulf

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time? - Half home resort

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations? - PR, USVI, PCB

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself? - 6

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule? - flexible but I am more organized in my travel plans with a year in advance.

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance? - Yes

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time? - Yes, but like to schedule based on cheaper flight days.

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars? - 4 star

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing? - looking for seller paying closing. I would cover club transfer fees

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year? - $1500

11) Are you a detail oriented planner? - Yes

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do? Long game is to have a decent contract that is easily given away if posted for free.

Also, I currently own DVC and HGVC.

 

[jp10558]

Have you checked the points requirements for 2BR for the locations you want? I think USVI might be scarce, so if you had to get 2 1BR that would take more points. You probably can get around 203,000 pts for free (usually) at around the $1,500 MF. The places with lower MF/pt ratios are rarely free.

Also, Wyndham locations are usually more like 3-3.5*, not to the level of HGVC/DVC except for very select locations like La Belle Maison or maybe Presential Reserve which I think are a lot more expensive and also not available everywhere.

 

[StarSailer]

I don't think it is possible to sleep-6 for a week in 4-star accommodations for under $1500/year on the Gulf. If you raise your budget Marriott has a property in PCB. If you lower your star-rating expectations you might pick up Landmark Holiday Beach Resort and trade on RCI when not using the home resort.

If you want a point system with Gulf/Caribbean options then Wyndham does feel like a good option, but even so it is more of: <Free purchase. Under $1500/year. Preferred home resort location. Pick two.> Wyndham also isn't 4-star, except for maybe Margaritaville, which again will cost more than $1500/year to book 7+ nights for 6.

If you are willing to pay up front then Panama City Beach. Maybe Margaritaville St Thomas.
If you are willing to pay a little extra per year and settle for 3-star you might consider Majestic Sun near Destin FL.
If you are willing to accept a different home resort you can watch the market and snap up the next below-average-MF option in your point/price range wherever one next appears.


Panama City Beach is one of the best places to own thanks to a low MF/pt ratio, but being such a great point value it is also one of the hardest to find free unless you are willing to take responsibility for one of the giant deeds with $2500/yr+ MFs.

Margaritaville St Thomas is another interesting option. A little on the expensive side, but it gives a Caribbean home resort location that can sleep 6 and priority access into the other Margaritaville locations. However reasonable deed sizes frequently have sellers who are holding out for a premium. The largest free deed I remember seeing was for only 120,000 points which only gives 3-4 weekday nights in a 2BR.

Majestic Sun is a little lower quality, but the deeds are easier to find free than the above. MF per point runs high, but that is partially offset by needing fewer points per night to book rooms then either of the above.

CWA is of course easy to find free, but the most you can get for under $1500/year less $192/year program fee is 154K which isn't enough to sleep-6 for a week on the Gulf unless you like twin-beds or value season.

 

[ManOhMy]

I don't think it is possible to sleep-6 for a week in 4-star accommodations for under $1500/year on the Gulf. If you raise your budget Marriott has a property in PCB. If you lower your star-rating expectations you might pick up Landmark Holiday Beach Resort and trade on RCI when not using the home resort.

If you want a point system with Gulf/Caribbean options then Wyndham does feel like a good option, but even so it is more of: <Free purchase. Under $1500/year. Preferred home resort location. Pick two.> Wyndham also isn't 4-star, except for maybe Margaritaville, which again will cost more than $1500/year to book 7+ nights for 6.

If you are willing to pay up front then Panama City Beach. Maybe Margaritaville St Thomas.
If you are willing to pay a little extra per year and settle for 3-star you might consider Majestic Sun near Destin FL.
If you are willing to accept a different home resort you can watch the market and snap up the next below-average-MF option in your point/price range wherever one next appears.


Panama City Beach is one of the best places to own thanks to a low MF/pt ratio, but being such a great point value it is also one of the hardest to find free unless you are willing to take responsibility for one of the giant deeds with $2500/yr+ MFs.

Margaritaville St Thomas is another interesting option. A little on the expensive side, but it gives a Caribbean home resort location that can sleep 6 and priority access into the other Margaritaville locations. However reasonable deed sizes frequently have sellers who are holding out for a premium. The largest free deed I remember seeing was for only 120,000 points which only gives 3-4 weekday nights in a 2BR.

Majestic Sun is a little lower quality, but the deeds are easier to find free than the above. MF per point runs high, but that is partially offset by needing fewer points per night to book rooms then either of the above.

CWA is of course easy to find free, but the most you can get for under $1500/year less $192/year program fee is 154K which isn't enough to sleep-6 for a week on the Gulf unless you like twin-beds or value season.

Thank you! Extremely helpful. I felt it was a stretch to ask for 4* and MF of @1500. Will take your advice of lower the stars or upping the MF.

Maybe, get a contract with the plan for every other year trip to the carribbean. Ill have to research and see if a big contract every other year is better than a medium contract banked with intent of banked usage.