What should I buy?

[mdk16]

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

Not really. We want to be able to travel all over (US mostly).

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?

Trade

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

Hilton Head, Wyoming, Florida, Virginia, California

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

3

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?

For now school schedule - spring break 1st week of April, June and July, and Fall break second week of October

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

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

3-4

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

That fluctuates. With research and time we will save what we need to.

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?

Around 1k

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?

Totally

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?

Yes

 

[byeloe]

#10 might be a bit low.

Marriott would be a good choice for Hilton Head and Florida

 

[jp10558]

Florida, Virginia, California would be easy with Wyndham, though you might have to go 1BR to hit $1k MFs. I think at $1,600 you could do 2BR most places. It does vary a lot depending on the season for where you're going. Florida and Virginia can also be easy to get via a trade (at the $300 fee) or can be good cash rates too, especially if you white knuckle it to the 45 day "RCI Last Calls" for Massanutten, Williamsburg and Orlando.

Hilton Head I know you could pay a bit more for RCI trades (the $300 exchange fee) probably in April, harder the other times. You can probably also just pay ~$1,500 for an "extra vacation" cash rate via RCI. Hilton Head is mostly MVC for the branded places, but they only exchange in II and their MFs can be high, I'd say others with MVC experience would have to comment. The current Marriott to Marriott II fee is about half the RCI fee though. But if you don't own on Hilton Head for June and July or September, I think you're going to struggle to trade there too.

Wyoming basically doesn't have timeshares - I think I saw 5 in a quick google, and all but the Four Seasons Residence Club looked like independents, so ????? maybe you could figure out a trade in RCI if they participate.

So - you probably need to decide if you want to buy where you want to go (HHI/Wyoming) and pay up for maybe 2 weeks or compromise and realize you might be rarely able to get the time you want in those 2 locations.

 

[4TimeAway]

There are timeshare alternatives you should look at also.

Red Week rentals, SFX, Afvclub, and some others that might be a fit also to put your toes in the sand. If you want to go swimming with sharks, you can get a discounted stay at a timeshare and go to a sales meeting! KNOW THE RESALE PRICES BEFORE YOU GO IN.

For me it’s the Maintenance Fees that get a bit crazy when they are due around Christmas. Then again, we are prepaying and budgeting for a couple of nice vacations. It works for us.

 

[Passepartout]

@mdk16 respectfully it looks like you have Champaigne tastes on a beer budget. Know that timeshares are a luxury product, and that your necessities should have priorities. Like school for the kid(s) a plan for retirement Significant time away from work. A stash of funds 'just in case'.

1) how do you 'travel all over the US mostly?' Car? It takes time. Fly? Airfares for 3 can stack up.

5) School schedule. You will be in competition with every other TS using family for these roughly 14 weeks a year. To compete, you need a strong trader, and persistently booking the instant your exchange opens (middle of the night several months before move-in).

9) Save first so when the opportunity presents itself, you're ready.

10) Better up this some. Unless you can all fit into studios and 1 bedroom units, $1500+ and increasing every year isn't too much to budget.

In short, I think that TS is probably not a good fit for your family at this time.

Wishing you the best, and there is time to plan and dream. Keep looking around on TUG and Redweek. There are bargains and resale TSs will continue to be available. You might just find that bucket of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Jim