Why no Marriott Tahoe Resales?

[duck_widow]

Hi,

I'm curious about the Marriott Tahoe resorts. Why am I not seeing any of those for resale? Are they 'that' good? I would think there would at least be some off season weeks for sale. Any ideas?

Thanks,
-Kathy

 

[Dave M]

There are numerous available resales. Redweek, for example, currently has 11 Timber Lodge resale listings.

See the list of frequently mentioned resale sites, located at the top of the list of topics for the Buying, Selling, Renting forum, for other reputable places to look.

 

[Latravel]

I noticed the same thing. While i've seen many from other resorts, there are fewer for sale from Timberlodge. I'm not sure why. Maybe because Timberlodge is a relatively small resort (I think under 300 units) while other resorts are larger?

 

[Phill12]

I see that the local Lake Tahoe Paradise Timeshare Resales office has only 14 units for sale now at the Marriott Timber Lodge.

Also see the high priced Marriott Grand Residence has 10 units still available for sale.

This is a local no upfront company so there must be other owners listing some where on line also!

PHIL

 

[Robert D]

I bought a 1BR platinum summer week at Timber Lodge on Ebay back in August, although the week hasn't been transferred to me yet by Marriott. You see weeks come up on Ebay from time to time but not too frequently. There's currently an off season week on Ebay now. This is our second TL summer week - bought the other one resale thru a broker about a year ago. I love Tahoe and think TL is the best TS on Lake Tahoe. My understanding is the Grand Residence next door is a fractional ownership deal where you have to buy a block of weeks as opposed to one week and this makes it a lot more costly. We walked thru Grand Residence a few months ago when we were at TL and frankly I like TL better from what I saw. GR has a lot of funky shaped rooms that I wouldn't want to have.

 

[Lawlar]

No Temptation To Buy

Last winter there was a floating week unit listed for $6,000(one-bedroom). I was excited about the idea of buying it. But then I realized that I could get an II Getaway to Timberlodge for far less than the yearly maintenance fees.

There is a floating week unit on Redweek now for $4,995. The maintenance fees are about $700 a year. I was tempted when I saw this price. But what am I getting for $4,995 and the yearly maintenance fees?

I'm going to Timberlodge this December for $299 for the whole week (one-bedroom). Its an II Getaway. I'll have full use of the facilities, the same as the folks who are paying their monthly TS loan payments and their $700 MFs.

Now if you can get a prime summer or winter week and you plan to take your family there every year, it is a great resort and you can have a wonderful time. But a floating week, for the offseason, has no value that I can see. (Do they have fixed weeks at Timberlodge?)

So I'm actually surprised that everyone who owns an offseason unit doesn't dump them on EBay, just to get out of having to pay the maintenance fees.

 

[Robert D]

Lawlar, I agree with you on off season weeks, not just as Timber Lodge but at virtually all resorts. IMHO, there's no reason to buy a TS unless you can use it during the peak seasons. I think you can find Getaway weeks at most Marriotts during the offseason for less than the M&T's. However, you'll never get one during July or August at Timber Lodge, which is when we use ours. All of the weeks at TL are floaters as are most of the other Marriott TS's. There may be a quasi fixed week for weeks 51, 52, and July 4th week at Timber Lodge as these are platinum plus weeks. But the only seasons that I would buy would be platinum summer or platinum winter (if you are into skiing). And the cost of these weeks are such that you really need to use them - you can rent them at a decent profit but not enough of a profit to get a good return on the upfront investment. I guess some might try to trade them but I've never done so.

 

[duck_widow]

Thanks for the info on the Getaway weeks. Definately something to consider. The catch is you have to own a TS and be part of II to get those Getaway weeks. I'm strategizing on what TS I should buy (if I buy one).

Right now we want to travel in the Fall (October), and for now mainly to southern CA and I'm seeing lots of rentals for that time at less then MFs. So at the moment my crazy thinking is that if I can't buy Marriott NCV for $1, then I'm better off renting an October week for $800 or less. Unless I can find another TS to buy for $1-$500 with MF's much less than $800 that I can trade into NCV, Dolphin's Cove etc. Is there such a thing?

 

[Lawlar]

totally Outside The Box

Can I suggest something completely outside the box?

We stayed at NCV in June. Did not like it (pool/jacuzzi too crowded - lots of steps to climb - and you have to drive to everything).

Now I really know the Newport area (my best friend lived in several homes on the beach and my dad had a boat there. I stayed in Newport probably one weekend a month for years).

When I was there is June I walked along the Peninsula (the land jetty that you go onto when you take the ferry from Balboa Island - which is about two or three miles from NCV). Anyway, there are LOTS of homes on the beach that are for rent (and its a really nice beach - with one of the widest sand beaches I know of) . During the offseason the rents can be very reasonable.

My best friend used to rent some of these homes in the winter. I loved staying with him on weekends.

Anyway, you might do some research and see what is available. You could live on the beach in one of the best communities in the USA (at least for a week or two).

 

[Dewnay]

Someone just reported in Dioxide45's ROFR database that a 1BR annual Platinum/Summer at Timber Lodge passed at $2,236!

 

[Amy]

Someone just reported in Dioxide45's ROFR database that a 1BR annual Platinum/Summer at Timber Lodge passed at $2,236!

Wow (not re Marriott not exercising but re the sale price for that week)!

 

[Latravel]

Now that is so low it's actually a little scary. Will our Marriott timeshares be worth $1 on ebay one day? I hope Marriott brings back ROFR soon!

 

[Robert D]

I was the buyer of that week - snagged it on Ebay back in August. I was very surprised that it went that low and that Marriott waived the ROFR, but I don't think they are exercising any ROFR at this point. We now have two summer platinum weeks at Timber Lodge, a 2BR lockoff and the 1BR. Paid $10K for the 2BR late last year which was the lowest price by about $5K I've seen a 2BR summer week go for but the 1BR was an even better deal. The maintenance fees are high at Timber Lodge but we love the resort and Tahoe. There are a lot of timeshares at Tahoe but most are not very good and I think Timber Lodge is by far the best timeshare at Tahoe.

 

[dioxide45]

Now that is so low it's actually a little scary. Will our Marriott timeshares be worth $1 on ebay one day? I hope Marriott brings back ROFR soon!

If Marriott had exercised ROFR the unit still would have sold for $2,236, just that Marriott would have got the steal.

 

[Latravel]

The result would be that everyday people would have to offer more to get the unit, thereby increasing the selling price of Timber Lodge units.

 

[davidvel]

Just to save Dave M. the typing...

With my moderator hat on....

Those who wish to debate the merits and effects of ROFR should do so (as I have previously requested) in this linked thread devoted to that topic.

And the cycle will continue....

 

[Lawlar]

Me Too????

Someone just reported in Dioxide45's ROFR database that a 1BR annual Platinum/Summer at Timber Lodge passed at $2,236!

I have had no desire to buy another TS. But........ I would love to be able to take the grandkid to Timberlodge during the summer. That price is really, really tempting.

Where and how do I watch for similar prices? Is EBay the only place (I haven't had much luck finding where to look on EBay - I haven't been a user of that site)? The lowest price on RedWeek is $4,995 for a one bedroom, offseason.

Will rental prices for Timber Lodge take a big fall? Maybe that is best for me.

 

[Robert D]

I have an ongoing search for Timber Lodge on Ebay. They send you an email anytime one is listed. Most of the ones that you see on Ebay are offseason but ever once in a while, a summer week comes along. We bought the 2BR summer week a year ago through a broker and got a very good deal on it ($10K) but not a steal.

I don't think you'll find any cheap rent at Timber Lodge in July or first half of August. When we were there last August, the place was over 95% occupied every day of the week and full several days.