I would consider for example, if you want 250 points to stay in AKV studio 2br every other year that you buy a 225 point contract (or a 100 and 125 point to make smaller contracts), and then add on 25 points direct after you get membership.
Let's look at the cost (I'm purposely excluding closing costs, but that is an extra expense in multiple contracts of a few hundred bucks).
250 direct AKV points at $160/point: $40,000
250 resale AKV points at $85/point (you might aggressively negotiate a deal to $80 and that would be my price goal, but $85 contracts are avail without hard negotiations): $21,250
225 resale at $85 plus 25 direct at $160: $23,125
So. For $1,875, you can get the same 250 points with membership benefits. IF you decide to visit more often, that AP benefit will become more valuable. It also will allow variants such as, in a 4 yr period, instead of going every other year, go two in a row and take two off and "loop" your AP (3rd week of month one year, 2nd week of same month the next and both trips under same AP).
DVC owners soon become experts on how to manipulate trips for maximum value and that AP discount could prove valuable with some strategies.
Besides, and this is why we bought: DVC changes the way we do Disney. We DO come much more often as a result. So, having that option might be worth it to you.
One more thought: If you look at that price difference between buying all direct vs a 25 point contract, the savings is huge and all the benefits would be there (except for trading out to cruises etc - only the 25 points would qualify- and we've already discussed those are bad use of points). DVC sees this, too. I don't think they'll leave the 25 point loophole open for long. If you wait, it might be gone by the time you decide it's a benefit worth having. Conversely, once you have that membership status, it has been DVC's practice to grandfather current owners when they make changes.
I advise buying all but 25 of the AKV points you want resale and adding on a 25 point direct contract to become "full members". I don't advise waiting until later to see if it's a good fit then because I don't think it'll be there later. I think a 25 point add on is a very good hedge towards maximizing your ownership and locking it in. I honestly think it's a loophole that DVC will close.
Let's look at the cost (I'm purposely excluding closing costs, but that is an extra expense in multiple contracts of a few hundred bucks).
250 direct AKV points at $160/point: $40,000
250 resale AKV points at $85/point (you might aggressively negotiate a deal to $80 and that would be my price goal, but $85 contracts are avail without hard negotiations): $21,250
225 resale at $85 plus 25 direct at $160: $23,125
So. For $1,875, you can get the same 250 points with membership benefits. IF you decide to visit more often, that AP benefit will become more valuable. It also will allow variants such as, in a 4 yr period, instead of going every other year, go two in a row and take two off and "loop" your AP (3rd week of month one year, 2nd week of same month the next and both trips under same AP).
DVC owners soon become experts on how to manipulate trips for maximum value and that AP discount could prove valuable with some strategies.
Besides, and this is why we bought: DVC changes the way we do Disney. We DO come much more often as a result. So, having that option might be worth it to you.
One more thought: If you look at that price difference between buying all direct vs a 25 point contract, the savings is huge and all the benefits would be there (except for trading out to cruises etc - only the 25 points would qualify- and we've already discussed those are bad use of points). DVC sees this, too. I don't think they'll leave the 25 point loophole open for long. If you wait, it might be gone by the time you decide it's a benefit worth having. Conversely, once you have that membership status, it has been DVC's practice to grandfather current owners when they make changes.
I advise buying all but 25 of the AKV points you want resale and adding on a 25 point direct contract to become "full members". I don't advise waiting until later to see if it's a good fit then because I don't think it'll be there later. I think a 25 point add on is a very good hedge towards maximizing your ownership and locking it in. I honestly think it's a loophole that DVC will close.
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