Buying into DVC

[bcpage]

I just read a financial analysis regarding DVC on MousePlanet. I'm new to DVC and am starting to research whether or not to take the plunge. So far I have come up with the philosophy that getting the most points at the lowest cost is the way to go. The only advantage I see for a "home" resort is the ability to book out 11 months in advance vs. 7 months at all others. My travel times and resort are very flexible, so that's really no benefit as far as I can see. So, am I thinking right that maximizing my points is the way to go?

 

[gppnj]

I think it's more a matter of getting the right number of points rather than getting the most points. Remember, regardless of what resort you buy at, the more points you have, the higher your maintenance fee will be.

 

[DiznEeyore]

gppnj makes a very good point! When we purchased, I sat down with the points charts and looked at the times of year we like to visit and the corresponding points for the size accommodations we would want. By doing this, I was able to gauge how many points we'd reasonably use. I'd hate to over-buy and be left with having to rent out points (or worse yet, have them expire) each year.

 

[DVCPal]

I agree about deciding how many points you are likely to need. Of course when I did that I determined 200 so I bought 200. And 200 would have been enough, but I now own 450 and that's even better. Beware the addonitis. And I have never had one point go to waste. Currently I'm borrowed through 2006.

 

[bcpage]

I was just thinking about it another way...let's say I decided that 200 points is what I needed. Would it then make sense to ignore the "home" resort and just find the cheapest 200 point resale?

 

[JimC]

You should read many of the posts on this board, such as:

http://130.94.75.33/showthread.php?t=428249


as well as others like:

http://www.mousesavers.com/dvc.html#dvc


Home resort booking advantage is likely to be important at VWL, BCV, HH, VB and possibly BWV at high demand times because they are smaller resorts. If staying at one of these resorts is important -- you might want to consider owning there. If not, OKW or SSR are probably the best value deals considering upfront and long term ownership costs.

 

[Cruelladeville]

One thing you need to realize is that DVC is a long-term investment. Because of this, buying exactly the amount of points you need now can be difficult when your needs change(and they will change). It's also a more expensive way to handle being DVC members, because the prices are going up every year. If you can handle the expense, buy a few extra points to handle those unforeseen circumstances.

My niece bought a 250 point contract. She needed 150 pts a year for her vacation, and she rents out 100 pts, so she never pays maintenance fees.

 

[bcpage]

Thanks for the links!

 

[tamu91]

I was just thinking about it another way...let's say I decided that 200 points is what I needed. Would it then make sense to ignore the "home" resort and just find the cheapest 200 point resale?

But also keep in mind that your initial buy-in cost is just a start so buying the cheapest 200 pts. might not end up being the cheapest.
For instance, Vero beach resales are generally the lowest price DVC contracts but VB has the highest maintenance dues. Whatever savings you realized upfront won't look so cheap 10 yrs down to line.

 

[rinkwide]

...getting the most points at the lowest cost is the way to go...

If only it were that easy.

 

[tjkraz]

If you're not committed to any one single resort, or don't plan to consistently book more than 7 months out (after which ALL points are equal), then I would absolutely go with the cheapest option.

Unless you plan to stay there, elimingate Vero due to the high maintenance.

IMO, that leaves your best options as OKW or HHI via resale (with contracts ending in 2042), or SSR points direct OR resale (with contract ending in 2054.) You'll pay a little more for the SSR points, but you get the benefit of the 12 additional years of ownership--and currently the lowest maintenance fees in the program.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I agree looking at the best cost is best if you will not be using the 11 month booking window. Just remember to figure in maintenance history when making that decision. While Vero is usually available for the lowest price, they have the highest maintenance, and you might pay more over the length of the contract.

 

[JimMIA]

If only it were that easy.

AMEN!

Here's a link to a thread that starts off discussing the home resort question. It is a long thread, but you'll find a lot of good info scattered throughout from a variety of DVC vets.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=778634