buying several at different times

[Axelshire]

I plan on buying into the DVC by buying 50 pts through a resale. I hate being in debt so as soon as that is paid off I plan on looking for another 50 pts and so on up to 150-200. Is this stupid? When I make a ressie are they going to know that some of my pts starts a one month and other pts on a different month? Does it matter to them as long as I have the pts by the time I go "home"? What about the 11/7 month rule? My first pts will be at OKW but I don't know after that. Sorry so lengthy, does this make any sense? Thanks for all the help

 

[Richyams]

Actually, the minimum buy in to become a member is 150 points. We have heard conflicting reports on wether Disney will block the sale of a below minimum contract to a non member.

Secondly, the closing costs are basically fixed. Your $400 or so for closing will be the same for a 50 point contract as for a 300 point contract. This raises the cost of a 50 point contract by $8 per point, it adds just over $1 per point to the cost of the 300 point contract.

 

[drusba]

Let's assume you buy 50 at OKW, 50 at BWV, and 50 at VWL, and you have a different use year for each (i.e., the points get issued in different months odf the year), then:

1. The 11 month home resort reservation advantage applies only to points for the particular resort. Thus you could reserve 11 months out with the 50 OKW points at OKW but you could not use those BWV or VWL points at 11 months out on an OKW reservation. Thus, for any trip at one resort for which you would want to use all points or more than 50, you would be essentially relegated to using the 7 month window. The 11 month window is important particularly for holiday times, key off-seasons like December, and most other times of year at BWV. Thus, you may want to try a different plan like end up with 150 points at one resort (and then possibly add at others after reaching that total).

2. Yes they will know the month/use year for your points but having 3 different contract use years is not a real problem except for the headache of keeping track of three different contracts and their different banking dates. When you do reserve, you just reserve some nights with one contract, others in the same trip with another, etc. and then they link them together as one reservation. Note you should not confuse your various use years with when you can go (which is any time of year) or when you can call to reserve (11 months for the particular home resort, 7 months otherwise); all that matters is what points will be available at the time of your trip not the time you call to reserve.

 

[Axelshire]

Richyams, thanks for the heads up on the 150 pts min. I didn't know that. I was already to start DVC with 50 pts and it wouldn't have meant anything. Thanks again!!!!

 

[Caskbill]

The 150 point minimum that Rich mentions is the minimum when you purchase through Disney. Disney cannot legally enforce that when you purchase resale (per the resale agent I last purchased a 100 point add-on). Basically, once someone owns the property, they can sell it to whomever they please. Just like if you purchased a car from GM, they couldn't force you to be able to sell it only to someone who already had two other GM cars.

Of course in my case I already had more than 150 points to begin with. Your best bet is to check with one of the resale agents and see what direct experiences they've had.

The other point Rich makes is absolutely valid. You'll pay similar closing costs for 50 points or 200 points, so the price per point can be substantial. When you look at resale contracts, consider all the costs. Also consider any points banked or borrowed from the account.

Finally, I would recommend you compare all that with Disney's direct purchase. Instead of buying three 50 point contracts, with about $1200 closing costs, you might be better off going direct to Disney, getting 150 points where they pay closing, and possibly using MB to help you out.

I'd suggest you put it all down on paper and make the comparisons. Also, if you got the full 150 point contract to start, you won't have the use year issues from different contracts.

 

[Dean]

It's correct that the 150 point minimum is only for buying through DVC, officially. However, it's unlikely that DVC will allow a purchase of less than 150 points go through to a new member. Any resale must be signed off by DVC and they can match the offer and buy anyone they want. For this reason, most brokers will not proceed with resale offers to non members for contracts of less than 150 points. I think it's safe to assume that a non member won't be able to buy a contract of less than 150 points and that even for members, it may be difficult if it's a different use year.

I wouldn't think the aggravation would be worth pursueing it. I'd just save up my money and buy with cash as soon as I could afford it. Buy the minimum and then add on for as little as 25 points at a time. In the long run you may be much better off than you're strategy anyway. Lets assume you did buy 50 points and wanted to add on later through. It's likely that DVC would require you to buy up to 150 points at one resort and you'd be right back where you started at.

I totally agree that the fees for such a small number of points make it prohibitive to both buy and sell that few points. It's this reason and not pure demand, that make small points packages hard to find.

 

[Mic]

50 point contracts at different resorts with different use years would be way too complicated for me to keep up with. I think most people purchase add-ons at other resorts in small increments to have the 11-month window every second or third year for that resort(by banking/borrowing a smaller number of points) for a change in location from their "home" resort(or the resort with at least a 150-point contract). If you are purchasing resales, then closing costs will need to be factored in, too, making some "deals" not so attractive. We (ok, just me) would like to purchase an add-on, too, at another resort without having to finance it, so it will most likely be a while before that is possible! I can honestly say I wish we had purchased sooner, as most members will tell you. We would have had to finance it anyway, and the interest rates are not too bad.

 

[Sammie]

Actually according to the Timeshare Store you can buy a resale for any point amount offered for sale and you can have different use years. Although I am sure this is something Disney does not encourage and can do when buying resales.

It would be harder to keep up with, but you can do it. With Disney you either have to buy the 150 pt. min. or add on smaller pt. amounts to your orginial use year.

As to closing costs. They vary according to the amount of points you are buying through resale. 50 pts would be $375 and the resale costs would increase for more points.