Considering buying a low point resale

[triciari]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

1) You could first check to see how many nights available at a cash discount
2) You could try and rent points from another member to finish off the stay. I would recommend using the Rent/Trade board on this site or try http://www.dvcbyrequest.com/
3) You could also just book the 4 nights and then regular reservation for the rest

I can only come up with those three options.

Jason

 

[bookwormde]

You can also borrow 50 for a total of 150 pts

You can also transfer in points from another member

Paying cash for your weekend nights should get you close.

bookwormde

 

[marynvince]

Disney vacation club ownership and vacations are not inexpensive. Save now and have a plan to buy in the future when it is not a burden on your finances.

 

[AirGoofy]

I agree with previous post. Save your money. If you purchase something you know you can't afford, you will have ill feelings with the purchase. Do you really want to associate anything negative with a Disney or any other vacation?

Let's compare apples to apples, and you decide to purchase a 50 point resale contract at $70 per point. If you did a 14 month loan (w/ financing) and assume you can get a 9% interest rate, you would pay 264.29 per month. I guess you may do better on a HELOC, by why risk your house? However, if you saved $250 per month for 14 months, you would earn a little interest on your own money, purchase the contract outright, and save $200. If you finance a longer term for lower monthly payment, then you will pay more in interest. I took an extra job, and it took about a year of saving to purchase DVC outright.

 

[Sandisw]

The other option, once you are an owner, is to seek a transfer of points into your account from another member and then you can make your own reservation along with your own points.

So, if you have 100 points of your own, then you simply transfer what you need into the account to complete the trip.

Remember, once you are a member, you can add on through Disney with contracts as little as 25 points, or 50 if you need to finance. This may allow you to build your membership at a slow pace, but give you the benefits of ownership so you can see if DVC is right for you.

Good luck!

 

[backyardponder]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

Personally, I don't think DVC is for you right now. 50 points is not going to get you what you want, and buying that 50 points may be tough on your budget. In addition to the initial cost, there's dues, tickets, transportation, meals, etc.

Wait until you can afford it. There will always be resales out there.

 

[staceymay00]

I thought about buying just 50 pts a while back and decided it was not a good idea. It did not make sense to put several thousand dollars into something that would only give us 3 nights in a 1BR every other year. Then I though about just 100 points. Really I still had the same problem in that we would only get a few nights a year in a 1BR, or almost a week every other year, and this would cost us almost $10k to buy plus MFs each year. I decided unless we could stay 5 nights min every year (we go to WDW at least once a year, usually for 6-7 nights) it was not worth it to us to put any money into DVC.

Finally we just recently signed a contract for 150 OKW pts and are waiting to pass ROFR. We have a HELOC and could have financed more, but we felt strongly about paying cash and the OKW contract is what fit our budget. It also allows us to stay at least 5 nights in a 1BR during the times of year we normally travel. It now feels "worth it" to me and we hope to add points down the road to stay a little longer or get a 2BR. But at least what we are starting with allows us a decent stay each year.

 

[triciari]

Thanks for all the thoughts! I am just a bargain hunter at heart, and couldn't handle the thought that there was a cheaper way to do Disney that I was missing. I was thinking there must be some great incentive to ownership that I wasn't understanding. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for continued luck with pin codes and friends! (For my next trip a friend has let me rent at 2 bedroom through her DVC at BWV in December for just $7/point!)

 

[ToddyLu]

Stick with that friend...that is awesome!!

 

[keishashadow]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

the studios are lovely, certainly the way to stretch your points if they'll work for you.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

Two bedroom villas require lots of points. If owning the number of points to get a two bedroom on a regular basis is too costly, you probably need to rethink the DVC ownership thing. But if it is a once in a lifetime thing and a studio would suffice for most of your trips, it might work.

Just don't fall into the "Let's invite friends to stay with us because we own DVC" trap. There are many horror stories about inviting family and friends to stay and you are paying for all the lodging with your points (or transferring points to pay for this).

 

[Dean]

I'm thinking about buying about 50 points, because I'd like to get started in DVC, but can't really afford it right now. So, if I buy 50 and bank for one year, then I'll still only have 100 and need 250-300 for a week in a one or two bedroom in December. What do I do then, just rent the difference from someone, or do I book only a 4 night trip and then make a regular reservation for the difference?

-Tricia

I wouldn't buy less than the number of points you could get together for one trip. Look at the points charts and see how many that is but usually no less than a yearly total of points where you could get together 3 years worth for one trip. I wouldn't buy until you could do that. Studio are a great way to stretch points if you can fit the family into one. If price is a main focus, you may want to look at none DVC timeshares which tend to be more versatile, offer more options and be less expensive.