Downfall to Purchasing from Time Share Store?

[4theloveofdisney]

I was looking at resales on the Timeshare Store website. I have a few questions so I hope I can post them here. Sorry if I am not in the right spot!!

1) Are there any downfalls to purchasing used vs. new?

2) If I purchased SSR, the end date would place me at 87 years old. Is this transferable to my children should I die?

3) How much do dues currently run? I am looking at SSR for 150 points.

4) How hard is it really to book other resorts?

5) Is $82 a point for SSR good or bad?

6) Why shouldn't I purchase a beach resort for less money? I don't understand this. I can still book any resort, right? Is it just harder?

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I was looking at resales on the Timeshare Store website. I have a few questions so I hope I can post them here. Sorry if I am not in the right spot!!

1) Are there any downfalls to purchasing used vs. new?

2) If I purchased SSR, the end date would place me at 87 years old. Is this transferable to my children should I die?

3) How much do dues currently run? I am looking at SSR for 150 points.

4) How hard is it really to book other resorts?

5) Is $82 a point for SSR good or bad?

6) Why shouldn't I purchase a beach resort for less money? I don't understand this. I can still book any resort, right? Is it just harder?

Thanks so much for your help!

First of all, new vs "used" is no different in the eyes of Disney. You are an owner no matter how you purchased.
2. Yes it can be willed to your decendants
3. Dues for SSR this year are around $4.18 I think.
4. Depends on when, where, and what size unit.
5. GOod if it passes ROFR
6. Harder to get into BCV at the 7 month window because it is a smaller resort and preferred by many.

 

[Lynne M]

When you say 'a beach resort', do you mean Vero Beach? If so, then the initial buy-in cost may be lower than SSR, but the maintenance fees are definitely higher. You'll be paying those fees for the next several decades, so that may end up making VB a MORE expensive purchase in the long run.

Owners can make reservations at their home resorts at 11 months from their check-in date. They can make reservations at other DVC resorts at 7 months. In some cases, this can make it very difficult to get into certain resorts at certain times of the year: BCV and BWV during the F&W festival, the smaller resorts (BCV and VWL) in early December, for example. If you own at VB or SSR but want to book a stay at BCV, that means that the BCV owners have a 4-month head start on you.

If there's a particular resort that you prefer, and you would be unhappy if you couldn't stay there on a regular basis, then you should buy at that resort. That's the 'buy where you want to stay' advice that you'll hear frequently here.

If you don't have a resort preference, or if you can't plan your trips more than 7 months out, then where you buy isn't as important.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[greenban]

I was looking at resales on the Timeshare Store website. I have a few questions so I hope I can post them here. Sorry if I am not in the right spot!!

1) Are there any downfalls to purchasing used vs. new?

As an Owner, no you are treated exactly the same. Resale takes longer than buying from Disney, but when done right save $$. I 100% recommend TTS. Stand up and Stand out people!!!

2) If I purchased SSR, the end date would place me at 87 years old. Is this transferable to my children should I die?

It is willable, sellable and defaultable depending on your likes!

3) How much do dues currently run? I am looking at SSR for 150 points.

See the Lovely Lady Diane's post. But be warned, like me she is an OKW snob!!!

4) How hard is it really to book other resorts?

It can be near impossible to get a BWV 2 Bedroom Standard at 7 months for Christmas. Other times can be challenging, low demand times are easy. If you are flexible, you will do well. However, if you can plan 7 or more months in advance, I strongly believe in the BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO STAY MANTRA!!!

5) Is $82 a point for SSR good or bad?

If you can get it to pass ROFR, I think it is good, very good!

6) Why shouldn't I purchase a beach resort for less money? I don't understand this. I can still book any resort, right? Is it just harder?

You purchase points once, you pay maintenance fees every year. An extra $0.50 a year times 30 years = $15.00 per point more! Are you saving $15.00 per point? Also Beach Resorts could be wiped off the face of the earth by a Hurricane or Global Warming (if you believe the Science-Fiction). Also you could get a special assesment charge for repairs.


Thanks so much for your help!

Hope that helps!

-Tony

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Thanks for your answers. I have a much clearer picture now!

 

[dvcjim]

Buy where you want to stay.

If SSR is not your #1 choice do not buy there.

It is as simple as that.

 

[Dina]

The only downfall to resale for us was, we had a big trip coming up (one of those once in a lifetime 10 day trips bringing my parents-- who said at the time they were going for the last time--- I think that's changed now)--I thought it would be awesome if we could stay in a 2bedroom Villa rather than 2 rooms at Pop. We were just 6 months away from our trip, and I didn't want to go through the long process and waiting to see if we would get through ROFR--- we were in Disney, and they gave us a deal, and I just wanted to get in to DVC!!!! When we add on, I'm 90% sure we're going resale through TTS.

 

[Miz Diz]

People say buy where you want to stay. If you don't really care where you stay, as long as it is on propety - SSR is a good buy. I bought SSR and it is a nice resort. While I would like to try the other DVC resorts, my heart will not be broken if I can't get into anything other than SSR - however I love AKL, so I am buying a small add on with AKV so that I can stay there once every 2 years.

The advantage for me with buying resale - I didn't have to buy 150 points minimum (I knew the rumors of AKV and knew I would add on some points there) and I got banked points from 2005 & 2006, and all of 2007 points.

 

[dvcjim]

If you don't really care where you stay, as long as it is on propety - SSR is a good buy.

I agree 100%

 

[1000th happy haunt]

The only "downfall" to buying resale is it takes more time. Disney has up to a month to decide whether they want to purchase your resale or not, then it takes some time to complete the transaction if they waive ROFR. If you buy directly from Disney, you'll have your points in a matter of days and can use them to make a reservation as soon as they become available.

We purchased our original contract through TSS, and have added on twice direct from Disney. We weren't in a hurry so waiting the required times didn't bother us.

 

[Pennyguy23]

I just bought from them Last month and I passed ROFR at $80pp so it could. I think I got lucky but you should pass at 82$.

Good luck and Hope to be able to call you a neigheor soon.

 

[rie'smom]

To me the downfall is the availability of property and the number of points available at the resort of your choice. A disney agent has more inventory .
We wanted 2-150 pt contracts with an October use month. Called Disney and told my agent what I wanted-Bam,it's done. No searching for what I want and no worry about ROFR. Of course,you do pay more for the privilege.
ETA: Next year when I add1 150 pt w/October use month,I will look at TSS.

 

[Disney MAINEiac]

4) How hard is it really to book other resorts?

Greenban sums it up well, as usual However, I have not encountered any problems getting our 1-bdrm at other resorts (last yr BCV this yr BWV standard view) of course i wouldn't try this stunt at a busy holiday or anything I'm sure we will hit it wrong sometime, but hey I only try the other resorts because we can and they are there. If i get "stuck" at SSR I won't shed any tears, the place is very nice hey its disney what did u expect

 

[Caskbill]

Re #5, how good of deal it is depends more on just getting past ROFR. There's the issue of are there any banked or borrowed points. Let's say the current owner has used all their 2006 points, and borrowed and used all their 2007 points, meaning you wouldn't have any points to use until 2008. If you purchase from Disney you get current year (probably 2006 points) and 2007 points. That can affect the 'value' of the purchase.

Also, you need to understand what other costs you'll incur. You'll probably have to pay about $400 in closing costs.

Finally, make sure you understand who will be paying maintenance fees. For example if the previous owner borrowed points ahead of time, but you wind up paying the maintenance fees on those points, then that's not good either.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

Thanks for all of the great thoughts everyone. You have all given me much to think about. I appreciate your time!

 

[disneyperm]

My experience with DVC re-sale is short and simple. After touring Saratoga Springs, my family decided we wanted to purchase a package but wanted other options and pricing from what we could receive directly from Disney. Searches on the Internet showed a few re-sale brokers with various DVC inventory all priced about the same for each type of property. While in O'town, we decided to visit the brokers and discuss options face to face. Then I received the surprise that I did not expect. Nobody had an office I could actually visit except for The Timeshare Store. I may be old fashioned but I always feel better looking into the eyes of someone I am going to do business with. It seems many re-sale brokers work from their extra bedroom or garage and work it almost like a part time job. After visiting The Timeshare Store, I was very comfortable and they seemed extremely trustworthy and competent concerning any questions I had about DVC.

I ended up purchasing a small package which closed before the holidays. I could not be any happier with the level of service and professionalism I received from the associates at The Timeshare Store. I would recommend them and will be purcashing a larger package at WL in the very near future.



Welcome home! What a great feeling!

 

[BroganMc]

I considered this route when I first purchased. For me it boils down to whether I'm considering a sold out resort or new resort.

For new resorts, I go to Disney. They have the best prices and it's very easy.

For sold out resorts, I'd buy resale from TSS. The prices will be better and they seem like a class act.

I purchased direct from Disney my first time, because (a) I fell in love with SSR and (b) I thought I'd go nuts sweating ROFR and waiting to be in the system as a new owner.

 

[Dean]

Overall I'd agree with the info provided already. If you want on property mostly, I wouldn't buy HH or VB. If you want to try all resorts but don't have one you want mostly and do not want difficult to reserve options like Standard View or Boardwalk view at BWV or a GV and do not want peak times; it likely doesn't matter much where you own. But at least if you own on property, you can reserve something there then try for other options at the 7 month window. If you want a specific resort or difficult room type most years, I'd buy there, PERIOD. I've always assumed VB would be $1 per more in dues long term compared to the lower options and that HH wouldn't be any cheaper in dues and likely would go up more long term than all but VB.

Your title was buying at TSS. Right now with ROFR fairly active I don't think where you get your contract from makes any difference. However, much of the time in the history of resales, ROFR hasn't been so limiting as it is now. I've always felt the companies that specialized in DVC tended to have higher prices on resales than some of the others, good for the seller and ??? for the buyer.

 

[4theloveofdisney]

After all of your comments DH and I think we are going to sit tight and wait for VAK. Hopefully there will be some incentives from Disney...keeping our fingers crossed.

Thanks again!

P.S. See my new siggy!

 

[stacy6552]

We tried to buy from the TSS. We found the rep very zelious right up until we signed the contract. Then he completely blew us off. We called him a few times to find out about ROFR and he said he hadnt heard. Finally I got intouch with someone else because he was gone for the day and that person was able to see right away that Disney had taken our contract more than 2 weeks before. We definately felt like once the contract was signed they didnt care about the buyer, because once its signed either the buyer or Disney is taking the contract.

Now I will say that after reporting our experienceon these boards a few times, I was contacted by the owner who was concerned about it.