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- Nov 15, 2008
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We are struggling with the same decision on direct vs resale. I see the significant savings on resale but there are also significant restrictions. One thing that we have added in to our equation is that we would probably want to stay at Riviera, Reflections and any other new properties that might come along at some point. Resale would not allow this. That will be come a bigger issue as 2042 when some resorts come to the end of their lives to be re-sold most likely with the same restriction on resale buyers as the new resorts now. Not sure if I am seeing things correctly or not but that extra $ spent direct is a probably more valued by those of us that do not yet have a blue card than by those owners that do.
Yes, you have a lot of good points. I think that the restriction of not staying at newer resorts,,,if one sees that as important..is a larger reason to spend more going direct than the blue card benefits.
I think it also depends on where one wants to stay. But, as mentioned, one can buy 100 points at RIV now for stays there and future resorts, get the blue card, and then add on via resale for addition points if one needs It.
Yes, those points and the RiV points would only be combinable at 7 months for L14 resorts, but it does give a way to get both.
However, I know 2042 is a ways off, but you are right...some very popular resorts will be off limits and if you are in the beginning stages of a DVC member, that is important.
I know when I bought in 2009, it cost me about $5k to buy BLT direct over SSR resale at the time. Why? Because it gave me home resort advantage.
Over the cost of ownership, spending more for direct now doesnt end up that much over the long run if one sees the benefits of what one gets, For example, BLT is going on average $130. For 200 points, you may get RIV around $175...so for $9k, you get new resorts, and blue card benefits. Plus the ability to stay at L14.
Of course, if you are looking at SSR or AKV at home resorts, then it’s a lot more, and in that case maybe a split between resale and direct makes sense.
Good luck!