DVCNews article on August 2025 Direct Sales

[DanCali]

As to whether RIV sales are lower than Poly currently because of the resale restrictions, I just don't think that's a good test case - RIV is 6 years old, PIT is brand new. If they were both brand new and PIT was still outselling RIV, then it's a much more clear test case. Personally, looking at the full historical data on RIV since it opened, I have a hard time concluding that resale restrictions have had any meaningful impact on RIV sales. I think this bookmarked post and some other parts of the thread is a very good one for anyone who is interested in more of the RIV sales history: https://www.disboards.com/threads/first-riviera-rofr.3971706/page-12#post-66328828

I think the thing missing from that older argument that Riviera sales have not lagged VGF/BPK sales is that the resale price of Riviera at the time as in the $130s-$140s and was at least in the same ballpark as VGF ($150s). That may have given people the premature impression that restrictions do not affect resale prices that much. That's no longer the case with Riviera resale in the low $100s and PVB resale in the $150-$160s. With the impact on resale prices becoming more and more evident, the hesitance of buyers who consider prevailing resale prices as a material factor in a direct purchase has also increased.

Here's the 5-year trend for PVB rofrs of 100-260 points from dvcrofr.com - it's basically flat:





Here's the Riviera data - as you get more resale supply, prices have gone down:

 

[airjay75]

I think the thing missing from that older argument that Riviera sales have not lagged VGF/BPK sales is that the resale price of Riviera at the time as in the $130s-$140s and was at least in the same ballpark as VGF ($150s). That may have given people the premature impression that restrictions do not affect resale prices that much. That's no longer the case with Riviera resale in the low $100s and PVB resale in the $150-$160s. With the impact on resale prices becoming more and more evident, the hesitance of buyers who consider prevailing resale prices as a material factor in a direct purchase has also increased.

Here's the 5-year trend for PVB rofrs of 100-260 points from dvcrofr.com - it's basically flat:



View attachment 1009877

Here's the Riviera data - as you get more resale supply, prices have gone down:


View attachment 1009878

Well, that is definitely the first good, plausible argument I’ve heard to explain the older sales data. I guess it depends, in part, on what one thinks of that mythical “average DVC owner” and how much attention they pay to resale values when buying direct. I’m probably on the more skeptical side of that and think most of the RIV vs. PIT sales differences are explained by older vs. newer, but it is at least plausible that it is only in the past few years that the low resale value of RIV has become clear and, thus, depressed RIV sales. Wish we didn’t have so many confounding variables. Perhaps LSL will give us the next good test case.

 

[Sandisw]

Well, that is definitely the first good, plausible argument I’ve heard to explain the older sales data. I guess it depends, in part, on what one thinks of that mythical “average DVC owner” and how much attention they pay to resale values when buying direct. I’m probably on the more skeptical side of that and think most of the RIV vs. PIT sales differences are explained by older vs. newer, but it is at least plausible that it is only in the past few years that the low resale value of RIV has become clear and, thus, depressed RIV sales. Wish we didn’t have so many confounding variables. Perhaps LSL will give us the next good test case.

I was talking today with some people at the pool at RIV.

They love it and want to be there most of the time but don’t want to totally give up the option to stay elsewhere, especially at new resorts that come online.

I think that plays a role in why you have people choose RiV because it’s about the stay and not the resale value when and if they might sell.

That is certainly us. It’s the same for people who buy BWV or BCV even though it ends in 16 years.

It’s the top choice and resale value matters is simply not that important. The benefit for those though is that the come with the ability to stay elsewhere where RIV resale does not.

I do think those that love RIV and staying there, even if they know the resale value is lower than others, may simply decide it’s not important enough to give up owning there

I am still not yet convinced resale RiV wont stabilize into the $120s when it’s sold out.

 

[Brian Noble]

I know I am repeating myself, but there is ample evidence that resale value does not matter, and it is: Marriott, Hilton, and (especially) Wyndham continue to sell timeshares for prices similar to DVC.

I’m probably on the more skeptical side of that and think most of the RIV vs. PIT sales differences are explained by older vs. newer

I think the difference is that one is the Polynesian, and one is not.

RIV is kind of like Pittsburgh. No one understands why anyone would live there until they do it, and then it is just obvious. And yes, I used to live there. Fight for the glory of Carnegie! Fight for the glory of the clan