Factoring ease of renting before buying DVC

[cmorrison87]

Doing due diligence and researching/comparing options before buying resale. We have rented points privately several times in the past easily and had great experiences, but the owner we've rented from is no longer renting (so bummed!) and we're not as comfortable renting privately anymore for various reasons and would use a rental agency going forward. Agency prices are more expensive and thus has got us thinking of buying.

But first I'd like to get a better idea of the likelihood of being able to rent a 2bdrm through a rental agency for 6-7 nights at resorts like AKV, BLT, BCV, RIV, PVB when the points required is typically 275-325 points on average for the whole stay? Without needing to do a split stay or merge multiple reservations/rentals? We typically like to travel during non-holiday/non-peak times. But may want to go early Dec. We always book 11mos out. Will agencies be able to accommodate a request like this? Or will we be probably be waitlisted?

I've been reading mixed accounts that David's or DVC Rental Store don't have great availability for larger (more points) rentals. Have others found this to be true? The ease of being able to book my own reservation and not have to stress over finding the right owner, change travel dates, or compromise on resort is at the top of the "to buy" pros list.

I know long-term buying will save us money if we go every other year for the next 20-30 years; but not sure if we want to committ to that right now and could use the cash for more responsible things like home improvements and investing in college funds. We also like to stay at a different resort each time we go to try something new (though could be happy staying at most DVC resorts every visit) We do not like split stays - they're hard with young kids and when we order groceries. And we always need a 2 bedroom or 2-3 studios as we are a family of 6, often traveling with parents for a total of 8.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Buying makes much more sense than paying someone else dues and all the extra up charges to rent. Especially if you are okay booking 11 months out.

There are some owners who have 300 spare points to rent but it’s not common.

I would browse here to see what kind of listings you see https://www.dvcforless.com/ do the math, you could potentially pay off your investment with stays in 3 trips.

If you go every other year you can buy a contract that has extra points up front and bank/borrow to make your vacation work. So you wouldn’t need to buy as many points.

My only caution is DVC is amazing so you may get sucked in and go more than every other year.

 

[Sandisw]

Everything will always be dependent on whether there is an owner who has contracted with a rental agency to offer their points to book reservations.

So, to book that time of year, you’d want to be sure put in a request ahead of time so you know if they have someone who has that many points to book at your key resorts.

My guess is that agencies should have owners who will be able to try for what you want. But, that is a really popular time for DVC owners to book so getting things, especially three studios at most of those resorts will be tough.

 

[CarolynFH]

We typically like to travel during non-holiday/non-peak times. But may want to go early Dec.

The first week of December is historically the most in-demand week of the entire year for DVC bookings, Christmas week is second, and the second week of December is third. Many owners walk their reservations for early December, especially for studios, and few owners are willing to walk a reservation for a renter. So if you truly want to go in early December and need a 2BR or 2-3 studios, you’ll need to own at your favorite resort.

 

[JackosinDIS]

Honestly, I think you would struggle to get this rental through an agency. Even for 11 month bookings I think the main rental brokers only pay owners $16-18 per point (at best), so I see more people renting privately now.
You would be much better off buying your own contract if you think you will go every year, then you can control your own reservations!

 

[airjay75]

The ease of being able to book my own reservation and not have to stress over finding the right owner, change travel dates, or compromise on resort is at the top of the "to buy" pros list.

If this is important to you, ownership is really the only way to go. Renting will never really give you any of these things to any significant degree.

That said, also note that for studios and 2 BRs, the resort you own at can make a significant difference in the rooms even owners can secure 7 months or less out from the planned stay. Especially studios and 2 BR lock-offs, and especially if there is a view category of rooms that are low points or in low supply. If you're ok with 1 BRs as a back-up, those have a lot of availability at 7-months and very easy to switch to other resorts.

And December bookings are very difficult to get across the board unless you own points at a particular resort. So, owning can also have its limitations, but, in general, is far more flexible than renting.

dvcfieldguide.com is a fantastic resource with availability tables that can give you a sense of difficult rooms are to book at various time intervals.

 

[JMOR80]

I would probably steer towards 200 resale points at CCV. This would give you good value based on years left on the contract and the ability to book a hard to get location in early December. You could always get more points with a couple 150 point SSR contracts for about the same cost.

For almost all of the year at 7 months out AKV,SSR,OKW 2 Bedrooms are available with great point charts and many others are available as well. But mentioning early December I think CCV would be a good home resort.

 

[muppets3d]

Looking at the straight math, it's pretty much a wash between renting every year and owning direct points. Resale is likely cheaper than renting over the long term, but resale locks you out of Riviera and future resorts - and you mentioned you want to stay at Riviera.

But as you know with renting, you have no control over your bookings and unless you can find an owner willing to rent that many points to you every year as long as you want to rent, you are stuck trying to find a broker or owner every year with the points available. Not to mention the fact that cancellation policies vary widely depending upon the owner or broker you book with.

There is at least one owner on here who posts every year that their family somehow has more points than their family can use and rents out over 1000 points. So finding an owner to rent that many points isn't really an issue. Call up a broker or find an owner ahead of your dates and let them know what you want so they can book it when the 11 month window opens.

DVC isn't going any where so when you are ready for the financial commitment to buy points, they will be selling them. Obviously at a higher price than today, but it is what it is.

 

[Brian Noble]

Doing due diligence and researching/comparing options before buying resale.

Buying probably makes sense in your situation, if all of the following are true:

• You expect to visit WDW regularly---no less often than once every other year.
• You expect to do that for at least the next 10 "visits" (so, ten years if you go every year; twenty years if you go every other).
• You would otherwise stay in a DVC unit via private rental.
• You have the cash in hand to buy the points you want without financing.

 

[CraigInPA]

I can tell you that the two times I offered more than 250 points, they were quickly snatched up. In the case of my first rental, through David's, they had a rental for all but a few of my 340 points two hours after I entered them into their system, which lead me to believe that they had a person on the wait list for those. The second time, 280 points rented privately, I got a renter within 2 days. I don't think it's particularly common to see people renting the large blocks of points needed for 2 and 3 bedroom villas, bungalows, and CCW cabins.

 

[MartyParty]

But first I'd like to get a better idea of the likelihood of being able to rent a 2bdrm through a rental agency for 6-7 nights at resorts like AKV, BLT, BCV, RIV, PVB when the points required is typically 275-325 points on average for the whole stay? Without needing to do a split stay or merge multiple reservations/rentals? We typically like to travel during non-holiday/non-peak times. But may want to go early Dec. We always book 11mos out. Will agencies be able to accommodate a request like this? Or will we be probably be waitlisted?

As others have mentioned, will be difficult to find enough points collectively together to do a single rental stay in a 2 BR.

Of the resorts mentioned above, resale points will work at all those resorts except RIV. If RIV is high on your priority, you'll likely want to buy direct. If not, then resale could be the way to go. Only other WDW restrict resort for considering is the new Lake Shore Lodge coming online.

Good luck...

 

[Add-On-Itis]

Look at the rental part of this board. Plenty of owners who have 1K+ point for rental. You should not have problem finding points to rent. Renting on rental site might be a little harder, as they pay owner less. Those looking to rent 1K + points are doing it more as a side gig for $ won't rent on those sites.

But sounds like owning might be a good option for you. Depends on when your typical dates are. If it's fall-winter 2 bedroom will be hard to get outside your home resort.

 

[Girlstar30]

Doing due diligence and researching/comparing options before buying resale. We have rented points privately several times in the past easily and had great experiences, but the owner we've rented from is no longer renting (so bummed!) and we're not as comfortable renting privately anymore for various reasons and would use a rental agency going forward. Agency prices are more expensive and thus has got us thinking of buying.

But first I'd like to get a better idea of the likelihood of being able to rent a 2bdrm through a rental agency for 6-7 nights at resorts like AKV, BLT, BCV, RIV, PVB when the points required is typically 275-325 points on average for the whole stay? Without needing to do a split stay or merge multiple reservations/rentals? We typically like to travel during non-holiday/non-peak times. But may want to go early Dec. We always book 11mos out. Will agencies be able to accommodate a request like this? Or will we be probably be waitlisted?

I've been reading mixed accounts that David's or DVC Rental Store don't have great availability for larger (more points) rentals. Have others found this to be true? The ease of being able to book my own reservation and not have to stress over finding the right owner, change travel dates, or compromise on resort is at the top of the "to buy" pros list.

I know long-term buying will save us money if we go every other year for the next 20-30 years; but not sure if we want to committ to that right now and could use the cash for more responsible things like home improvements and investing in college funds. We also like to stay at a different resort each time we go to try something new (though could be happy staying at most DVC resorts every visit) We do not like split stays - they're hard with young kids and when we order groceries. And we always need a 2 bedroom or 2-3 studios as we are a family of 6, often traveling with parents for a total of 8.

Most people dont regret owning DVC. All the stresses of renting is why we keep adding on more points instead of renting. Plus it hurts paying $26 per point to rent! You already have stayed and know you love it. One of the best parts about being an owner is the ability to check for cancellations once the rooms are gone.

The rental stores are not going to check for you daily to see if something comes up. And your not going to be asking them every hour either When its a no its a no and a gamble whether an owner will sell their points for you.

One of the main rental stores started paying out owners less, not even enough to cover dues, so I am steering clear from that and im sure other owns are as well. There are lots of people in the queue waiting for an owner to match them and probably wondering whether theyll be able to take the vacation they want or not. And I would never rent the hotels that they pay higher for tbh as an owner (vdh, poly, bcv, bwv if i was an owner for the latter three)

Its getting harder and harder for owners to book. I actually tried to get a renter what they wanted which was a studio at 11 months, I woke up at 5 am, something ill never do again because I can just book a good reservation and get even more money for a confirmed, but I wasnt privy to that at the time, and it sold out in a second and I couldnt get it.

As an owner I can put a wait list and good chance ill get it something at 11 months of trying if it was for me. Renters can't do that. Its getting harder and harder for owners to get what they want as it is.

You can always sell your points when you want to do a home improvement project or other things and may still come out ahead (depending on tax situation)

 

[Mle8308]

I have rented through the rental sites and for point stays under 100 points, it's not too hard to find an owner with points to rent. Once you get into longer stays, it's more difficult as owners can make more renting privately than through a service. The rental companies have become a lot more popular due to vloggers. And at $26 a point for an 11 month out rental, it's probably cheaper in the long run for you to buy. Especially the time you want and the accommodations you need.

 

[Add-On-Itis]

I have rented through the rental sites and for point stays under 100 points, it's not too hard to find an owner with points to rent. Once you get into longer stays, it's more difficult as owners can make more renting privately than through a service. The rental companies have become a lot more popular due to vloggers. And at $26 a point for an 11 month out rental, it's probably cheaper in the long run for you to buy. Especially the time you want and the accommodations you need.

I do say once you're a member, buying point transfer makes it a lot easier. We were short alot of points this year and had to get a point transfer. You get alot of flexibility