How Accurate Are Due Estimates?

[TessRC]

We recently went to a DVC presentation and I am a little confused. I could be happy with either AKV or BLT, but when I mentioned BLT could be a little cheaper than AKV because the annual dues are less per point ($3.67 vs $4.71), even though it's more for the initial point purchase, the DVC rep said that it was just an estimate, and since there isn't anything to maintain yet, the dues could very well be as high or higher than AKV, basically implying it didn't matter. That scared me a little that AKV could be quite a bit higher as well.....Has anyone bought DVC for a resort that wasn't yet open and could let me know how accurate the estimated dues were to the actual after the resort opened that first year? I know they generally go up about 3% a year after that, but I'm now a little put off that I can't accurately estimate the costs, but maybe the rep was just pushing one resort over the other for other reasons & I don't need to worry about it? Honestly, the annual dues is the biggest expense in my limited knowledge of DVC so it is sort of important in the math if it's worth it for us or not. Can anyone help please?

Thanks,
--Tess

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Well for AKV, you do have some knowledge of dues because of Jambo House already being open. BLT is still under construction, and my guess there are two reasons for lower dues.

1. Less property = less expense.
2. More points required per use = more division of the expense.

I would never buy a place just based on the current MFs.

 

[5forDiz]

This doesn't directly address MFs for BLT but this link gives MF history at other DVC resorts over the years :

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1966427

( see post #2 by LisaS )

 

[TessRC]

Whoops, didn't realize AKV was already operating, I thought the rep said it wasn't and I am VERY new to all of this, so thanks for the response! It's kind of hard to decide! We're very tempted to do some sort of DVC, we just can't figure out exactly what to do.....

Thanks also to 5forDiz, that is helpful and a little reassuring. The whole thing is a little overwhelming when you're new!

--Tess

 

[JaxFLBear]

Whoops, didn't realize AKV was already operating, I thought the rep said it wasn't and I am VERY new to all of this, so thanks for the response! It's kind of hard to decide! We're very tempted to do some sort of DVC, we just can't figure out exactly what to do.....

Thanks also to 5forDiz, that is helpful and a little reassuring. The whole thing is a little overwhelming when you're new!

--Tess

AKV opened July 2007 with the conversion of the top floor of Jambo House into DVC units. Kidani Village @ AKV is scheduled to open May 1, 2009.

Property Tax is going to be the part of the dues that will most likely be way off the first year. When AKV opened the 2007 property tax was estimated at 1.1087/point. When we received our 2008 statement, the actual 2007 property tax was .0266/point. Any difference between the estimate and actual property tax is reflected on the next years dues statement.

I think that Disney is pretty good at determining what the operating costs of the resort will be.

 

[ladycop67]

When we bought the taxes at AKL was higher then SSR. Our guide told us AKL is higher because it is in a different county then the rest of the DVC clubs and also because the maintance of the savanah.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are in the deciding phase of your DVC purchase, don't feel like you MUST only look at AKV or BLT either. The guides DO have points available at the "sold out" resorts too, but they wont bring it up. You have to do that. My advice has always been to buy where you wouldn't mind always having to stay. The more members DVC gets, the more difficult it is going to be to book high times at your non-home resort. For that reason, I feel home resort is the most important factor, and MF's are what they are for your favorite. We own one that is low and one that is high for MF's, and I can't say I'd trade either one of them for ownership in the other DVC resorts that are not our home.

 

[drusba]

Generally in the past the provided estimate for first year dues for a resort getting close to opening have been accurate. BLT has an estimate per point lower than any other resort and should be lower (and remain that way as time progresses) because overall it has significantly higher point cost per room per night than any other resort and thus is selling significantly more points per unit, leading to spreading the required dues among more points per unit than at other resorts. AKV Jambo has been open for over a year and thus the fees you see now are ones actually in effect. In other words, though there is no guarantee, and, of course, dues can go up annually, your thinking as to comparison of dues -- lower at BLT -- is most likely on the right track.

 

[jerseygal]

AKV Kidani..was told that since resort doesn't open till May, dues will be prorated for 8 mos instead of 12...I forget, specifically for 09, when will prorated dues be due? Will they be due for AKV Kidani Jan or May??????????????

All other years, annual dues statement are mailed end of Dec, correct?

Thanks if anyone knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!Know that alot of us have AKV Kidani as our "home"!!!!!!!!!!