How big is too big for a contract?

[theyoungs07]

I'm over-analyzing/researching to determine if DVC is right for me.

My family will need a 3Br villa for the near future (probably 10 years, maybe more) and we visit every other year. That means I'll need 500-600 points a visit. We liked SSR when we visited and I know that OKW won't work for us for a while (no elevators/double stroller)

I was figuring that I would need to find a 300 point contract to purchase, but have been reading a few threads where people mention not to buy large contracts because they are hard to unload if needed.

Am I better off looking for a 300 pt contract or a couple 150/175 contracts with the same/similar use year?

I have no idea if I'd ever need to resell, but surely don't want to push myself out of that option by having too large of a contract.

Thanks!

 

[Mousewerks]

I think the answer to your question can be found by perusing the contracts for sale out there as well as the ROFR thread in this group. I think you'll find that 300 point contracts do sell without a problem but two 150 point contracts will necessarily find more possible buyers due to the lower cost.

 

[suebeelin]

We looked for 200points (twice on the resale market for 400 points total, 2 seperate contracts). My older sister did 200 points (direct). My SILs parents have a 150 point (direct) and 50 point (direct).

When my SIL/brother was ready to buy on the resale market, they looked for 150-175pt contracts. My brother had a hard and fast ceiling on how much he wanted to spend overall.

We would not have bought a 300pt contract on the resale market but everyone is different. Good luck!

 

[nalajms]

My family will need a 3Br villa for the near future (probably 10 years, maybe more) and we visit every other year. That means I'll need 500-600 points a visit. We liked SSR when we visited and I know that OKW won't work for us for a while (no elevators/double stroller)

It depends what you expect after 10 years.

1. No more Disney? Buy the 300pt contract since you'll likely sell it at that point.
2. Annual trips in smaller rooms? If you're still burning 300pts a year, buy the 1 big contract.
3. Every other year in smaller rooms? - If you're not using 600pts and end up having say 100-200 leftover, I'd consider buying 2 smaller contracts so that you can sell one. Your other option is to rent the extra points every few years.

If you're leaning towards #3, I would also calculate your breakeven. You might be better off buying a 150-200 pt contract now and getting a transfer every few years.

 

[ffwillie]

Remember that if you buy multiple small contracts that you will pay closing cost on each of them. This is the one downside to multiple small contracts. I was fortunate enough to buy two 150 point contracts at SSR that were sold together and saved the double closing cost. I went with smaller contracts for the reasons that were outlined above and that was so I could sell one of them off later if I didn't need the points or wanted to buy elsewhere.

 

[theyoungs07]

I'm not sure what after 10 years looks like...I just know that my oldest will be 24, so probably won't be travelling with us anymore. With 8 kids and possibly more, I'm hoping to enjoy some quiet multi-week trips with my wife once the nest is empty and of course spoiling grandchildren. We love Disney and our visits are not just for the kids.

Right now I'm looking at this as the only viable way I have to stay onsite and the best of both worlds as I'm used to staying in vacation homes. I can now have more space, kitchen, and laundry while being onsite.

We currently visit every other year and probably just as often will have a 1on1 trip with each of the kids as they reach a certain age. I think that using 300 points shouldn't be a problem and I am open to renting any extras if the rental/transfer market stays similar to today's.

 

[tasha99]

You'll pay less per point for a large contract, but you'll also get less if you sell later.

 

[disneyberry]

Another reason some people buy multiple smaller contracts is because it's easier to leave them to the kids (assuming the kids will remain Disney fanatics).

 

[DVCanadian]

I don't consider a 300 point contract too large. At 400 it is starting to get big.
I think there is always a buyer for every contract. Worrying about maybe cutting the price $500 10 years from now is something I wouldn't worry about.
A single contract would be easier to manage and buy.
Finding two contracts with the same use year isn't impossible but it isn't always easy, it is easier at SSR than others.

Sounds like you know how many points you want. Keep an eye out and buy what fits your needs. Good luck.

 

[dsnydaddy]

I could easily use 300 pts per year. Even after my kids are gone. I only have 150 right now and wish that I'd have bought more. (However, my budget is thanking me!) This is really a personal decision. You'll get a better price for a 300 pt contract the fact that it'll resale lower won't be a big deal since you bought low. You can't split the contract so, if you decide to give it to your kids they'll need to share ownership. Two 150 pt contracts will split much easier. And as someone else pointed out, if your travel tastes change it's easier to downsize with multiple smaller contracts.

 

[davidl81]

Like others have said a 300 point contract may resale for a few dollars a point less than a 150 point contract, but if you are buying resale now you will get to save those dollars if you buy a 300 point contract.

 

[Dean]

I'm over-analyzing/researching to determine if DVC is right for me.

My family will need a 3Br villa for the near future (probably 10 years, maybe more) and we visit every other year. That means I'll need 500-600 points a visit. We liked SSR when we visited and I know that OKW won't work for us for a while (no elevators/double stroller)

I was figuring that I would need to find a 300 point contract to purchase, but have been reading a few threads where people mention not to buy large contracts because they are hard to unload if needed.

Am I better off looking for a 300 pt contract or a couple 150/175 contracts with the same/similar use year?

I have no idea if I'd ever need to resell, but surely don't want to push myself out of that option by having too large of a contract.

Thanks!

IMO one shouldn't buy if they think they'll need to resell later. In the situation you described, I would not buy multiple contracts but I would likely underbuy. Maybe 220-250 instead of 300. You didn't mention your family size, will the THV or sleep nine 2BR units work for you? If so, that gives you other options and potentially reduces your needs a little. I would not spend the extra $5-10 a point that 2 smaller contracts will cost over one larger one. Once you can get 2 full size contracts then I'd recommend buying 2 but that's for more in the 400 or more range in my book. You might also look at the AKV 3 BR options as well. I wouldn't let the stroller alone determine your choices either.

 

[theyoungs07]

Good info, thanks.

Two parents, 8 kids ranging from 13 to 7mo. If we were to pull the trigger and stay in the next 2.5 yrs then we can stay in a 2br that sleeps 9. My oldest will start community college at least pt in 3 years so we will lose some of our current homeschooling flexibility.

One of the major selling points of onsite is that my wife could hang out at the resort with some of the little ones while I take bigger kids...she would not be able to do that without an elevator or ground floor. Obviously a "for now" requirement, but we aren't necessarily done having kids so it may be "for awhile"

Our guide steered us away from AKV because another requirement for now is that we drive. We want to be close to a lot since we also drive to the parks. He said something about AKV parking not being great for us since we can't do parking garages with an 8.5ft tall van.

The price for 300 SSR points resale doesn't scare me away and if I financed it would be just for one year and I'd probably just use my HELOC since it is 3%. We liked what we saw at ssr but have not really looked at AKV...but it sounds like 7mo availability isn't much of a prob there and maint fees are much higher.

 

[Dean]

Good info, thanks.

Two parents, 8 kids ranging from 13 to 7mo. If we were to pull the trigger and stay in the next 2.5 yrs then we can stay in a 2br that sleeps 9. My oldest will start community college at least pt in 3 years so we will lose some of our current homeschooling flexibility.

One of the major selling points of onsite is that my wife could hang out at the resort with some of the little ones while I take bigger kids...she would not be able to do that without an elevator or ground floor. Obviously a "for now" requirement, but we aren't necessarily done having kids so it may be "for awhile"

Our guide steered us away from AKV because another requirement for now is that we drive. We want to be close to a lot since we also drive to the parks. He said something about AKV parking not being great for us since we can't do parking garages with an 8.5ft tall van.

The price for 300 SSR points resale doesn't scare me away and if I financed it would be just for one year and I'd probably just use my HELOC since it is 3%. We liked what we saw at ssr but have not really looked at AKV...but it sounds like 7mo availability isn't much of a prob there and maint fees are much higher.

The option that underbuying points gives you is to adjust later. Maybe you find you need more points than the 300 or want a different home resort at times. If you bought enough just to get by now, you'd have more and possibly better choices later. SSR & OKW are likely to be available at 7 months much of the time though maybe a little less so for 3BR. As the kids age they likely won't make all the trips making a 2 BR much easier. Parking is an issue at several of the resorts, you wouldn't be any further away at AKV in the outside lots than you would at BWV or VWL but you likely are too high for the under building garage. When possible I try to answer these as how I'd approach the situation. First, if you're driving anyway, staying off property isn't as much of an issue, esp for places live Bonnet Creek or Silver Lakes. For DVC, I'd look at OKW to stay for either 2 or 3 BR because of the larger units, lower points and now sleep 9 option but buy SSR due to the better value, longer RTU & uncertainty of OKW as it transitions in 2042.

 

[DVCjuggernaut]

I wouldn't consider 300 pts too large of a package. I've seen plenty of them come and go real quick on the DVC resale search engine. If you purchase 2 150-pt packages you'll likely be able to sell them for more a bit more.