Looking into a small contract at Hilton Head

[SL6827]

We are considering making a very small purchase on a contract at Hilton Head early next year, for use there. Maybe around 40 points. Pay in full for it at time of purchase.

It is only a 5.5 hour drive for us, so very doable!! Since these contracts can be harder to come by, I won't be picky about use year. Any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[disneynutz]

Since resale contracts originated as a DVD direct buy, I doubt if Disney sold many small original contracts. You also need to consider the dues rate and the potential for resort damage due to the weather. I believe that HH owners are currently paying a special assessment due to storm damage.

Bill

 

[SL6827]

Yes, they are. And that is really my only concern about Hilton Head, the possibility of hurricane damage, $$$$. I know a good bit of about the DVC program, but I still have a lot to learn.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Our pleasure at owning at HH far surpasses any problem with the dues. ( We love the ocean, just resettled in Cape May NJ for retirement!) I hope you find what you are looking for. We have 2 contracts there, 1 for 25 points, 1 for 117 points. We head there next in July! Were there in May last year. (We also own and stay at Vero!)

 

[SL6827]

I think a very small contract will suit us just fine. A stay of around 2 nights each year, or 4-5 nights every other year will suffice. I love that it is only 5.5 hours away as well. The thing I have got to learn quite a bit about is the banking and borrowing aspect.

 

[TexasAggie73]

Did you call DVC?

 

[SL6827]

Did you call DVC?

No, I haven't contacted anyone.

 

[kniquy]

I was seriously considering a HHI contract last year - approximate 100pts (prior to the significant increase in dues). When i was doing the math it seemed to make sense, but thankfully some members on here brought up the point that there are plenty of other timeshare/home rentals which would cost much less than to purchase a contract and pay yearly MF on the contract. Now with the much higher MF I am very happy that I didn't go through with it. It isn't like when you are deciding on whether or not to stay on property at WDW vs off. I am sure staying at HHI DVC would be great but i don't think i would be missing out on much with renting something else on the island. Just something to consider.

 

[Dean]

Did you call DVC?

Compare resale vs retail. In this case the difference may not be that great when you compared the total costs. Maybe $3K for resale and $5300 retail. But you potentially get to move forward immediately, get the "current UY" points, bank up to the last day of the UY and get points in time to reserve for 2018. You might also save a little on dues. If you can find a loaded HH contract that works well you'll be better off resale but likely you won't truly save much resale in this situation.

 

[Dean]

I was seriously considering a HHI contract last year - approximate 100pts (prior to the significant increase in dues). When i was doing the math it seemed to make sense, but thankfully some members on here brought up the point that there are plenty of other timeshare/home rentals which would cost much less than to purchase a contract and pay yearly MF on the contract. Now with the much higher MF I am very happy that I didn't go through with it. It isn't like when you are deciding on whether or not to stay on property at WDW vs off. I am sure staying at HHI DVC would be great but i don't think i would be missing out on much with renting something else on the island. Just something to consider.

IMO there are better timeshares for HH and rental options. But it sounds like the OP is looking at studios which are harder to find.

 

[SL6827]

IMO there are better timeshares for HH and rental options. But it sounds like the OP is looking at studios which are harder to find.

Studios will be what we will be needing most of the time. And yes, I have drank too much of the Disney Kool-aid. I try to get down to Disney World every 12-18 months.

But I take it that there are very few studios available at most of the other sites in which to rent from at Hilton Head? Interesting.

 

[Dean]

Studios will be what we will be needing most of the time. And yes, I have drank too much of the Disney Kool-aid. I try to get down to Disney World every 12-18 months.

But I take it that there are very few studios available at most of the other sites in which to rent from at Hilton Head? Interesting.

Marriott has no lockoff's or options smaller than a 2 BR. There are 1 BR at many other locations and some studios. It will be hard to duplicate the studio need but in reality you might still be better off with a larger villa at a different option. There aren't a lot of studios at DVC HH either but there are enough to use IF you book exactly at 11 months out.

 

[SL6827]

Marriott has no lockoff's or options smaller than a 2 BR. There are 1 BR at many other locations and some studios. It will be hard to duplicate the studio need but in reality you might still be better off with a larger villa at a different option. There aren't a lot of studios at DVC HH either but there are enough to use IF you book exactly at 11 months out.

Booking right at the 11 month out is the plan.

 

[kristenrice]

We bought 50 points direct because we wanted to finance* and go every three years in a 1BR. We end up with 15 straggling points which I have been able to incorporate into WDW bookings at 7 months. Since we want a 1BR at HHI (there are only 21 of them, and only 21 studios too), we knew we would need the 11 month window. I did look for a 50-75 point resale contract, but after 6 months, I gave up and bought direct. The timing worked out well since we have a Feb UY and made our deposit on January 29. I had our points the next day and we were able to bank them 2 days before they expired. Now that our girls are "older" (11 and almost 14....but have been to WDW almost every year since they were 2 and 4!), we've discovered that we really enjoy HHI a little more than WDW. Now, I am tasked with getting lucky with our AKV points at 7 months, or trying to save up and stalk for another 25-50 points at HHI.

*I know that financing is not a good idea, but let me explain...
...We had a bank account used for our DD's pre-school tuition and we had been putting $25 into it every two weeks for three years. It was a direct deposit from my paycheck so I never even saw it or knew it was "missing". When she started kindergarten, that account was no longer needed. As it turned out, the cost to finance our 50-point HHI contract amounted to $49.08 per month...which was almost exactly the amount we had been depositing into that account for 3 years. I figured since we hadn't even noticed it for that long anyways, we might as well continue to use it as a payment account for the add-on contract. I've made a few extra payments along the way so it will be paid off a little early, but overall, it was a "painless" expense.