Question regarding resales – go with the cheapest resort?

[EpcotMatt]

I’m looking at the concept of purchasing a resale. I noticed the price per point from resort to resort varies a good bit. I’m aware of the 7-month window increasing to an 11-month window for your home resort. But if you don’t plan 11 months ahead normally when making ressies, are there any other reasons to buy into one of the more expensive resorts? I see Vero Beach at approx $70/point. If we don’t actually make ressies until about 6 months away anyway, on the surface it would seem to me that buying the cheapest possible resort would make sense since we can still use those points at any resort with availability? Am I missing something here? Thanks.

 

[browniemtb]

You are correct in you assumption that it really wouldn't matter where you owned if you planned 6 months in advance. The other thing you should consider is maintenance fees...VB has the highest. So in the long run it may cost more to own here than SSR or OKW. Also if you plan on going to WDW during any of the busy DVC times you could have trouble getting on site. More than likely, with waitlist, you will find someplace to stayeventually......If you like to be on site consider OKW resales....they are a good value.

"Buy where you want to stay" - this statement rings very true for the planners......even between the 11 and 7 month mark it hard to get what you want even at your home resort. At least buying where you want to stay gives you a head start.

Good Luck
Brownie

 

[salmoneous]

Things to think about:

1) Maintenance Fees - over the life of your contract you will pay more in MF than in upfront costs. So it's possible a cheaper upfront resort will end up costing more in the long run. And even if it doesn't, the cost differential between two resorts won't be as big (%-wise) as it seems.

2) Spin off - Any of the resorts could be spun off from the others. The risk of this is pretty small. But it's significantly larger for the offsite resorts (HHI & VB) than the others. Personally, this one is a killer for me. HHI and VB are great if you want to stay there. But if you are buying primarily to stay at WDW, I would avoid them.

3) Things change. You don't book more than 6-months out now; that may change in the future. Especially if it becomes harder to book outside your home resort (something I suspect will happen, though it could easily go the other way.)