Resale - I'm a newbie. LOTS of Questions!

[pal6860]

Hello all.

I'm new to this forum, so please excuse me if I'm redundant. I've decided to purchase a DVC membership at the new Saratoga Springs (just got back from my DVC tour and loved it). I already own through Hyatt, and am very familiar with the cost/benefits and feel that Disney is right for my family.

Now comes the real stuff. Money and cost. I understand that resale is cheaper. My questions:

1) If I do resale, am I treated differently by DVC in ANY way? With marriott for example I believe you lose some trading privileges. Are there any differences whatsoever? Trading ability with interval international, ability to bank/borrow points, maintenance fees, discounts on tickets, etc.

2) Besides cost, what are the pros and cons of buying through resale vs. through DVC direct?

3) What brokers or internet sites would you recommend as being reputable and have high integrity?

4) Which property should I buy into? I prefer newer, more "luxurious" (I realize they may all be pretty much the same), with a nicer pool complex for the kids, and on site at WDW. I also want 270 points. Currently DVC is offering me $79/point with Saratoga Springs if I buy by Wednesday.

5) Are maintenance fees for 270 points the same at all DVC properties? Currently the fees at Saratoga is about $1026/yr or $3.80/point.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[crisi]

1) If I do resale, am I treated differently by DVC in ANY way? With marriott for example I believe you lose some trading privileges. Are there any differences whatsoever? Trading ability with interval international, ability to bank/borrow points, maintenance fees, discounts on tickets, etc.

No. Resale owners are treated the same - except you won't get a lithograph or a backpack when you close (or whatever they are handing out now)

2) Besides cost, what are the pros and cons of buying through resale vs. through DVC direct?

Pro's of buying resale....cost (sometimes), availability of sold out resorts.

Con's...Less options on financing. Disney will let you make ressies when they get your downpayment, resale you will have to wait several days after you close. Sometimes the timeline for a resale can drag. Risk of Right of First Refusal (Disney may elect to buy the contract themselves - particularly if the price is very attractive).

3) What brokers or internet sites would you recommend as being reputable and have high integrity?

We bought from Jaki at www.atimeshare.com

4) Which property should I buy into? I prefer newer, more "luxurious" (I realize they may all be pretty much the same), with a nicer pool complex for the kids, and on site at WDW. I also want 270 points. Currently DVC is offering me $79/point with Saratoga Springs if I buy by Wednesday.

I think BWV is the most "elegant" of the current DVC resorts - but YMMV. BCV is regarded as having the best pool. Your other WDW options are OKW (oldest, but well maintained large condo style units - not hotelish), VWL (close to MK, Wilderness themed), and SSR.


5) Are maintenance fees for 270 points the same at all DVC properties? Currently the fees at Saratoga is about $1026/yr or $3.80/point.

Maintenance varies by home resort, but is generally around $4 a point. I wouldn't recommend making a decision based on who has the cheapest dues, as that may change over the life of the contract.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you are thinking resale, I would reccomend that you visit all the on-site DVC properties to know where you want to stay most. This im important because you will have home resort priveledges for booking at the 11 month window, so know where you want to be if you can' t reserve at 7 months out. Most here will give you all kinds of pros and cons about each resort, but remember that they are talking about THEIR preferences, and I suspect we all love our own resort most, or we wouldn't own there! For that reason, you will want to see and weigh each for yourselves. DVC will be happy to show you all the properties if you want, or you can do it on your own. Each one has a sales person in the lobby, and they should be able to arrange for you to see at least one unit.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by pal6860
Hello all.

I'm new to this forum, so please excuse me if I'm redundant. I've decided to purchase a DVC membership at the new Saratoga Springs (just got back from my DVC tour and loved it). I already own through Hyatt, and am very familiar with the cost/benefits and feel that Disney is right for my family.

Now comes the real stuff. Money and cost. I understand that resale is cheaper. My questions:

1) If I do resale, am I treated differently by DVC in ANY way? With marriott for example I believe you lose some trading privileges. Are there any differences whatsoever? Trading ability with interval international, ability to bank/borrow points, maintenance fees, discounts on tickets, etc.

2) Besides cost, what are the pros and cons of buying through resale vs. through DVC direct?

3) What brokers or internet sites would you recommend as being reputable and have high integrity?

4) Which property should I buy into? I prefer newer, more "luxurious" (I realize they may all be pretty much the same), with a nicer pool complex for the kids, and on site at WDW. I also want 270 points. Currently DVC is offering me $79/point with Saratoga Springs if I buy by Wednesday.

5) Are maintenance fees for 270 points the same at all DVC properties? Currently the fees at Saratoga is about $1026/yr or $3.80/point.

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Hi pal6860, and WELCOME to the DIS Boards!
I will try to help with your Q's...

1) Absolutely, positively, no different.

2) CONS- You pay for closing costs (included in price when purchasing through Disney). You also are stuck with the selection of contracts that are on the market (use year, and number of points). The contract will have to go through right of first refusal. Disney may opt to buy it back, then you must start all over again.
PROS- You may save some money (but probably not tons).

I should mention that you also have a financing option (although not the greatest) when purchasing through Disney.
You also get a neat little gift, and a lithograph of your resort, although that is generally not enough to sway you from buying resale.

3) The sponsor of this board, The Timeshare Store, is often recommended. There are others that also have a good reputation.

4) As far as luxury, they are all about the same. It really depends on what location you like, and most important to me is the theme of the resort.
Saratoga Springs (SSR), Old Key West (OKW), and Boardwalk Villas (BWV), are the on-site properties that have 3 bedroom grand villas if that is important to you.
It should be noted that SSR comes with a full 50 year contract, and the others expire in year 2042.

5) Maintenance fees vary from resort to resort. I don't have the list handy, but SSR is one of the least expensive.

Good luck, and feel free to ask more questions...

MG

PS- WOW! when I started typing there were no other responses! I thought I was getting the hang of this two finger typing thing. It was only a month ago that I was using one finger!!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

PS- WOW! when I started typing there were no other responses! I thought I was getting the hang of this two finger typing thing. It was only a month ago that I was using one finger!!!

LOL! Soon you will be useing all ten like the rest of us!

 

[chrissyk]

We bought our BWV contract via resale (we used Jaki and she was wonderful!). We bought our Vero contract directly from Disney, due to the incentives being offered at the time. We did save a lot by buying BWV via resale. A big plus for us was that we could get Boardwalk as our home resort. We had to buy resale to do this. I like having the 11-month window at Boardwalk.

Our resale went smoothly, and I'm very glad that we went that route for our bigger contract. Our Disney contract went smoothly as well, but it was only 50 points and they were really offering good incentives to buy into Vero when we did it. I'd personally recommend going resale...I think that it can save you quite a bit!

 

[stacy6552]

I disagree about the BWV being the most elegant. Form your own opinion by going over to allearsnet.com. They have the best photo gallery of the resorts.

If you loved SSR then I would buy it. There are some SSR resales listed but at this point I cant imagine how that is anythng but a logistical nightmare, because none of the ssr owners have closed. only buy resale if there is another resort you want to own at. Buying resale can be fustrating and time consuming. There are also the additional costs of closing and prorated dues.

 

[Richyams]

LOL! Soon you will be useing all ten like the rest of us!

I've been posting on this site forseven or eight year, I use four or five fingers at best.

OKW is really the only choice, lowest dues, lowest points per night and the largest rooms. You can park in front of your unit, it really is a little bit of heaven on Earth.

 

[pal6860]

Wow!!! You guys and gals are great! Thanks for the wonderful info.

I've been a part of many different travel message boards, but I must admit this one is pretty impressive.

Anyways, I'm sold on the resale option. Now I've got to do the shopping.

Thanks again!