Resale questions

[jd99]

I have two questions. I think I already know the answer to the first, but wanna hear from the experts.

1. We are contemplating buying SSR. And while we think it's going to be a great resort, i suspect we are going to want to stay at BCV and VWL more often due to being able to boat/walk to at least one resort. Is it impossible to book at a non-home resort at non-busy times (mid Oct - early Nov. or early Dec after T'giving?) If that's the case, I think we need to do a resale of BCV or VWL to ensure that we can always get what we want.

2. WHat are the typical closing costs for a resale? Does it vary by number of points? If so, what if we were buying 200 points at BCV or VWL?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Beca]

Typical closing costs run about $500, no matter how many points you buy (a lot of that is just standard "fees").

I don't know about how hard it is to book, as we are new. However, I am hearing that April, Oct/Nov., and Dec. are hard to book 7 mo. out at BCV, and Dec. is extremely hard to book 7 mo out at VWL.

However...here's some food for thought (JMHO). As DVC adds new members (at SSR, or other as yet unnamed resorts), chances are, none will be closer to Epcot/MGM than BCV and BWV. I read on these boards a significant number of people who bought at SSR, but "want to stay at all resorts". My personal feeling is that as DVC grows in numbers, the "prime location" resorts will just become harder and harder to book. What may be easy to book now, may become really tough in 5-10 yrs. I'm not saying they are "better" than SSR, ...it is just a matter of doing the "numbers".

I have heard it SOOO many times....and now I am going to say it, "Buy Where you want to stay." If DVC took away the trading priviledge (which I doubt they will), or if DVC became SO big that getting into certain "non-home" resorts became difficult, would you be happy at SSR, or would you think, "We should've bought at.....". Also, do you travel at any of the "busy times" I listed above? If so, that's a no-brainer...buy there now!!

It is a awful lot of money to not be "thrilled" with your purchase!!

Good luck in whatever you decide,
Beca

 

[tjkraz]

With regard to your first question, you're going to get a lot of conflicting points of view. Personally, I think that if you call at the 7 month window and can't get a room right then, you will have a pretty good shot of a waitlist request coming through before your trip dates arrive.

That said, here are some of the variables that you really can quantify:

1. Barring any expansion, the number of rooms at VWL and BCV will NOT change. As the years go by, we can only expect it to get more difficult to book some non-home resorts as there are more DVC owners vying for the same block of rooms at 7 months.

2. If you "buy where you want to stay", you get the 11 month window and it's a non-issue.

On the flip side, a contract at SSR will give you 12 extra years to enjoy your vacations. If you look at SSR and genuinely feel that every stay at SSR would be a disappointment, then by all means do not purchase there. But if the longer contract is of some value to your family and you're willing to spend some trips at SSR and other trips elsewhere, then SSR may be right for you.

Tough decision, but one that could come back to haunt you later.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Answers:

First of all, the great Mantra of this board is:
Buy where you want to stay!
You will have 11 month reservation priority there and only there; otherwise you have to rely on the 7 month window with everyone who is already a DVC Member along with all the new folks buying SSR. So if you want to stay at BWV during the Epcot Food & Wine fest or the Flower & Garden fest, don't think you have a chance at a BW View or cheap Std View, bcs all of us existing BWV owners will have already reserved them at 7-11 months.

As for resale closing costs, you should plan on $500, but could be less (not much less, but it could be).

Nevertheless, SSR looks like a beautiful resort, and I look forward to staying there at some point (freeing up a little piece of BWV for other folks).

Good luck!

 

[Dean]

There's no reason the closing must be $400 or more, you should be able to get it done for $250. YOu will have to pay the $100 transfer extra in either case or negotiate for the seller to pay it. If you k you'll like SSR and will stay there part of the time, you fine. You can always reserve your home resort at the 11 month window then at 7 months try to change to other resorts. Sometimes it'll work, others it might not. Still, over time you should be able to hit your favorite resort much of the time. Those set on one resort most of the time should buy there no matter if it's a little more or the lenth of RTU is less.