As noted, you may not have much options for a smaller contract. You'll likely pay more per point for a stripped AKV 50 pt contract than a larger non stripped one. The closing costs will also eat away at your savings. That size contract can easily cost you $10-20 pp more than a larger one. Still, if it's what you need, it still may be the best option going. It's easy to adjust the price for points availability. I'd take a much different, more short term approach to adjust the value between different contracts that VTNuke. I'd simply look at it as if you were renting out those points what would the value be, what are the dues that are applicable, and what is the Use Year.
For example lets compare a stripped June 50 pt contract to a non stripped one. Assume $10 pp for this years points and adjust as applicable for the dues involved and if there's any difference in closing costs, etc. In this simple example, there is a roughly $250 value difference between the 2 contracts due to the fact you didn't get the points but also didn't have to pay dues.
NOTE: The major
DVC resellers charge dues DIFFERENTLY than what DVC does. DVC uses a Calendar year approach while the resellers take the stance that you get the points you pay the dues. Assuming the same approach to both above contracts, it doesn't affect your calculations comparing but does affect your value overall. In this case with either contract you'd lose a value of around $2.50 pp on either contract bought resale.
You can do the same basic adjustment as above for different UY. Just take the value of the number of points, divide by 12 then multiple by the number of months that overall. For example, a June UY with no points this year would have a value of about $125 more than a Dec UY also with no points.
To put it together using a June UY with all 50 points and a Dec UY with no points resale, here's how I'd look at it.
June UY all 50 points
Purchase $80 pp = $4000
Closing - $300
Value of this years points - $500
Cost of this years dues $250
lost value based on incorrect dues calculations - about $125
Total cost - extra value plus overcharged on dues = $4175
Dec UY - no points
Purchase $80 pp = $4000
Closing - $300
Value of this years points - $0
Cost of this years dues $0
lost value based on incorrect dues calculations - about $250 (11 months of dues for 2011)
Total cost - plus overcharged on dues = $4550
Thus given this example, I'd put a difference in value of around $325 between the 2. That's about $6.50 a point difference. However, that same contract is not available through DVC to new members and if it were, the price would be about $6000 with closing though you'd generally get this years points that are bankable plus all of next years points and you'd pay a prorated dues amount. That'd make the effective cost more in the $5400 range for 50 points. If one can go up to the minimum which at times at AKV has been 100, you might be able to get a reduced price on a pp basis but that's true to a degree both resale and retail.
IF you can find a private seller you might be able to cut the costs on closing somewhat depending on specifics. If you could get your friends to do an add on then sell it to you, you could do the transfer yourself for under $50 but you'd have to do a little work but you would likely end up with more points and less dues overall.
As noted, pickings may be slim to you might be just as happy getting a UY that works for you, considering what is a "fair" price and moving on. Good luck in your decisions.
