UY and any Last Minute Suggestion on Direct Buy

[Rileygirl]

Hmmmm, maybe back to the drawing board. (Btw, I wouldn’t have tried to rent it on the dis, but it’s a good reminder).

also, not planning on renting as a way to pay for my points. I just feel more comfortable with the whole renting thing than I did say 8 years ago, and there are many venues to do it safely through. So if I am in a jam, I think I could easily rent those weeks. My opinion. But I could be wrong!

thinking more, thanks for imput
(I hated BLT when I stayed there, won’t buy it even if it’s most practical of the newest. Hate SSR too. Love Poly, but don’t like studio and would NEVER do the bungalow. - just personal feelings, they are not relevant to anyone but me)

 

[Rileygirl]

Ok, contemplating the thought process out loud. I think it’s important to state my intended outcome of what I would like with my DVC points.

what I am attempting to do is take as much of the ‘idiocy’ out of getting points specifically so I can stay a week in a one bedroom preferred view at the RIV in early to mid September.

We all know that is the worse possible use of points. We all know that the RIV has factors that no other DVC property has pertaining to resale making this a daunting task. But at the end of the day, for my vacation, I want to be sitting out on that verandah at the RIV, enjoying the view of the Caribbean Beach Club, and the water view. That is the vacation I want to take if not yearly, then most years. And, I want to be doing it in the fall madness season, specifically for food and wine.

Is this a smart use of points? Nope. But this is the vacation I am trying to achieve. That said, I am not just going to slap down money and get a GW for the first week of September for a one bedroom. I think that is taking double the money and burning it. So let’s say my end goal is to be able to have the vacation I am going for, but lessen the degree of burn.

1. By splitting the points into two separate contracts, it allows me to have smaller contracts, (more marketable) the ability to sell one and keep one, the ability to keep the blue card even if I sell one of those contracts. I have no intention of selling in the next 20 years, but you never know what life throws you.

2. I believe I am going to need the 11 month window even for a one bedroom, eventually, with the way resales are for the RIV- eventually there will be a lot of competition for all room types. Plus, on occasion, I can see the need to be able to get a two bedroom standard view at the RIV, and I am certain that you will need the 11 month window for that. So only RIV points will work.

3. If I need to rent out my points, I feel reasonable sure that I will be able to easily rent out points for the GW studio contracts I think I will get. And, I think I will get best buck for them as one week in a studio at the height of fall madness will sell itself. And, it will require no work on my behalf. I can hold on to those weeks until early summer, and still be able to easily rent them out (I think). So I can make the decision of going or not going at my convenience without worrying about the shelf life of those points.

I think that the GW only makes sense for the RIV, during fall madness for a studio, for any of the resorts that offer them for a studio during Christmas, Easter, and thanksgiving, for CCV during race weeks and the first couple of weeks of December. I don’t think they make sense for a random week at the GFL.

Also, there is always the dual perspective of vacation and investment. I do not believe that the purchase of any DVC property should be viewed as an investment. You are buying the points for your vacation. However, I think it’s prudent to try and protect that DVC purchase if you can, and that is what I am attempting to do. So while my style of using my DVC points is not wise, I hope to make my DVC purchase not incredibly stupid, and for it to function for what I want.
(Caveat - I am sure lots of people purchase DVC for investment and renting, but that’s not me)

Finally, everybody has different goals, and this DVC purchase planning has made me realize that the starting point is figuring out what you want your points for. I understand that how you use points will change over the years, but since there are no grand babies yet, I believe the RIV will suit me admirably for the next five to 10. If addonitis strikes, I will be going for an AKL resale for my sleep around points, and to stay there, I love AKL.

I’m just writing this all out incase it helps someone else, and also, if anyone can poke more holes in my theories. I have to now investigate if those renting firms will rent out GW weeks, I just assumed they would.....

 

[JETSDAD]

I would just mention that a GW isn't going to get you any extra on the rental side. In fact you would be losing versus just renting out the points because the GW's will require 10% more points.

As most of your post stated though, just buy for your personal use. An exit strategy of having smaller contracts makes sense.

 

[princesscinderella]

I would definitely break up your RIV into smaller point contracts. I think 100 points is good just because of the room point charts I think 50 or 75 points is just way to little. That way if you do need to resell later on the restrictions on them won’t matter to someone only wanting a small amount of points to add on for RIV stays. Especially resale buyers of other resorts who are locked out of RIV.
September is an easy month to get reservations for so unless you plan to use the GW I wouldn’t get it, just get three 100 pt contracts.

 

[DVCsloth]

If you will mostly use it for 1 BR I don't think I would bother with a fixed week. Maybe 2 150 point contracts for the incentive and that will give you non restricted points and you should have no trouble getting a 1 BR almost anytime at 11 months. Just my opininion, I don't own there but already stayed there last July and have 7 nights booke later this year. Excellent resort, love almost everything about it.

 

[Sandisw]

Ok, contemplating the thought process out loud. I think it’s important to state my intended outcome of what I would like with my DVC points.

what I am attempting to do is take as much of the ‘idiocy’ out of getting points specifically so I can stay a week in a one bedroom preferred view at the RIV in early to mid September.

We all know that is the worse possible use of points. We all know that the RIV has factors that no other DVC property has pertaining to resale making this a daunting task. But at the end of the day, for my vacation, I want to be sitting out on that verandah at the RIV, enjoying the view of the Caribbean Beach Club, and the water view. That is the vacation I want to take if not yearly, then most years. And, I want to be doing it in the fall madness season, specifically for food and wine.

Is this a smart use of points? Nope. But this is the vacation I am trying to achieve. That said, I am not just going to slap down money and get a GW for the first week of September for a one bedroom. I think that is taking double the money and burning it. So let’s say my end goal is to be able to have the vacation I am going for, but lessen the degree of burn.

1. By splitting the points into two separate contracts, it allows me to have smaller contracts, (more marketable) the ability to sell one and keep one, the ability to keep the blue card even if I sell one of those contracts. I have no intention of selling in the next 20 years, but you never know what life throws you.

2. I believe I am going to need the 11 month window even for a one bedroom, eventually, with the way resales are for the RIV- eventually there will be a lot of competition for all room types. Plus, on occasion, I can see the need to be able to get a two bedroom standard view at the RIV, and I am certain that you will need the 11 month window for that. So only RIV points will work.

3. If I need to rent out my points, I feel reasonable sure that I will be able to easily rent out points for the GW studio contracts I think I will get. And, I think I will get best buck for them as one week in a studio at the height of fall madness will sell itself. And, it will require no work on my behalf. I can hold on to those weeks until early summer, and still be able to easily rent them out (I think). So I can make the decision of going or not going at my convenience without worrying about the shelf life of those points.

I think that the GW only makes sense for the RIV, during fall madness for a studio, for any of the resorts that offer them for a studio during Christmas, Easter, and thanksgiving, for CCV during race weeks and the first couple of weeks of December. I don’t think they make sense for a random week at the GFL.

Also, there is always the dual perspective of vacation and investment. I do not believe that the purchase of any DVC property should be viewed as an investment. You are buying the points for your vacation. However, I think it’s prudent to try and protect that DVC purchase if you can, and that is what I am attempting to do. So while my style of using my DVC points is not wise, I hope to make my DVC purchase not incredibly stupid, and for it to function for what I want.
(Caveat - I am sure lots of people purchase DVC for investment and renting, but that’s not me)

Finally, everybody has different goals, and this DVC purchase planning has made me realize that the starting point is figuring out what you want your points for. I understand that how you use points will change over the years, but since there are no grand babies yet, I believe the RIV will suit me admirably for the next five to 10. If addonitis strikes, I will be going for an AKL resale for my sleep around points, and to stay there, I love AKL.

I’m just writing this all out incase it helps someone else, and also, if anyone can poke more holes in my theories. I have to now investigate if those renting firms will rent out GW weeks, I just assumed they would.....

Just be sure that at least one of the contracts is 125, since that is the minimum for the blue card. You must always maintain that with the current contracts,

If you sell and go below the minimum that was in place when you bought, you would lose the blue card and now be required to meet whatever nee minimum is in place.

I completely agree that you must make DVC match what you want out of it and even though it may not be the same plan as others, it’s too much money not to get the resort you know you want!

I own RIV and love it. I sat by the water edge, looking at CBR, and enjoying a nice adult beverage, and it was a great, relaxing time!

 

[Rileygirl]

First off, Vulnox, I apologize greatly for hijacking your thread! But the similarities of us both wanting one bedrooms at RIV and contemplating fixed weeks got me going down this road. I am not sure if it’s helping you to decide regarding a fixed week or not.

Thank you for everyone’s input regarding the RIV and the fixed week. This is what my takeaway has been.
1. Can’t rent fixed weeks on the dis (did not know that, I figured if it was a fixed week it would be kosher!)
2. Renting out fixed weeks might not get you best bang for your buck, you would lose the 10% points add on your GW as they would not be calculated in the rental cost.
3. Most people think that I don’t need to own at the RIV in order to get that one bedroom booking for my time of travel- something I suspected- but will that always be the case? I still worry with hostage resale RIV owners that this might not be the case in ten years?
4. I am pretty positive I would need to own at RIV to get the two bedroom standard view, the seven month window would not be enough. But how often would I need that? And if not often, perhaps buying elsewhere could be an option, if it was direct. (I know I am not going to do that though, cause the heart wants the RIV - just throwing it out there)
5. This is the big one- I realize that my desire to have a fixed week is only for the possibility of renting points, and I don’t actually plan to do that a lot. If renting a fixed week is not going to return good value compared to open points, AND it’s going to be a little more difficult to rent them as I can’t use the forum I’m comfortable with to do it myself (I guess I would have to broker them?) maybe two 150 contracts is the wiser way to go.

anyways, thank you vets for your perspectives, it helps a lot!

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

First off, Vulnox, I apologize greatly for hijacking your thread! But the similarities of us both wanting one bedrooms at RIV and contemplating fixed weeks got me going down this road. I am not sure if it’s helping you to decide regarding a fixed week or not.

Thank you for everyone’s input regarding the RIV and the fixed week. This is what my takeaway has been.
1. Can’t rent fixed weeks on the dis (did not know that, I figured if it was a fixed week it would be kosher!)
2. Renting out fixed weeks might not get you best bang for your buck, you would lose the 10% points add on your GW as they would not be calculated in the rental cost.
3. Most people think that I don’t need to own at the RIV in order to get that one bedroom booking for my time of travel- something I suspected- but will that always be the case? I still worry with hostage resale RIV owners that this might not be the case in ten years?
4. I am pretty positive I would need to own at RIV to get the two bedroom standard view, the seven month window would not be enough. But how often would I need that? And if not often, perhaps buying elsewhere could be an option, if it was direct. (I know I am not going to do that though, cause the heart wants the RIV - just throwing it out there)
5. This is the big one- I realize that my desire to have a fixed week is only for the possibility of renting points, and I don’t actually plan to do that a lot. If renting a fixed week is not going to return good value compared to open points, AND it’s going to be a little more difficult to rent them as I can’t use the forum I’m comfortable with to do it myself (I guess I would have to broker them?) maybe two 150 contracts is the wiser way to go.

anyways, thank you vets for your perspectives, it helps a lot!

Be aware that if you break up the contracts into less than 125 points they won’t carry the direct benefits should you pass them on to children or others.

 

[Sandisw]

Be aware that if you break up the contracts into less than 125 points they won’t carry the direct benefits should you pass them on to children or others.

If all the contracts that make up the 125 are given via gratuitous transfer, the blue card benefits will indeed transfer.

I would only be an issue if some, not all, were done.

 

[ElizabethG]

We are targeting 175 points, were looking at 200, but it seems we can accomplish our goals with 175.

Sorry for leaving critical details like that out, more info is our plan is to do 1 bedrooms most visits, with 2 bedrooms when we have enough carryover unused points. My wife estimated that if point charts remain somewhat similar for our time period, like don't double or whatever per night, we would do a 1 bedroom in 2021, 2 bedroom 2022, 1 bedroom 2023, etc.

So, are you talking about going for less than a week? How long is your target vacation. A week in a RIV 1 bdrm in the cheapest season (Sep 1-19) is 220 points. In Nov it is 283. It would not take many days in a 1 bdrm to use 175 points.

 

[Lorana]

2. Renting out fixed weeks might not get you best bang for your buck, you would lose the 10% points add on your GW as they would not be calculated in the rental cost.

Chiming in late, but that's not necessarily going to remain true, depending on when you pick your GWs.

In 2022, Oct 1-Nov 22 (which generally correspond to Weeks 40-46) cost 130 points at Riviera in a Standard Studio for a Week. But Guaranteed Weeks 40-46 all cost 130 points to purchase. Thus, there's no 10% premium anymore due to changing points charts! Further, if you suspect that Fall Point Charts will continue to increase, then your GW will end up being cheaper, which will make it easier to rent that week.

(And now I'm even sadder I didn't buy a RIV guaranteed week...)

I own three GWs at CCV and each cost 118 points (that's including the premium), and two of those weeks - 44 and 47 - are now cheaper point-wise than the cost to book those weeks in 2022 (121 and 126 points, respectively).

 

[eandt]

Chiming in late, but that's not necessarily going to remain true, depending on when you pick your GWs.

In 2022, Oct 1-Nov 22 (which generally correspond to Weeks 40-46) cost 130 points at Riviera in a Standard Studio for a Week. But Guaranteed Weeks 40-46 all cost 130 points to purchase. Thus, there's no 10% premium anymore due to changing points charts! Further, if you suspect that Fall Point Charts will continue to increase, then your GW will end up being cheaper, which will make it easier to rent that week.

(And now I'm even sadder I didn't buy a RIV guaranteed week...)

I own three GWs at CCV and each cost 118 points (that's including the premium), and two of those weeks - 44 and 47 - are now cheaper point-wise than the cost to book those weeks in 2022 (121 and 126 points, respectively).

That is interesting information. What happens if you don't want to go during your GW? What are the options?

 

[Sandisw]

That is interesting information. What happens if you don't want to go during your GW? What are the options?

You can cancel the FW and then the points you bought are free to use as any other points. You get the total including the premium. But it’s all or nothing. You can not cancel any part of it.

If you don’t want to travel at all you can bank those points.

However, the next year, you can not use banked points toward the booking of the FW. The current points must be used first.

There is information on the specific in the Home Resort Rules abs Regulations.

 

[Lorana]

That is interesting information. What happens if you don't want to go during your GW? What are the options?

The easiest is to cancel the week and get the points back, to use at another time. That is partly why we did the GW, so that we could have the week when we wanted it in a particular year, and then cancel it and use the points for other trips in years we didn't want to go during our GW (and the GWs we have are popular weeks, hence the reason to get the GW - protects us if point charts increase, but also makes it so we don't have the anxiety of trying to get a studio for those weeks).

You could also rent it out (though not on DisBoards), if you didn't need the points that year.

As Sandisw noted, your only option is to cancel. You can't reduce it to less than a week, unless there is availability still when you cancel it.