Christmas Mountain Village Questions

[raptor78 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close raptor78]

Evening everyone... Have some CMV questions - hopefully there are some CMV owners here who can weigh in -- I asked Boca, and he had good insights, but suggested posting here so everyone might benefit from the information...

I currently have been doing the Wyndham thing for a while... Not a bad system, but I wanted to branch out a little more and expand my options and see the rest of the TS world without the Wyndham goggles on

I took a shot and grabbed a CMV UDI last week -- now TS 101 says I should have asked before, but heck, we all do stupid things sometimes

I purchased a UDI for week 35, 2B cottage... Paid $295 and maintenance is listed/reported at $890 annually

I am told these UDI's have a guaranteed 3 week per year with additional weeks if I play my cards right on keeping 3 on the books at any given time...

Question 1 - is what I am told above correct, anything else you could share or would care to inject into what I have obtained

Question 2 - Can I reserve a week and use that week with RCI for points or can I only deposit into RCI for weeks?

Question 3 - I have seem some form of "conversion" that ties some BG points to the UDI - Is this true and what would the pros/cons be in addition to estimated costs?

On the subject of points, I was told I can convert 4 weeks into points if I already have a Points account - The only points account I have is what comes with my Wyndham membership -- is this sufficient or do I need something else and can I acquire this?

Are there any guides or online resources on maximizing the CMV opportunity? Do you think the CMV opportunity is overhyped or legitimate?

Appreciate any insights...

Mike

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I took a shot and grabbed a CMV UDI last week -- now TS 101 says I should have asked before, but heck, we all do stupid things sometimes

I purchased a UDI for week 35, 2B cottage... Paid $295 and maintenance is listed/reported at $890 annually

I am told these UDI's have a guaranteed 3 week per year with additional weeks if I play my cards right on keeping 3 on the books at any given time...

Question 1 - is what I am told above correct, anything else you could share or would care to inject into what I have obtained

Question 2 - Can I reserve a week and use that week with RCI for points or can I only deposit into RCI for weeks?

Question 3 - I have seem some form of "conversion" that ties some BG points to the UDI - Is this true and what would the pros/cons be in addition to estimated costs?

On the subject of points, I was told I can convert 4 weeks into points if I already have a Points account - The only points account I have is what comes with my Wyndham membership -- is this sufficient or do I need something else and can I acquire this?

Are there any guides or online resources on maximizing the CMV opportunity? Do you think the CMV opportunity is overhyped or legitimate?

Appreciate any insights...

Mike

Hi Mike,
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to share what I've learned in my short ownership. I too took one from the HOA foreclosures so I'm still learning myself.

Question #1, yes you can have 3 weeks booked at anytime. One red week, and either a white or blue week and a 45 dayer. The 45 dayer can be a red week as well so it's theoretically possible to have two red weeks booked.

Question #2, yes you can do either a deposit to TPU's or to RCI points. You will already need to be an RCI points owner in order to do what is called a points for deposit (pfd) transaction. RCI charges $25 to do this. Many CMV weeks get a very good MaintFee/Points ratio. I've already done one pfd and booked a nice beach vacation with it.

I took on this ownership journey back in July but didn't really get closed and set up til October since Bluegreen was having trouble finding someone to sign off on the deeds.

Question #3. I don't own BG points so will let Boca and Bruce answer that. If you own just a regular UDI it does not come with BG points. There are some blended UDI's that have in lieu of a red week some BG points with the ability to still book white/blue weeks but since I don't own one am not too sure exactly how the BG points aspect works.

As for insight into Maximizing your ownership, you might want to join the BG Yahoo group or the CMV yahoo group. Bruce will let you in with an invite.

I'd be happy to help you with what I've learned with whatever I can. Just shoot me a PM.

As for Wyndham and your CMV, they don't work together except to say that I deposit my CMV weeks into my free Wyndham weeks account. If you are going to do PFD's to RCI points then you will also get a free weeks account once you set up your RCI points account. You can then decide if you want to deposit to your free Wyndham account or to RCI points.

There are some resorts that are easier to get in RCI points and other in TPU's. I like owning both because sometimes it's way cheaper in one system over the other. With CMV you can decide where to deposit for best value.

Also you don't want to ignore other options besides RCI available to CMV owners. I finally got Interval Int'l or II to set up my ownership and I'm pleasantly surprised at how many nice units it pulls in II. I'm talking 2 bedroom Marriotts in Palm beach nice. I'll trade the dells for PB anyday.

Another nice thing about this ownership is that a blue week gets surprisingly alot of TPU's. I recently got 21 TPU's on a blue week deposit to RCI so get out the TPU calculator and get figuring. You don't want to blindly deposit weeks to RCI.

Platinum Interchange and Trading Places Int'l and DAElive also take CMV units and don't have trade power issues so you will pull any 2 bedroom in their systems for just the exchange fee. They are free to join so no reason not to check them out and see if you like any of their offerings.

You could potentially book 20 plus weeks a year for depositing and renting out to subsidize your MF's.

Good luck on your new acquisition and have fun booking.

[raptor78 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close raptor78]

Hi Mike,
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to share what I've learned in my short ownership. I too took one from the HOA foreclosures so I'm still learning myself.

Question #1, yes you can have 3 weeks booked at anytime. One red week, and either a white or blue week and a 45 dayer. The 45 dayer can be a red week as well so it's theoretically possible to have two red weeks booked.

Question #2, yes you can do either a deposit to TPU's or to RCI points. You will already need to be an RCI points owner in order to do what is called a points for deposit (pfd) transaction. RCI charges $25 to do this. Many CMV weeks get a very good MaintFee/Points ratio. I've already done one pfd and booked a nice beach vacation with it.

I took on this ownership journey back in July but didn't really get closed and set up til October since Bluegreen was having trouble finding someone to sign off on the deeds.

Question #3. I don't own BG points so will let Boca and Bruce answer that. If you own just a regular UDI it does not come with BG points. There are some blended UDI's that have in lieu of a red week some BG points with the ability to still book white/blue weeks but since I don't own one am not too sure exactly how the BG points aspect works.

As for insight into Maximizing your ownership, you might want to join the BG Yahoo group or the CMV yahoo group. Bruce will let you in with an invite.

I'd be happy to help you with what I've learned with whatever I can. Just shoot me a PM.

As for Wyndham and your CMV, they don't work together except to say that I deposit my CMV weeks into my free Wyndham weeks account. If you are going to do PFD's to RCI points then you will also get a free weeks account once you set up your RCI points account. You can then decide if you want to deposit to your free Wyndham account or to RCI points.

There are some resorts that are easier to get in RCI points and other in TPU's. I like owning both because sometimes it's way cheaper in one system over the other. With CMV you can decide where to deposit for best value.

Also you don't want to ignore other options besides RCI available to CMV owners. I finally got Interval Int'l or II to set up my ownership and I'm pleasantly surprised at how many nice units it pulls in II. I'm talking 2 bedroom Marriotts in Palm beach nice. I'll trade the dells for PB anyday.

Another nice thing about this ownership is that a blue week gets surprisingly alot of TPU's. I recently got 21 TPU's on a blue week deposit to RCI so get out the TPU calculator and get figuring. You don't want to blindly deposit weeks to RCI.

Platinum Interchange and Trading Places Int'l and DAElive also take CMV units and don't have trade power issues so you will pull any 2 bedroom in their systems for just the exchange fee. They are free to join so no reason not to check them out and see if you like any of their offerings.

You could potentially book 20 plus weeks a year for depositing and renting out to subsidize your MF's.

Good luck on your new acquisition and have fun booking.

Thanks for the confirmations and information -- haven't closed on the first unit and actually wondering about picking up a second unit while they are available -- I have to think after the SA and renovations, the value will only rise again, in terms of demand...

Bruce -- I would greatly appreciate the invite for Yahoo

I just stumbled on the August thread on the other board, great information exchanges on both boards on this...

Bruce/Boca - I am assuming the pure UDI is likely better long-term than trading the Red week in to BG? Any thoughts on that option?

Thanks again

Mike

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Thanks for the confirmations and information -- haven't closed on the first unit and actually wondering about picking up a second unit while they are available -- I have to think after the SA and renovations, the value will only rise again, in terms of demand...

Bruce -- I would greatly appreciate the invite for Yahoo

I just stumbled on the August thread on the other board, great information exchanges on both boards on this...

Bruce/Boca - I am assuming the pure UDI is likely better long-term than trading the Red week in to BG? Any thoughts on that option?

Thanks again

Mike

The SA hasn't been voted on yet but will probably in the neighborhood of 3K.
I think you'll want to learn what you are doing before you take on another unit. You also may want to take one with BG points next time. Take your time, learn what you're doing first. I'm sure it'll be there next year.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

I own two CMV UDIs, and I've been happy with them. Getting maximum value out of them does take some practice, so the advice to wait before getting a second one is probably good. (Having a set number of reservations at one time is quite different than having a certain number of points or weeks per year.)

I feel the "blended UDIs" (the ones that comes with Bluegreen points) are less valuable than the "pure UDIs" (the ones with no points.) The "blended UDIs" can not book red weeks -- they get BG points instead. I think the red week reservations are worth considerably more than 8000 or 900 BG points, since a "pure" UDI owners may be able to get three or more red weeks each year.

[JudyS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JudyS]

I meant to say I feel blended UDIs are worth less than pure UDIs. I went back and corrected my post!

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Are these still being "given away"? I have tossed this around for quite a bit, and am still considering getting one of these. I am quickly learning about reserving weeks, etc and am thinking that there could definitely be some LONG TERM benefits for me to this type of ownership.

Therefore, I have a couple of questions;

1. Once the SA has been completed, does anybody know what the payment options are?

2. After all is said and done, what is the likelihood of getting as many reservations as people are talking about? Getting 7 or 8 ressies out of 1 years MF's seems well and good but will this continue?

3. How will this affect my current points based contracts, if at all?

4. It was mentioned that these are good for TPU with RCI. Not having an RCI membership / property, how would I go about using this for that? Do I just "get a membership" somehow? There are a number of RCI / II resorts nearby and this might be a less expensive way of getting to check some of them out and being able to travel more without going a long distance.

5. What do I have to loose if I wait? Will they all be gone? Will the price go up?

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Are these still being "given away"? I have tossed this around for quite a bit, and am still considering getting one of these. I am quickly learning about reserving weeks, etc and am thinking that there could definitely be some LONG TERM benefits for me to this type of ownership.

Therefore, I have a couple of questions;

1. Once the SA has been completed, does anybody know what the payment options are?

2. After all is said and done, what is the likelihood of getting as many reservations as people are talking about? Getting 7 or 8 ressies out of 1 years MF's seems well and good but will this continue?

3. How will this affect my current points based contracts, if at all?

4. It was mentioned that these are good for TPU with RCI. Not having an RCI membership / property, how would I go about using this for that? Do I just "get a membership" somehow? There are a number of RCI / II resorts nearby and this might be a less expensive way of getting to check some of them out and being able to travel more without going a long distance.

5. What do I have to loose if I wait? Will they all be gone? Will the price go up?

I'll give the answers a shot:

#1 They are holding off on the SA due to the bad economy but it will eventually have to be done. The units are looking quite dumpy although this is probably acceptable as far as a cabin in the woods is concerned. There has been talk of it being over 3 years. So will probably be in the neighbhood of $1000 a year for 3 years but it's definitely not written in stone so is up for other options. There is alot of debate and work being done by the board of directors trying to keep this realistic and fair to all.

#2 I've already been able to get 7 reservations in less than 6 months. I know others who have gotten close to 20. I think it will depend on how willing you are to accept closer in reservations which may result in lower points but more frequent deposits. I'm not sure what would happen if alot of TUGgers took one of these and maxxed them out though. That would definitely affect our reservation opportunities and could possibly affect our TPU's in RCI since more people would be depositing units so it might decrease the TPU's RCI gives to us. I still think it's a great ownership though as it's very flexible in other options in case RCI's goes belly up. II, DAE, PI and TPI are still great alternatives to be explored with this ownership.

#3, I don't believe this affects your other BG points accounts as it's considered separately than a points account unless you convert it to a points contract.

#4. As for trading in RCI, you'd have to open an RCI account unless you get a free weeks account somehow. I would suggest if you don't have one of those like the free Wyndham weeks account that you purchase a cheap RCI points contract at somewhere like Grandview or Vacation Village. You can buy a triennial unit with very cheap MF's which will give you access or RCI points as well as a free RCI weeks account that you could deposit these units into for TPU's.

#5 Not sure what you have to lose by not owning. It's considered by many to be a risky ownership but does seem to have proven itself as a good deal given how flexible the ownership is and the ability to rent out several weeks to offset the MF's. If you rent out just one red week, you can basically pay half or more of you yearly MF's with just one weeks rental.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Know anybody getting rid of one of these? I am using the wrong search terms or they are very difficult to find. I remember GrayFal saying that I should still have access to a weeks account from before BlueGreen went to the crossover grid. I was never able to get that working again and not sure what I would have to do in order to do that. If I could, then I would not NEED another TS which is my real goal.

I know we have done this dance before, but guess I am still confused. Understand the difference between weeks and points, but don't really understand why SOME get access to both and others do not. If I can not grasp that, maybe I will just have to stick with what I have I get that a weeks account will give me TPU, but when looking at sales adds find it VERY difficult to determine which one I will be enrolled in.

I'll give the answers a shot:

#4. As for trading in RCI, you'd have to open an RCI account unless you get a free weeks account somehow. I would suggest if you don't have one of those like the free Wyndham weeks account that you purchase a cheap RCI points contract at somewhere like Grandview or Vacation Village. You can buy a triennial unit with very cheap MF's which will give you access or RCI points as well as a free RCI weeks account that you could deposit these units into for TPU's.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

Know anybody getting rid of one of these? I am using the wrong search terms or they are very difficult to find. I remember GrayFal saying that I should still have access to a weeks account from before BlueGreen went to the crossover grid. I was never able to get that working again and not sure what I would have to do in order to do that. If I could, then I would not NEED another TS which is my real goal.

I know we have done this dance before, but guess I am still confused. Understand the difference between weeks and points, but don't really understand why SOME get access to both and others do not. If I can not grasp that, maybe I will just have to stick with what I have I get that a weeks account will give me TPU, but when looking at sales adds find it VERY difficult to determine which one I will be enrolled in.

As a matter of fact yes, the HOA is still giving these away. They are charging a prorated MF since half the year has already passed plus the closing costs. The ad is on TUG in the bargain section.

The reason some get access to weeks only and points only is because it will depend on the deal that you have with your developer portal. Some developers only allow weeks access with a resale like Wyndham. HGVC does not discriminate against resale buyers so you an access both weeks and points inventory if you own HGVC. DVC discriminates on the resale buyer by not allowing any RCI exchanges period. I'm not sure about BG and the others.

There also may be a bit of confusion because RCI points owners who own at a regular run of the mill TS that has points attached to it can reserve in either points resorts or weeks resorts. There is some inventory added to the RCI points side that is not available to the weeks owners. I guess it's supposed to be a perk of converting to points. At some resorts it's quite noticeable and at others it's neglible. I have had success getting an RCI guide pull inventory from weeks for me when I can't see anything i want online in points inventory. I've not done the reverse so can't say if they'll do it for weeks owners.

Did I confuse you more?

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

We seem to be in similiar situations. We have been mainly Wyndham users and are now looking to dip into something different. Still love my Wyndham points, even if I am not loving the RCI/Wyndham or II/Wyndham trade situation.

CMV intrigued me when we first got into timesharing, but we eventually decided to go with Wyndham. Now I am seriously considering trying one of these ownerships.

We can learn together. We have some pretty awesome teachers. Just got off the phone with Bruce and he was very very helpful. And so are the other posters both here and oy.

Lisa from PA

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

We seem to be in similiar situations. We have been mainly Wyndham users and are now looking to dip into something different. Still love my Wyndham points, even if I am not loving the RCI/Wyndham or II/Wyndham trade situation.

CMV intrigued me when we first got into timesharing, but we eventually decided to go with Wyndham. Now I am seriously considering trying one of these ownerships.

We can learn together. We have some pretty awesome teachers. Just got off the phone with Bruce and he was very very helpful. And so are the other posters both here and oy.

Lisa from PA

It is another great day in Puerto Vallarta. BG did a terrible job on watching exspences on the Cottages. $90,000 for one Cottage for the poor design, workmanship and poor materials was obsence.

Based on my 15 years as being a (retired )licensed state of Wisconsin home improvement contractor the same work could have been done with better workmanship and better materialswith not such a flawed design for about $10,000 to $20,000.

The same thing holds true in regards to terrible cost overruns and design flaws for our UDI Timbers.

IMHO the main reason at CMV the sales guys hate trying to sell against UDI's is that the more that people know about UDI's the less they sell. IMHO that is the main reason why BG's CMV had those irresponsable proposed inflated remodeling amounts posted on the CMV website.

IMHO Steve seems to be a good resort manager but he has no control over the slimey sales tactics at the resort. It is like that at most resorts that IF the sales manager is doing a good volume he will have far more power than the resort manager in most cases.

Sherri and Susan can tell you when I biught these documented present and past construction mistakes the Cottage Board threathen to throw me out of the Cottage HOA meeting.

IMHO this MAY BE the effect of more former Wyndham ex's joining the BG management team. In fact a Wyndham employee was granted between 8 to 11 minutes at each CMV HOA meeting tthat had limited time for elections and talking about any special accessment and alking in favor of the Special accessment. One of the items she talking about and I am not kidding was thar CMV would be able to save money on toilet paper.

She avoided questions about the RCI lawsuit.

Now I am going back on vacation. Bruce

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

See that is why I thought BG had access to the weeks side as well, but oh well.

Yes, you confused me a little more!

Actually, I think based on my reading if I am correct;

Purchasing a week that has not been converted to a points unit will get me access to RCI, and ONLY TPU.

If a purchase a week (which backs the allocated points) that has been converted or upgraded to points then I will be enrolled in the points program and get a free weeks membership as well?

You must all be thinking how dumb is this guy? Why I can not get my ahead around this is beyond me. It seems no matter how many times I go through this there is still some confusion.

I guess where my confusion lies is that TPU happened AFTER points correct? Why are so many more people using it than points?

Long and short, it looks like it is better to a be a points owner, I think!

The reason some get access to weeks only and points only is because it will depend on the deal that you have with your developer portal. Some developers only allow weeks access with a resale like Wyndham. HGVC does not discriminate against resale buyers so you an access both weeks and points inventory if you own HGVC. DVC discriminates on the resale buyer by not allowing any RCI exchanges period. I'm not sure about BG and the others.

There also may be a bit of confusion because RCI points owners who own at a regular run of the mill TS that has points attached to it can reserve in either points resorts or weeks resorts. There is some inventory added to the RCI points side that is not available to the weeks owners. I guess it's supposed to be a perk of converting to points. At some resorts it's quite noticeable and at others it's neglible. I have had success getting an RCI guide pull inventory from weeks for me when I can't see anything i want online in points inventory. I've not done the reverse so can't say if they'll do it for weeks owners.

Did I confuse you more?

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

IMHO based on 11 years of making hundreds of CMV UDI reservations and about 6 years of making BG Points reservations I think you are incorrect that any deeded week that has not been converted to a points unit will get me access to RCI, and ONLY TPU.

With using only the UDI's we have made RCI weeks reservations, RCI Points reservations using , II reservations and reservations with other independent exchange companies. You BG Points expeerts, can BG points be banked in all of just the few exchange areas I have mentioned?

I do not use my BG points attached to my CMV UDI's for any exchanges as they are far more limited to were they can be banked. and IMHO they are not as cost effective.

With the CMV UDI's we get to pick the weeks we want to deposit and were we want to deposit them.

Bruce

See that is why I thought BG had access to the weeks side as well, but oh well.

Yes, you confused me a little more!

Actually, I think based on my reading if I am correct;

Purchasing a week that has not been converted to a points unit will get me access to RCI, and ONLY TPU.

If a purchase a week (which backs the allocated points) that has been converted or upgraded to points then I will be enrolled in the points program and get a free weeks membership as well?

You must all be thinking how dumb is this guy? Why I can not get my ahead around this is beyond me. It seems no matter how many times I go through this there is still some confusion.

I guess where my confusion lies is that TPU happened AFTER points correct? Why are so many more people using it than points?

Long and short, it looks like it is better to a be a points owner, I think!

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

Evening everyone... Have some CMV questions - hopefully there are some CMV owners here who can weigh in -- I asked Boca, and he had good insights, but suggested posting here so everyone might benefit from the information...

I currently have been doing the Wyndham thing for a while... Not a bad system, but I wanted to branch out a little more and expand my options and see the rest of the TS world without the Wyndham goggles on

I took a shot and grabbed a CMV UDI last week -- now TS 101 says I should have asked before, but heck, we all do stupid things sometimes

I purchased a UDI for week 35, 2B cottage... Paid $295 and maintenance is listed/reported at $890 annually

I am told these UDI's have a guaranteed 3 week per year with additional weeks if I play my cards right on keeping 3 on the books at any given time...

Question 1 - is what I am told above correct, anything else you could share or would care to inject into what I have obtained

Question 2 - Can I reserve a week and use that week with RCI for points or can I only deposit into RCI for weeks?

Question 3 - I have seem some form of "conversion" that ties some BG points to the UDI - Is this true and what would the pros/cons be in addition to estimated costs?

On the subject of points, I was told I can convert 4 weeks into points if I already have a Points account - The only points account I have is what comes with my Wyndham membership -- is this sufficient or do I need something else and can I acquire this?

Are there any guides or online resources on maximizing the CMV opportunity? Do you think the CMV opportunity is overhyped or legitimate?

Appreciate any insights...

Mike

Quote"On the subject of points, I was told I can convert 4 weeks into points if I already have a Points account - The only points account I have is what comes with my Wyndham membership -- is this sufficient or do I need something else and can I acquire this?" Unquote

Mike Partly correct. If you have a Cottage UDI which RCI 1115 you can deposit the 4 weeks. The first year with a Cottage UDI I banked about 30 or so weeks into one account with no charge per week.. But that was stopped. But seeing I own both a Cottage and a CMV UDI Timbers which is RCI resort 3662 I could also deposit 4 weeks into the same RCI Poinrs account.

I found out RCI had a "Secrect" rule that limited to 3 RCI Accounts after I had bought a fourth RCI Points resort but was told 3 RCI Points accounts was the limit .

That happened about a little over 2 years ago. Since then I sold of one of my RCI Points resorts and now only have RCI Points account that I have not deposited any UDI weeks in for about 2 years.

The reasons are the gutting out of the RCI Points airfares, Disney Tickets being dropped, extra costs to bank and other bennies being taken away after you have bought to get into the RCI Points program.

Any developer points program can do that to anyone as there is plently of proof on this site of that happening with many developer points programs.

The proof is what points are selling for on ebay compared to buying a developer points program.

Bruce