Current Value of Marriott DSV II

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

Hello all. 1st post!! Came across your site and am ecstatic to have found such a forum as I am pretty much in the dark regarding the "gift" that I have obtained.

First off, this timeshare (Marriott Desert Spring Villa II White) was given to me for zero out of pocket and does not have any outstanding debt, although it has 2009 maintenance fees that were not paid and was not told of prior to transfer.

I called Marriott and was told that 2009 was already taken care of and that all I needed to pay for that last installment of 2009 maintenance fee (not the case). Here is the bill that I have received from Marriott.


2009 Reserve Fee 2010-03-11 $234.02
2010 Reserve Fee 2010-03-11 $269.12
2009 Operating Fee 2010-03-11 $623.63
2010 Operating Fee 2010-03-11 $626.32

After receiving the timeshare and thinking of the short sighted nature of my travels and the ability to travel for over a week in any given trip, (I mostly take weekend trips or long holiday trips) I am beginning to doubt this transaction.

I have been mis-informed quite a few times regarding the nature of timeshares and in my dealings and wanted to speak to those who love and have timeshares. As stated previously, I have a Marriott DSV II white, (uncertain which week I have, can someone please tell me where to find this info) as I would be more aware of my current timeshare position. All I see is that I have an excellent view, and a 2bd and 2ba unit.

Also, to those who currently have Marriott Vacation Club timeshares, where do you mostly exchange your timeshare for another property. I have a honeymoon coming in at the end of May 2010 in Italy, (taking a cruise through the Mediterranean) and would like to exchange my timeshare for a another property prior to cruise departure but am dumbfounded at the task at hand. I understand that Interval has a service, but have heard that the service and ability to fill is hard to accomplish.

Lastly, as I weigh my options of keeping or selling this timeshare, what do you think is a fair market value for this timeshare. Total investment is roughly $2000 if I pay the back Maintenance fee and 2010 fees as well. I would be graciously understanding to hear recommendations and/or comments as I am uncertain of the liabilities of timeshares and their values.

Thank you guys for keeping up a great site.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

There is another item you will need to pay

California Property taxes are not collected or paid by the resort, they were around $65 per year, but I would guess that as the annual fees were delinquent, that the taxes are also and they do add a penalty and interest.

The market value of a white week which is usable around weeks 21-26 and 38-46 today is less than just a year ago, and the 2k+ that you are paying including the 2010 use is still a little below the current value.

There is little to no chance that you will be able to trade all or part of this years week for anything this coming May as in the timeshare world most reservations are made 10-24 months in advance and May is what we call last minute.

Where were you hoping to stay prior to your cruise??

jmho,

Greg

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

California Property taxes are not collected or paid by the resort, they were around $65 per year, but I would guess that as the annual fees were delinquent, that the taxes are also and they do add a penalty and interest.

The market value of a white week which is usable around weeks 21-26 and 38-46 today is less than just a year ago, and the 2k+ that you are paying including the 2010 use is still a little below the current value.

There is little to no chance that you will be able to trade all or part of this years week for anything this coming May as in the timeshare world most reservations are made 10-24 months in advance and May is what we call last minute.

Where were you hoping to stay prior to your cruise??

jmho,

Greg

Thanks Greg for your insight. We were hoping to stay anywhere in Italy. Since we will have arrive roughly 4-5 days prior to our cruise which leaves the port of Venice on the 22nd of May and our flight will be on Sunday the week prior, we were either hoping to stay in Italy or a neighboring country as we would most likely not be coming back to Europe any time soon.

Also, since May is likely not achievable to trade, what would you do in my circumstance? We rarely go to the desert and doubt we would start this year. Also, most of the Marriott vacation Club destinations are more leisurely for our taste as we are more of an urban type, is there a service where we would be able to exchange our resort TS to a normal hotel accommodations?

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

You might want to see about dumping this

Thanks Greg for your insight. We were hoping to stay anywhere in Italy. Since we will have arrive roughly 4-5 days prior to our cruise which leaves the port of Venice on the 22nd of May and our flight will be on Sunday the week prior, we were either hoping to stay in Italy or a neighboring country as we would most likely not be coming back to Europe any time soon.

It doesn't sound like this is going to work for you, any chance you can give it back?
Trading into Hotels isn't something that you can do with a timeshare, the Marriott brand is a close as Hotel Type Travel gets, along with the Westin, Hilton, etc, but they still are condo units without daily maid service, mostly in vacation settings, not big cities.

Also, since May is likely not achievable to trade, what would you do in my circumstance? We rarely go to the desert and doubt we would start this year. Also, most of the Marriott vacation Club destinations are more leisurely for our taste as we are more of an urban type, is there a service where we would be able to exchange our resort TS to a normal hotel accommodations?

I am not saying you can't trade into some urban areas, some of the independent trade companies do have NYC, San Francisco, etc.

They however aren't going to value your White week as a comparable trade for these areas.

You can use either II and take advantage of the Marriott preference, or RCI as this resorts trades with either.

But that still doesn't turn this into hotel stays in urban areas.

I don't see an easy solution to your problem, other than getting rid of it, sorry.

Greg

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

Greg,
I've been seeing hotel inventory lately in the RCI exchanges.
Since this trades with RCI, maybe it's something they could
use.

[HassieRiver Member Find all posts View Profile Close HassieRiver]

johnneybaek,

I have 3 Marriott timeshares and the property taxes are all included in the maintenance fees. The resort would be paying the property taxes and then would be allocated to the individual unit maintenance fees. I think you would have a good chance of getting into Marriotts in May as that is the start of above average availbility season in the California desert. I would call Interval International and dis cuss your options as they have always been very helpful to me.
Don in Auburn, CA.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Hi johnny, welcome to TS forums.

I am a 3 week Marriott owner so might have a different outlook.

Marriott Desert Springs II is a very nice property on the grounds of the JW Marriott Hotel in Palm Desert. Even thought your ownership is white, it still contains some highly desirable weeks.

It is a lock-off unit.
What this means is that u can get two weeks of vacation for your ownership, 14 nights - 7 in a studio unit and 7 in a 1BR unit.
Marriotts currently trade thru Interval International(I believe only DS I trades thru RCI) and as a Marriott owner, you have priority trading thru the exchange company - only Marriott owners can trade into other Marriotts for the first 24 days they are in the system, giving u a big advantage.
www.intervalworld.com and look thru the directory

Take some time looking thru the resorts at the Marriott owner website.
www.my-vacationclub.com

While there are only a few locations that could be considered urban such as Boston Custom House, Grand Château Las Vegas and BeachPlace Towers Fort Lauderdale, Marriott does have some very nice in Spain that can be tied in with hotel stays in Barcelona as well.
You can stay at Marriott Newport Coast and do day trips to Los Angeles or San Diego.

TSing is not for everyone - having the ability to plan trips 9-12 months ahead to get the best selection is not for everyone, but I find the planning and research to be a big part of what makes it fun as well as visiting new places.

Good luck with your decision.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

Then you don't have one of these

The 2 of the DSVII's that we had all required a tax payment to Riverside County, it is true that 90% plus of resorts do collect the tax, this one does not.

Greg

johnneybaek,

I have 3 Marriott timeshares and the property taxes are all included in the maintenance fees. The resort would be paying the property taxes and then would be allocated to the individual unit maintenance fees. I think you would have a good chance of getting into Marriotts in May as that is the start of above average availbility season in the California desert. I would call Interval International and dis cuss your options as they have always been very helpful to me.
Don in Auburn, CA.

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

I just checked Interval using a Marriott week and your dates, and there is availability in Europe in the Canary islands and the Austrian alps. There are independent trading companies such as DAE that are supposed to have a lot of inventory in Europe. Two points: if you sell your ownership soon and include use of 2010, it is customary to negotiate for the purchaser to reimburse you for the 2010 Maintenance fees. Also, one is permitted to reserve a week at a floating resort (which is what you own, a week that floats in the white season) 12 months in advance. They will not allow you to reserve a week until you pay the owed fees. Once you do, I would reserve your week ASAP. Even for trading purposes, you need a specific week assigned. Generally you try to reserve the most popular week in your season, but this year you will have to take whatever is available. If you don't need to travel in prime season I think your Marriott week will trade pretty well in Interval, including to the Marriott in Boston and outside of Paris. There are timeshares in many other cities, including San Antonio, Savannah, NYC, etc.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Taxes in California are always billed by the county- not the resort

The 2 of the DSVII's that we had all required a tax payment to Riverside County, it is true that 90% plus of resorts do collect the tax, this one does not.

Greg

In California, all property taxes are billed by the county directly to the interval owner. This is one of the main reasons I always recommend a title search for California transactions..

It's unfortunately very common for some owners to never even realize they owe outstanding taxes on their interval.. If the resale closing was not done properly, the county may not be notified of the ownership change. Also, in many cases- the seller has moved and not updated the address with the county..

The sellers can be simply unaware as their usage is not impacted (as long as the m. fees themselves are paid!)..

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

Being misinformed is a fault of mine and no other. I was told that you could exchange for hotel rooms but that is not the case.

I do have a few more questions and am thankful that there are such communities who would help out a stranger. The question that I have is that there are 2009 Operating fee and a 2009 replacement reserve and 2010 replacement reserve and 2010 operating fee for a total of $1,753. Are these charges normal and considered the maintenance fees? The problem that I forsee, although I doubt but am now highly suspicious, is that they will keep sending me additional fees that I am unaware of and compounding my "investment".

Also, what is the $10 per week voluntary ARD-ROC PAC contribution? So if I do not want to pay for this, I do not have to?

Finally, through your readings and experience, although you all seem to be very satisfied with your timeshare, how would you go about disposing of such timeshare? I don't want to be compensated heavily, just basically what time and cost that I incurred through my event. Do you think that I would be able to get $1k over the $1753? Does that seem reasonable?

Thanks for all your help guys.. You guys are invaluable.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Voluntary is voluntary and I recommend that you decline to pay it- as it supports developer supported organizations that only do something to help the consumer when it helps themselves.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

Maybe, but I don't think so

Being misinformed is a fault of mine and no other. I was told that you could exchange for hotel rooms but that is not the case.

I do have a few more questions and am thankful that there are such communities who would help out a stranger. The question that I have is that there are 2009 Operating fee and a 2009 replacement reserve and 2010 replacement reserve and 2010 operating fee for a total of $1,753. Are these charges normal and considered the maintenance fees? The problem that I forsee, although I doubt but am now highly suspicious, is that they will keep sending me additional fees that I am unaware of and compounding my "investment".

Yes, these are the normal annual fees.

Also, what is the $10 per week voluntary ARD-ROC PAC contribution? So if I do not want to pay for this, I do not have to?

I don't pay any of these ARDA fees, they support the developer, not the timeshare owners.

Finally, through your readings and experience, although you all seem to be very satisfied with your timeshare, how would you go about disposing of such timeshare? I don't want to be compensated heavily, just basically what time and cost that I incurred through my event. Do you think that I would be able to get $1k over the $1753? Does that seem reasonable?

You will be pretty fortunate to recover you money, you might find someone over the next year or two that wants your white week, but with premium Platinum weeks selling for around 3k, yours is worth about what you paid.

Thanks for all your help guys.. You guys are invaluable.

jmho,

Greg