The State of Timesharing

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

My take is that the industry is pretending everything is fine and dandy.

Is that about it?

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

I think you're right.....My take is that the industry is suffering. Survival instinct has kicked in, and even the top developers are now trying to reinvent themselves.......Unfortunately, in many cases, that just equates to being sold the same stuff newly packaged, at additional costs, with little to no gain.....Perhaps even paying more, and winding up worse off than you were before.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

My take is that the industry is pretending everything is fine and dandy.

Is that about it?

Sounds like a government run program.

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

Isn't Florida that state?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I swear the sign was not up yesterday, when I started this thread, but coming home today, past our hoyty-toyty gated development/country club/timeshare resort community, where we own three weeks, where folks have paid $15K-$20K per week, the fancy timeshare sign out front now reads, simply:

"Timeshare Weeks: $2000-$6700."

I guess that is making a statement about the State of Timesharing.

[dougrm3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougrm3]

We just returned from our week at our home resort at the outer banks in NC. It has been three years since we have been there. The only internet wireless access is at the club house and a few tables near the sales office.

The sales people were gathered outside smoking and all of the sales tables that are usually full poor “perspective” new owners were empty. In the past they have been full due to aggressive advertising. We saw only a few couples being shown around. There used to be a minimum income to take the “tour.” Didn’t see that listed this time. The cars in the sales parking lot looked like mine (older but paid for 1999 model ). Times have changed.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

I disagree Marriott Corporation must be seeing some grow in the industry for the next five to ten years.

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

We just returned from our week at our home resort at the outer banks in NC. It has been three years since we have been there. The only internet wireless access is at the club house and a few tables near the sales office.

The sales people were gathered outside smoking and all of the sales tables that are usually full poor “perspective” new owners were empty. In the past they have been full due to aggressive advertising. We saw only a few couples being shown around. There used to be a minimum income to take the “tour.” Didn’t see that listed this time. The cars in the sales parking lot looked like mine (older but paid for 1999 model ). Times have changed.

Since only one OBX timeshare is still in developer sales and it is in points, it is apparent that you are talking about BIS-Kitty Hawk.

Some of the homeowner-controlled HOA's on the OBX have installed resort-wide WIFI. The developer still controls the HOA at BIS-Kitty Hawk, and they obviously have not taken that step. Somehow it does not surprise me that this resort has gone from GC to either standard or hospitality. I suspect that in a year or two BIS-Duck, now that it has independent management, with surpass BIS-Kitty Hawk in award status. Then how will RCI explain the higher points for BIS-Kitty Hawk?

If I have some spare time, it might be interesting to look on the Dare County website and compare one month of sales for the same month this year compared to last compared to the year before, both as to numbers of sales and prices.

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

The DRI sales staff at Pohattan were more aggressive than usual and the place was packed with potential buyers. Don't know if anyone took the bait, though. Everyone I talk to is afraid to spend right now, even those who have money.
I think TS companies have their heads in the sand.

[dougrm3 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougrm3]

Hi Carolinian,

I have followed your posts over the years on this forum and on tugs. You always have a good handle on what going on in our family’s favorite place to go (The outer banks). You are right that we are at BIS Kitty Hawk. I saw in one of your earlier post that BIS had declined in rating over the past few years and was a little alarmed. I was always worried that it would head the way of Duck as far as lack of investment and a heavy hand from the developer. The developer has reason to invest and keep the resort looking good when they are trying to sell new units.

We were down few weeks ago and spoke to a fellow owner who has a week at BIS Kitty Hawk and another at BIS Duck. He said there have been some major positive renovations at Duck and he is very pleased. Wish we were under an owner controlled board. I was at the owners meeting several years back to see if there was any indication on the direction our timeshare would be headed. This was right after the tragic death of developer Paul Shaver. Didn't find out much. There were very few owners at the meeting and the developer has a majority of votes due to unsold units. Thus the developer is the board.

We bought our timeshare as a resale and have no regrets. I am just worried about it not being maintained and a lack of owner input. I have been discussing with my wife the possibility of selling it. Resale prices are still above what we paid for our week 27 lockout but that will not be the case if money is not invested back into the resort.

My wife loves the unit and doesn’t want to sell but is willing to look at another one that is on the beach. You have to love exchanges for the opportunity to see what other resorts at the outer bank are like. We are looking at a Golden Strand 3 BR Lockout. The fees looks high right now ($800) and I can only assume that they are under a special assessment. No rush and lots of time to look around and see what the resale market is really like.
Doug

Since only one OBX timeshare is still in developer sales and it is in points, it is apparent that you are talking about BIS-Kitty Hawk.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I disagree Marriott Corporation must be seeing some grow in the industry for the next five to ten years.

A couple from here moved to Marco Island a year ago, so she could sell for Marriott there, and the word is she is doling well. Well would mean over $100K a year.

[macrylinda1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close macrylinda1]

I swear the sign was not up yesterday, when I started this thread, but coming home today, past our hoyty-toyty gated development/country club/timeshare resort community, where we own three weeks, where folks have paid $15K-$20K per week, the fancy timeshare sign out front now reads, simply:

"Timeshare Weeks: $2000-$6700."

I guess that is making a statement about the State of Timesharing.

We just returned from our week at our home resort at the outer banks in NC. It has been three years since we have been there. The only internet wireless access is at the club house and a few tables near the sales office.

The sales people were gathered outside smoking and all of the sales tables that are usually full poor “perspective” new owners were empty. In the past they have been full due to aggressive advertising. We saw only a few couples being shown around. There used to be a minimum income to take the “tour.” Didn’t see that listed this time. The cars in the sales parking lot looked like mine (older but paid for 1999 model ). Times have changed.


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[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We just returned from our week at our home resort at the outer banks in NC. It has been three years since we have been there. The only internet wireless access is at the club house and a few tables near the sales office.

The sales people were gathered outside smoking and all of the sales tables that are usually full poor “perspective” new owners were empty. In the past they have been full due to aggressive advertising. We saw only a few couples being shown around. There used to be a minimum income to take the “tour.” Didn’t see that listed this time. The cars in the sales parking lot looked like mine (older but paid for 1999 model ). Times have changed.


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Welcome to TS4Ms

I swear I've read that same post somewhere else.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

One of our resorts answered my question in a message from the Interval Owners President:

" . . . The lack of traveling public has severely strained (the resort). Although timeshare owners either use or trade their Interval, many Eighth and Quarter share owners rent their ownership in order to recoup a portion of their dues. Many whole owners are also in the business of renting their units. When rents fall below the point of covering a significant portion of the dues, then some owners are in the position of not being able to pay their dues.

"When dues fall, then services must (be) reduced. This leads to a downward spiral in maintenance and enjoyment of (the resort) by owners. The IOA is vigorously collecting dues from those who are delinquent. Unfortunately, in this economy some just can't pay. Some owners have approached the IOA with requests to "take back" their units. The IOA can't do this for several reasons. The loss of dues further reduces our ability to pay our bills. The bills include the requirements to pay the HOA portion of your dues, your property taxes, and insurance on furnishings of the unit. Failure to pay the HOA dues reduces their ability to provide maintenance, snow removal and most importantly utilities. Failure to pay insurance is obviously folly and failure to pay taxes could result in loss of ownership. Unfortunately the ability to sell an older timeshare is almost non existent. The IOA can not afford to place owners in the position of owning something which does not pay dues and we caqnnot sell. . . "
Well, that certainly is a far cry from any of the many sales tours we've been on!!!!

Think maybe a copy of it, or a warning similar to it oughta to be handed to every sales prospect at the point where they are makiing their decision?

BTW, the resort is now offering an exchange program through its management company.