Is Timeshare right for us?

[bjones9942 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bjones9942]

Right now I wouldn't buy given your requirements. As mentioned, eBay/Craigslist/Redweek/... have weeks for rent. Many of the rentals are below the annual MF's that would be paid if you owned, and renting this way doesn't involve additional fees.

After doing a few rentals, you might want to re-visit buying.

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

I have always been fond of HGVC . . . one of the better systems, maybe worth consideration.

Nah, not if you wanna keep the big bucks in your own pocket, and don't mind shopping around a bit when you wanna vacation.

& even HGVC is available if you shop a bit:

2 bedroom,2 bath condo 4/21-4/28,2012

At what I pay per point for my maintenance fee, it would cost me less than the $1000 that they are asking for the week in that ad.

An example getting great value from HGVC points: Using my points, I could stay a week in a 1BR at Valdoro (Breckenridge, CO) during prime ski season for about $650 in maintenance fees. That is a fantastic deal for a 1BR Breckenridge condo during ski season!

Bottom line, I have saved plenty with my HGVC ownership vs. renting. I bought resale, and the current resale prices have only gone down a bit (about 15-20%) from when I purchased five years ago. A HGVC week keeps its value nicely -- not at all a property that one "cannot get rid of until death do you part".

To the OP: there are plenty of quality timeshares that do retain decent value and that you could sell easily if you decide that timesharing no longer fits your needs. But if you are not sure you want to jump into timesharing, renting for a while is certainly a good plan.

Kurt

[slip Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close slip]

I think timesharing would make a good fit for what you want to do. There are
great deals on rentals but you have to worry about getting scammed and you
have to make sure they handle your reservation correctly. Rental prices are low
but it's because there's a glut of free timeshares out there and there's never
been a better time to get into timesharing.

With owning you can get the best units in the resort with a little planning. You
can get guaranteed views and you can get what you want often times cheaper than rent.
Planning is the key and know what you are buying.

Happy hunting!!

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

At what I pay per point for my maintenance fee, it would cost me less than the $1000 that they are asking for the week in that ad.

Sure, but what about the initial investment and being stuck with the fees when you no longeer want the timeshare?

$1000 is high on craigslist, but that's a great resort, great location, primetime.

Like I said, when things were good, things were good.

As someone else agreed, try renting, even if ya gotta pay a couple more bucks for a few vacations (if you really have to). If you like it when renting, and you wanna get married to it, drop the big bucks then.

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

there's a glut of free timeshares out there

& why is that?

[slip Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close slip]

Because of the economy and people can't afford them, but that doesn't mean
That it's not an opportunity for someone else.

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

Sure, but what about the initial investment and being stuck with the fees when you no longeer want the timeshare?

I could easily sell my HGVC timeshare today for close to what I paid for it five years ago if I no longer wanted it. Not all timeshares are worthless or hard to sell.

$1000 is high on craigslist, but that's a great resort, great location, primetime.

Actually, the first week you posted (end of April) is "Gold" season in HGVC (first step down from the top season), so for HGVC owners, it can be had for ~29% fewer points than prime season. The second week (June) is Silver season: 50% fewer points than prime season.

At what I pay for maintenance fees, the first week would be ~$700, and the second week would be ~$500. And they are asking $1000 for each week. Hmmm...

Go ahead and rent; I'm perfectly happy with my ownership.

Kurt

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

Valience:

Well, you probably got as diverse a response as you could have anticipated on a pro-timeshare forum. You probably realize that it is human nature to defend that which one has an interest in, and expected glowing recommendations to jump in head first.



I think you probably know what the response would be elsewhere, from the general public. Generally speaking, timeshares are expensive, even if you get them for free, the obligation is ongoing, even after you do not wish to have them any more, and very few have any real market value. Many owners are just walking away, leaving those who remain to pay ever-increasing fees.

A google search might provide more balanced, objective information about timeshare ownership.

Unlike 20 years ago, today's timeshare owners should be very committed, very sure that is the way they want to go.

Good luck with your travels.

[slip Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close slip]

After you do a Google search on timesharing you'll probably rather hang yourself
instead of buying a timeshare.

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

Let's see -- if I want an opinion on a specific medical procedure, would I go to the "general public" or go somewhere where medical professionals gather?

The same can be said for timesharing -- the general public will provide a much less-informed opinion, relying on hearsay, etc.

I think it is sad that certain people who have soured on timesharing (because it currently doesn't work for them) try to use scare tactics and spew out such sweeping generalities such as insinuating all timeshares are hard to sell or don't have any value. I am all for sharing one's own experiences, but some people just insist on taking those personal experiences and turning them into uninformed generalizations.

I'm sure that some will still think I am "defending my interests", but if you look at my actual posts, one will note that I gave recommendations for both renting and owning, just sharing my own experiences and correcting misinformation.

Valience: I'm sure you will make a decision that is right for you. Good luck!

Kurt

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

I tried to end this pleasantly, by signing off with the OP, and wishing them the best in whatever their decision might be.

It is one thing to debate sides to an issue. It is another thing to personalize it and to misrepresent what others have said. It's sad when we get off the issues, when nothing is left in our argument than personal insults.

I bet Valience can't wait to get started now, so they can jump into the fray!

What is true is that I, now, represent an aspect of timeshare ownership that all those considering getting involved need to pay attention to, and that the industry needs to give consideration.

Let's all check back in ten years and see how this plays out.

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

Do what you want, but do you want to be married to something that will increase in expense, never in value, and that you cannot get rid of until death do you part?

I spose it is like getting married.

When you're getting married, the last thing you wanna think about is that it will ever end, that you might one day not wanna be married, and how upsetting that would be.

But, then . . .

Maybe timesharing needs pre-nups, so that when you are ready to part company, each of you takes away no more than you came in with.

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

I tried to end this pleasantly, by signing off with the OP, and wishing them the best in whatever their decision might be.

It is one thing to debate sides to an issue. It is another thing to personalize it and to misrepresent what others have said. It's sad when we get off the issues, when nothing is left in our argument than personal insults.

No, you made generalizations, I corrected them.

You tried to give examples of how renting would be cheaper, I corrected that as well.

I'm sorry that ruffled your feathers, but when something is stated that I perceive as misinformation and I have experiences or examples to the contrary, I will just post that information.

I'm sure the OP can see that the truth is not just one-sided.

Kurt

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

No, you made generalizations, I corrected them.

You tried to give examples of how renting would be cheaper, I corrected that as well.

Like I said on the other thread, when I'm having a good day, and need someone to put me in my place, bring me down, or give me a behavior lecture, I can always come here.

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

Like I said on the other thread, when I'm having a good day, and need someone to put me in my place, bring me down, or give me a behavior lecture, I can always come here.

Wow.

Just exposing generalizations and letting the OP know that other people have had a different experiences than you have with timeshares is considered "putting you in your place" or "bringing you down"?

Now if I berated your decision to jump into timesharing or anything like that, I could certainly understand why you are lashing out at me. But simply sharing my experiences, which happen to be different that yours? Really?

Once again: Wow.