Low MFs

[BigPapa Member Find all posts View Profile Close BigPapa]

What are the resorts you know of with the lowest MFs? I own in Orlando, and I plan to use it quite often. But it would be fun to own a second one that I could use exclusively for trading. But, I don't want to pay a huge MF.

I don't need incredible trading power. Just something that would give me extra options.

BP

[Jim McLaren Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim McLaren]

How about Gatlinburg, TN. One on ebay has a $335 annual maintenance fee.

[Mybobalong Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mybobalong]

Check out https://www.worldwidevacationsclub.com. maintenance fee(1bd $440),good management co.,trades well w/RCI or Trading Places(no membership fee,only exchange fee and you also get a bonus week if you deposit wk w/them).

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

We own a 3 bedroom unit at French Quarter in Branson, MO. Last years MF's were in the $440 range. It is not a lock out unit.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

I have a studio at Sand Pebble in So. Cal with maintenance fees around $290. Summer weeks will pull just about anything.

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

I have a 1BR in WI with maintenance fees of $239. Summer weeks will pull anything in RCI.

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

While it is true that not all timeshare maintenance fees are the same costs, it is also true that they will increase. Increase year after year after year! There are some that run in the high 800s to over a thousand dollars a year! After you add in the going in costs,financing if any,fees for exchange clubs,fees to exchange and the nasty little tool known as " special assessments " along with some places charging for things such as parking and linnen exchange, things add up really fast ! Is it worth it ?

Now,looking ahead. There will come a time when you no longer will want your timeshare. This could be the hardest part. When you see them for "free" or for "one dollar" on ebay,then you know they really are not worth much. Chances are you will settle for far far less than you put into it just to get out. You have to ask yourself, are these things really worth it? Add up ALL the costs then maybe you will see who has really made out big. Answer, the resorts and all the other places that tag along with their hand out asking you for your money for this and that fee.
I just do not think timeshare are all that salesmen make them out to be. They are not for everyone! If you are wealthy, not working, maybe. And, for some owners they know how to " work " it for the max use but that is not your avg. guy. For the regular blue collar hard working guy who gets to vacation every three or four years, NO WAY!

Remember, these are legal binding lifetime contracts. Please please be informed before signing the papers.

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

Massanuten Mountainside Villa (0174) has a maintenance fee of $350. The timeshare board is 100% owners and the fee has not change in the last five years. Trade strength is low average (timex has it listed as a 4 out of 10). Units are 2 bedroom sleeps 8.

Doug

[Jim McLaren Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim McLaren]

Like the OP, I would love to have a second TS. We're waiting to see how we like the one we bought in Hilton Head. If we like it as much as I think we will I will probably get another one just for trading.

Not all timesharing is bad. If you're careful about what you buy, you can do OK. After shopping for a year we bought into a TS on Hilton Head Island for just $1660 after closing. (I know, it was from a pcc, what can I say). The MF is just $498 a year. I expect that to rise but not as fast as the cost of a hotel. Even if it reaches the cost of a hotel, it's a 2 bedroom unit so will be much more relaxing. It's week 27 which 1/2 the time includes July 4th.

I wonder what would happen to the timesharing industry if everybody bought like the members of TS4Ms. Would new resorts dry up or come down in price? Would the marketing model change?

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

We have two timeshares and it has worked for us. One is a summer beach week 27 in North Carolina that we paid $10,000 and the other is Mountainside Villas week 52 that we picked up for $1,000. It works for us because we use them. The beach week is a lock out and we rented one side last summer for $700 which paid for the MF and our vacation.

We were considering picking up a third time share to use for trading but soon realized that it didn’t make sense. We were considering one with very high trading power and started to do the math. We saw a Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort week 25 (I bedroom) with an asking price of $12,500 on redweek. MF $595, RCI dues $90, Exchange fee $165. Dividing the $12,500 into the number of years that we would use it and adding that cost to the total did not make it cost effective when you can rent through redweek for $1400 or less.

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

We have two timeshares and it has worked for us. One is a summer beach week 27 in North Carolina that we paid $10,000 and the other is Mountainside Villas week 52 that we picked up for $1,000. It works for us because we use them. The beach week is a lock out and we rented one side last summer for $700 which paid for the MF and our vacation.

We were considering picking up a third time share to use for trading but soon realized that it didn’t make sense. We were considering one with very high trading power and started to do the math. We saw a Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort week 25 (I bedroom) with a asking price of $12,500 on redweek. MF $595, RCI dues $90, Exchange fee $165. Dividing the $12,500 into the number of years that we would use it and adding that cost to the total did not make it cost effective when you can rent through redweek for $1400 or less.

That's a lot for a trader. I have an Aquamarine Villas in Oceanside, CA High Float and reserve 4th of July or mid-summer. It trades for anything, has MFs less than you quote, and can be had for a third of your figure.