Wanting to Buy Bluegreen

[justamom2six Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close justamom2six]

Hi All - I'm so excited about finding this forum! My husband and I have owned at Wyndham for the past 6 years (purchased resale); however, they have drastically changed the game rules and we are getting less, and less out of our timeshare (we have been exchanging thru RCI and getting 3 weeks for our 1 property - as of January 1, we only get 1 week)! SO, we are now seriously considering purchasing Bluegreen. Here are some of our reasons:

1) We understand that if we are charter members, we will be able to do ALL of our exchanges through Bluegreen. This will eliminate our RCI fees, which have gone up dramatically, every year for the past several years. We want to be able to deposit our Wyndham property WITH Bluegreen, using the AIM program.

2) We like the idea of inexpensive Bonus weeks (unlimited?) with Bluegreen.

3) We vacation 8 - 10 weeks a year. Always using a resort. Half the time we need a unit that will house 8 people. We like the option of using the points Sunday - Thursday, at a discount and then paying (with membership benefits) on $49 - $89 a night for any additional nights (if needed).

I would really appreciate ANY advice. Where should we look for an "authorized" seller, so that our points will have the benefits of a Charter member? Are there any other options to get these benefits by purchasing resale? How many points would you suggest given the unit size we might need? What would you suggest I consider?

Again, thank you for your time and any tips/suggestions/comments. My husband, six children and I appreciate it greatly!

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

1) We want to be able to deposit our Wyndham property WITH Bluegreen, using the AIM program.

3) We vacation 8 - 10 weeks a year. Always using a resort. Half the time we need a unit that will house 8 people. We like the option of using the points Sunday - Thursday, at a discount and then paying (with membership benefits) on $49 - $89 a night for any additional nights (if needed).

4) Where should we look for an "authorized" seller, so that our points will have the benefits of a Charter member? Are there any other options to get these benefits by purchasing resale?

5) How many points would you suggest given the unit size we might need? What would you suggest I consider?

1) The AIM fee is now $99 per week deposited. You can only AIM as many points as you purchase from BG. I do not know if you buy from Pinnacle if you can use the AIM program. Don't forget that there is an annual Club Fee.

3) Of course, when Bonus Time becomes available, the weekends might be all filled up or you may have to switch units.

4) The only authorized seller is Pinnacle. However, Bocabum is a referral agent for Pinnacle and a great guy to work with.

5) It depends on the type of resort and season when you want to vacation.

Join the BG Yahoo group for additional input.

Charles

[justamom2six Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close justamom2six]

Thanks for your suggestions Charles.

We do travel off season.

Also, (of course!) the salesman told us there WASN'T a fee to do exchanges with the AIM program! Over the years, we have done enough timeshare tours and owner updates to know that he salesmen are often WRONG about the info they give.

That is why I greatly value the experience and knowledge of owners that know and use the system!

I have already requested membership to the Yahoo group, but I do appreciate your suggestion that I join.

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

5) It depends on the type of resort and season when you want to vacation.

Check the

Sticky: Bluegreen Point Charts (Multi-page thread 1 2)

Forum above. That will provide you with the information you need to decide on how many points to acquire to the season, number of days, and resorts you are interested in.

Charles

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

Bluegreen sets up an RCI account for you. Exchanges are done thru RCI. You cannot deposit a Bluegreen points reservation into RCI any more - now you do an instant exchange with the BG points up to 2 years into the future. I don't know what happens if you have to cancel an exchange done thru RCI in this fashion.

But, once the RCI account is set up you can deposit other weeks that you own into it.

Some of the other exchange companies will take BG reservations as deposits into their system for some of the BG resorts.

3) We vacation 8 - 10 weeks a year. Always using a resort. Half the time we need a unit that will house 8 people. We like the option of using the points Sunday - Thursday, at a discount and then paying (with membership benefits) on $49 - $89 a night for any additional nights (if needed).

This scenario can be tough. If you reserve Sun-Thurs with points, then wait for the bonus nights window to reserve bonus nights there may not be availability. Conversely if you reserve all nights with points, then when the bonus nights window gets here you change the reservation, my understanding is the entire reservation must be cancelled then re-reserved. The nights dropped could get scooped up by someone else before your agent can get them for bonus nights. So there's no guarantee you can get bonus nights.

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

Hi All - I'm so excited about finding this forum! I would really appreciate ANY advice.

Keep in mind that regardless of how excited you are about any program today, history tells us that will likely change.

You will too. Some day you will likely not want it at all.

Take a look at what happens then. Will you have to keep forking over money for something you no longer want or use? Will you be threatened with litigation if you don't continue paying?

Also, see if there are other, less-expensive ways to get essentially the same thing . . . craiglist or other sources on the Internet, that require no investment and no on-going committment.

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

Keep in mind that regardless of how excited you are about any program today, history tells us that will likely change.

You will too. Some day you will likely not want it at all.

Great. That means that the current bottoming out of the resale timeshare market will also change and prices will go back up. And that the bargains on Craigslist rentals, etc., will go away.

And history also tells us that some people will buy at the right time (the lowest of the low) and some will wait and have to buy when the resale and rental bargains are gone.

Charles

[Tom in GA Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tom in GA]

TS Going Up in the Future ???

Charles,

I believe...and so do many others....that real estate will be in the tank for the next 7-10 years. Since regular real estate is declining, the TS market will continue to be in the dumps. You are right that this is a great time to buy more TS if you can afford the maintenance fees (we did add more BG points last year for vey little $$). The only concern is that owners will stop paying the maintenace fees causing the resort properties to decline.

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

I have sent you a private message. My parents have a 16000 points timeshare with BG they are looking to sale at quiet a discount. I have given great detail in the private message.

Thanks
Amy

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

Great. That means that the current bottoming out of the resale timeshare market will also change and prices will go back up. And that the bargains on Craigslist rentals, etc., will go away.

And history also tells us that some people will buy at the right time (the lowest of the low) and some will wait and have to buy when the resale and rental bargains are gone.

Charles

On a timeshare forum, I expected at least one reply of this nature, probably from someone wanting to justify their expenditures.

I was be disappointed not to have one sooner.

I feel I would be remiss not to caution the OP that she/they, and timesharing, will change over time, something most of us stuck with timeshares did not consider. It's just another aspect that those considering comitting themselves to ongoing fees should consider, that even after their need or desire for a timeshare ends, their obligation to pay will not.

No, no one in their right mind sees the market value of timeshares or the competitive nature of the Internet changing in future.

But, it could be that you are the only one who is right; would you consider backing up your optimism by purchasing weeks we own?

Have a nice day. 75 here.

Oh yeah, fine stuff you are smoking.

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

The only concern is that owners will stop paying the maintenace fees causing the resort properties to decline.

Not a concern . . . it's already a reality.

Many, including myself, have posted how delinquencies have raised annual fees and reduced service and upkeep.

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

No, no one in their right mind sees the market value of timeshares ... changing in future. ... Oh yeah, fine stuff you are smoking.

I based my comment on your reminder that history teaches us that things change. But you are saying that the resale value of timeshares will never change. Seems contradictory. Oh, and what I am smoking is "optimism". I tried "Doom and Gloom" and it didn't sit well with me. And the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.

Charles

[justamom2six Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close justamom2six]

I want to thank everyone for their feedback on my question. We do happen to own two timeshares now, and are very happy with them! We did purchase both resale, and paid less than what a weeks rental would cost in the same area. We also selected very nice property with low maintenance fees, and with it vacation handsomely every year! We are a family of EIGHT! and we stay in beautiful, large, resorts with access to multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, and more. We would have to get at least 3 hotel rooms to accommodate all of us without the use of resorts. For us, we are very pleased with our resorts and thankful we purchased. No, we did not buy these as real estate investments, and no we may not get the "money" back out of them that we put in. We purchased them to have access to exceptional vacation stays, and that's exactly what we have gotten! We also paid little to get the properties, always paid cash, and started enjoying right away. For us, it has been a win-win. Thanks again everyone for your help, especially Charles.

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

Everyone is familiar with the balance sheet approach to making decisions . . . list the pros on one side and the cons on another, and then let common sense make the decision.

Of course, the timeshare industry had always discouraged that approach. They have always loaded the prospects' brains with nothing but pros, inaccurate and exaggerated pros at that, and required them to make a decision on the spot, like buying a candy bar at the checkout counter, before they had a chance to list the cons. Sure, there is a brief period where a buyer can bail, but they do not learn whether a timeshare works the way they were told until well after that period, until too late.

Over time, those participating in timeshare forums have discouraged that, have said to buy resale, not only because prices are so much lower, but because the prospect has time, whatever time they need to make an informed decision, considering the cons as well.

A natural extension of "buying resale", given real-life facts, is not buying at all. When you list on the con side the ongoing, ever-rising fees, the forever obligation, the no exit strategy, and the ability to obtain similar accomodations for less via the Internet, not buying is a viable option.

The only remaining question would be whether a forum committed to providing advice, but prejudiced to owning something because that is what brought everyone on the forum to the forum, should advise not to own at all, at least for the foreseeable future, to see if the industry straightens itself out.

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

I want to thank everyone for their feedback on my question. We do happen to own two timeshares now, and are very happy with them! We did purchase both resale, and paid less than what a weeks rental would cost in the same area. We also selected very nice property with low maintenance fees, and with it vacation handsomely every year! We are a family of EIGHT! and we stay in beautiful, large, resorts with access to multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centers, and more. We would have to get at least 3 hotel rooms to accommodate all of us without the use of resorts. For us, we are very pleased with our resorts and thankful we purchased. No, we did not buy these as real estate investments, and no we may not get the "money" back out of them that we put in. We purchased them to have access to exceptional vacation stays, and that's exactly what we have gotten! We also paid little to get the properties, always paid cash, and started enjoying right away. For us, it has been a win-win. Thanks again everyone for your help, especially Charles.

Sounds a lot like me, and mine, ten years ago.

Check back in 10 more, and let us know.

Have fun.