HGVC Question(s)

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Can/do the point requirements for existing resorts change ? So if a 2BR platinum was 7000 pts this year, could it be 7500 next year ?

Also, is there any difference between owning a 7000 pt EOY contract vs a 3500 annual contract ? If you were to bank 3500 pts into next year, would you be able to use them in the 12-9 month window, or have to wait until the 9 month mark ?

Thanks,

Chris

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

On a similar note, any benefit/detriment to owning say 2 5000 pt EOY contracts vs a 5000 pt annual at the same location ? I can see owning 2 EOY contracts at different resorts to take advantage of the 12 month window, but any advantage of having multiple EOY (one odd, one even) contracts at the same place ?

Other than perhaps (and I don't know) if there's a difference in what the annual maintenance fees would be.

Thanks,

Chris

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

Can/do the point requirements for existing resorts change ? So if a 2BR platinum was 7000 pts this year, could it be 7500 next year ?

No. Hilton has never increased the point value of a property. However, some of the new properties have higher point values, but that does not affect existing properties.

Also, is there any difference between owning a 7000 pt EOY contract vs a 3500 annual contract ?

Yes, definitely. With HGVC, the maintenance fees are based on unit size, not number of points. Therefore, you generally want to buy a Platinum season week, as you get the most points for your MF each year.

For example, say a 2BR MF at the LV Strip is $800. If you owned an EOY Platinum season week, you would get 7000 points EOY for $800. But, if you owned a Silver season 2BR every year at that location, you would get 3500 points every year -- but those 3500 points would cost $800 in MF every year! (since the MF for a 2BR is $800, no matter what season week it is)

If you were to bank 3500 pts into next year, would you be able to use them in the 12-9 month window, or have to wait until the 9 month mark ?

You would have to wait until the 9-month window. The 12-9 month window is called Home Season. In Home Season, you can only book exactly what you own, where you own it. So if you owned a Gold 2BR week at Seaworld (5000 points), then you could only book a 2BR week at Seaworld 12-9 months out. During Club Season (9 months out), you can use your points at any location in any season.

On a similar note, any benefit/detriment to owning say 2 5000 pt EOY contracts vs a 5000 pt annual at the same location ? I can see owning 2 EOY contracts at different resorts to take advantage of the 12 month window, but any advantage of having multiple EOY (one odd, one even) contracts at the same place ?

Other than perhaps (and I don't know) if there's a difference in what the annual maintenance fees would be.

The only detriment to owning two EOY weeks would be the initial buy-in price, as EOY weeks tend to go for slightly more than 1/2 of the equivalent EY week. The maintenance fees would be different if the two weeks were at different locations. Remember, you can only book exactly what you own during the Home Week period, so if a Gold week (2BR Gold == 5000 pts at most locations) will meet your needs, go for it.

Hopefully this answered a few of your questions.

Kurt

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Thanks Kurt, appreciate the help.

Am sure that I'll have lots of additional questions !

Chris

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Here's another question - HGVC trades thru RCI, but HGVC owners don't have their own RCI account, it's just a corporate account, correct ?

And if HGVC has set point requirements for what you need to exchange in RCI (I think that for a red 2BR in RCI it's somewhere around 4800 points), it doesn't seem like you have any way to take advantage of the last call opportunities as you could still end up using 4800 points.

I've been looking at HGVC because it seems to be a great trader, but am clearly open to other ideas too. One of the other things that I've been trying to figure out is if I'm better off buying HGVC or an RCI points package that would allow me to get similar exchanges to HGVC.

While I already own some DVC points, what I'm really looking for is another alternative to get into the DVC resorts other than buying more DVC points. I believe that most of the Marriotts only trade through II so that doesn't work, and have also seen several Starwood threads where it seems that their trade power has been reduced so not sure that would work either.

Wyndham seems like a cost effective way to TS, but at the same time it doesn't seem like it's strong enough to pull DVC so that kind of puts it out of the picture.

I do realize that there are pitfalls to buying with the expectation of getting certain trades as opposed to staying at the resort you own at, and that's what I'm hoping you all can help me out with here.

Thanks,

Chris

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

You are correct in that we don't have an individual RCI account, only access to HGVC's corporate account. The cost for this account is included in our annual $99 HGVC membership fee. As for the economics of owning HGVC strictly for trading for RCI properties, I am guessing it is not a great deal -- you really have to consider the total package, not just RCI trades.

There are a couple of advantages of the corporate RCI account. First, we have access to both points and weeks, and it is a "tiger" trader in that we can see most anything in RCI with any HGVC ownership (all HGVC owners will see the same RCI inventory, no matter what you own). Second, there are no "regional blocks" due to it being a corporate account. That means even if you own an Orlando HGVC property (as I do), you can still trade into Disney.

The RCI point structure for "red" season is 5800/3BR, 4800/2BR, 3400/1BR and 2400/Studio. Less points for white and blue seasons. You can also exchange back into a HGVC property, which can save you points. For example, if you made a HGVC reservation for a 2BR in Las Vegas during Platinum season, it would be 7000 points. But if that week is available through RCI, it would only cost you 4800 points.

As for Last Call rentals, we do have access to that as well. No points needed, as they are cash rentals.

One other note -- HGVC is partnered with Club Intrawest and Grand Pacific resorts, and we have access to book several of their properties directly through HGVC as well.

Kurt

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Thanks Kurt - didn't know about the other affiliations that you could book through HGVC, but as I know nothing about either one of thes it looks like I have even more work to do !!

In terms of HGVC being a cost effective trader that's what I'm trying to figure out. At the risk of saying something that has probably been said many times, I'm really looking for the best TS to buy that not only gives me a chance to exchange into DVC, but also provides something that we can use for non-Disney trips.

Have heard many people say to look for summer weeks in Cali or Myrtle Beach, or New Years at certain placed, but I just don't know enough about any of these to know where to begin !

Luckily I'm fortunate to at least know what I don't know (if that makes any sense), and also know that it's much better to "miss" a deal and wait for the next one rather than jumping in without knowing all the critical details.

Really enjoying this forum, and looking forward to learning from all of you. Maybe, just maybe, at some point there will be something that I can help out with to return the favor.

Chris

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Ok - so I thought I'd throw a couple of these out there and let you help me to get a better gauge of what's good and what's not.

I do realize that flat out asking for someone to give me their tigers may not have been appropriate and I apologize for that.

Perhaps you all can just comment on whether or not I'm looking at the right stuff.

Gold Crown RED 2 Bedroom North Carolina Timeshare!! - eBay (item 220569253537 end time Mar-19-10 20:00:28 PDT)

Port O'Call in NC.
2 BR/2BA - good
Gold Crown - good
Deeded week 26 - good (I think)
MFs $916 - seem a bit high but not sure.

3BR Lockoff RED WEEK Myrtle Beach SUMMER Timeshare DEED - eBay (item 370350268119 end time Mar-22-10 18:15:01 PDT)

Presidential Villas
3BR/3BA LO
Not sure if it's Gold/Silver Crown
Floating weeks 20-38- good
MFs $619 - excellent

71K RCI POINTS Myrtle Beach 3BR Lockoff TIMESHARE Deed - eBay (item 310207667054 end time Mar-24-10 18:15:01 PDT)

Same as above, but it's an EOY converted to 71,500 RCI points - if this was an annual 71,500 would I (in theory) want the one converted to RCI points or not ?

Thanks in advance -



Chris

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

Ok - so I thought I'd throw a couple of these out there and let you help me to get a better gauge of what's good and what's not.

I do realize that flat out asking for someone to give me their tigers may not have been appropriate and I apologize for that.

Perhaps you all can just comment on whether or not I'm looking at the right stuff.

Gold Crown RED 2 Bedroom North Carolina Timeshare!! - eBay (item 220569253537 end time Mar-19-10 20:00:28 PDT)

Port O'Call in NC.
2 BR/2BA - good
Gold Crown - good
Deeded week 26 - good (I think)
MFs $916 - seem a bit high but not sure.

3BR Lockoff RED WEEK Myrtle Beach SUMMER Timeshare DEED - eBay (item 370350268119 end time Mar-22-10 18:15:01 PDT)

Presidential Villas
3BR/3BA LO
Not sure if it's Gold/Silver Crown
Floating weeks 20-38- good
MFs $619 - excellent

71K RCI POINTS Myrtle Beach 3BR Lockoff TIMESHARE Deed - eBay (item 310207667054 end time Mar-24-10 18:15:01 PDT)

Same as above, but it's an EOY converted to 71,500 RCI points - if this was an annual 71,500 would I (in theory) want the one converted to RCI points or not ?

Thanks in advance -



Chris

Hi Chris,
I'm not fond of buying the weeks anymore because of the unknown future trade values especially with trying to pull a DVC unit. So unless you want to use those fixed weeks, I'd probably not consider them although they look very nice.

The points deal though looks very reasonable for that amount of points. 71K will get you a DVC unit depending on the season. 142K points will definetely get you a 2 bedroom with points to spare to take other vacations. At $600 every other year it looks like a great deal. I don't know much about this resort in terms of how solvent it is or if there are any pending assessments but I'd do some due diligence before purchasing as $600 for 142K points seems like there might be an error in the listing.

Examples of 2 bedrooms at DVC in RCI:

Disney's Beach Club Villas (#DV02)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
Studio 4 (2) Partial Fri 10-Sep-2010 Fri 17-Sep-2010 38000
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 10-Sep-2010 Fri 17-Sep-2010 94500


Disney's Old Key West Resort (#DV05)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
1 Bedroom 4 (4) Full Fri 10-Sep-2010 Fri 17-Sep-2010 54500
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 10-Sep-2010 Fri 17-Sep-2010 92500

Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (#DV06)
Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 1
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Point Value
2 Bedroom 8 (6) Full Fri 10-Sep-2010 Fri 17-Sep-2010 92500

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

I've been looking at HGVC because it seems to be a great trader, but am clearly open to other ideas too. One of the other things that I've been trying to figure out is if I'm better off buying HGVC or an RCI points package that would allow me to get similar exchanges to HGVC.

While I already own some DVC points, what I'm really looking for is another alternative to get into the DVC resorts other than buying more DVC points

I think HGVC would be a good buy if you're mainly interested in exchanging into the HGVC resorts in Hawaii and also want another alternative to get into the DVC resorts. There are plenty of timeshares in both RCI and II for Las Vegas and Orlando so it's not necessary to own HGVC for access to those locations.

Also take a look at this old thread - Which RCI unit to buy to trade into DVC - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Thanks for the replies.

It seems to me that HGVC is a "safer bet" than buying a weeks based TS. Points also appear to be a good possibility as "points are points" which was the main rationale for us buying SSR. It's the best DVC currently to buy for points used for switching at the 7 month window, which we should largely be ok doing as we aren't currently planning on going at peak times. Having the THV's at SSR was icing on the cake, as was the announcement of the new pool that should be completed in mid-2011.

Another thing I like about HGVC, is that like DVC you are buying a good brand name, that should at least hold *some* value, or at least be able to sell it a bit easier if needed than a points/week unit at an independent resort. Although I shouldn't put too much stock into that as I would've probably thought that about many of the TS that can now be had for $1 on Ebay.

I'm thinking that if I can get a 5000 pt EOY contract for under $3K, or a decent price on an annual it almost pays for itself after the first or 2nd DVC exchange. We've only stayed at 2 of the WDW DVC resorts so far (will be at our 3rd in 2 months time), and we'd like to try them all. Realize that we'd need to be flexible in terms of what's available, but we're already in a similar situation with waiting until the 7 month mark and switching now.

Being able to exchange in would also allow me to rent my DVC points, which would basically cover the combined MFs for both the DVC and (potential) HGVC contracts

Appreciate the help, more to come,

Chris

[katie Member Find all posts View Profile Close katie]

fyi.. You also might find this old post comparing HGVC and DVC helpful.

Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums - View Single Post - Newbie help needed please.

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Thanks Katie !

Chris

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Have been looking around at HGVC resales, and have noticed a few on ebay in the past few days that have gone for under $1K - one went for $381 !! I believe that the Flamingo is the only HGVC that isn't using ROFR, and none of these auctions were there, I would imagine that those prices are definitely ones that HGVC would exercise ROFR on - so why would anyone bother ?

Anyway, time to do a bit more research before my boss gets back from lunch

Chris

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Was just looking at the HGVC ROFR thread, I'm wondering if both DVC and HGVC share the same ROFR monkey (ie no real rhyme nor reason as to why some pass/fail ROFR), or if it's just something in the bananas in Orlando...........

Although as Christine mentioned it does seem like they're more likely to buy back the platinum weeks more than gold/silver.

Chris