Help!! To buy or not to buy Starwood!

[Run Fat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Run Fat]

Hi All,

I have to make a decision quickly on whether or not to buy a property at the Westin Kaanapali North property. It's a island view, 2 BR lockout, week 20. The price is $10,000 with ~$2600/year in maintenance fees (annual use). My wife and I were just there last week and went through their pitch. They were asking $70,000 plus incentives (mostly points). We loved the property, but not for $70k!

Please, please let me know if this is smart or foolish!

Some facts about me... live in Seattle, wife and two young boys (2 and 4), love Hawaii and also to travel around. New to timeshares (so please be gentle with your acronyms and jargon!).

Thanks!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Hi All,

I have to make a decision quickly on whether or not to buy a property at the Westin Kaanapali North property. It's a island view, 2 BR lockout, week 20. The price is $10,000 with ~$2600/year in maintenance fees (annual use). My wife and I were just there last week and went through their pitch. They were asking $70,000 plus incentives (mostly points). We loved the property, but not for $70k!

Please, please let me know if this is smart or foolish!

Some facts about me... live in Seattle, wife and two young boys (2 and 4), love Hawaii and also to travel around. New to timeshares (so please be gentle with your acronyms and jargon!).

Thanks!

Hello, and welcome to TS4Ms. You are in no rush, really. Before buying, take time to really learn about timeshares and think about your needs going forward. Would you stay at WKN and use it every year during week 20?

[Run Fat Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Run Fat]

Full disclosure: I did some research and found out the resale market was MUCH better than buying from Starwood... and then I found what we were looking for on eBay. I went ahead and bid just slightly more than the current bid, but honestly didn't think I would win. Of course, I did. So now I have to decide if I complete the transaction or act like a weasel and walk away from it. (I have a solid eBay rep, so don't want to be a jackass, but then again $10k is a lot of money).

We would stay at the property probably every other or every third year, but probably not in week 20. We would tend to stay in the Starwood villa properties, but also see ourselves using II for overseas trips (maybe Europe next year).

We can afford the cost, but really don't want to piss away $10k. I'm also a little concerned about the maintenance fees. They are quite high relative to a lot of other properties.

So, again, any help or advice would be appreciated!

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

The last time I checked the timeshare listings are considered real estate listings so your bid is not necessarily legally binding. Still, please do more homework before bidding again, should you decide to cancel.

Ok, down off that soapbox...

If you got it on Ebay from a reputable seller with good feedback, you didn't pay too much for what you're getting. If you aren't going to use the week you're buying and are planning to "trade up" to a "better" or "more prime" week, you need to do more research. Hopefully some members more familiar with Starwood will chime in about how that works and how easy or difficult it is.
The MFs are high, but you are buying into one of the highest end systems around. That said, it's still probably one of the more expensive MFs in the Starwood system. I wouldn't buy there if I was planning on trading more than staying there, but that's me.

Not sure where in Europe you are thinking about, but II may not get you what you want when you want it. For $2600, you could probably rent something.

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

We love the resort and have stayed there twice. Personally, we don't like the north buildings as they seem "removed" to me. I think the general feeling is the original resort is preferable. Anyhow, check eBay for rentals. I think you will see the prices are very good. With all of the Hawaii maintenance fee issues Starwood and Marriott are having, I personally wouldn't risk it. We also live in Seattle and have traded in with a much, much lesser timeshare with no problems. The reason the resales are so cheap is because the maintenance fees are skyrocketing...a few of my neighbors bought at $80k (must be ocean view?) and they are really, really regretting it. Just my 2 cents!

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

We love the resort and have stayed there twice. Personally, we don't like the north buildings as they seem "removed" to me. I think the general feeling is the original resort is preferable. Anyhow, check eBay for rentals. I think you will see the prices are very good. With all of the Hawaii maintenance fee issues Starwood and Marriott are having, I personally wouldn't risk it. We also live in Seattle and have traded in with a much, much lesser timeshare with no problems. The reason the resales are so cheap is because the maintenance fees are skyrocketing...a few of my neighbors bought at $80k (must be ocean view?) and they are really, really regretting it. Just my 2 cents!

I agree!

I wouldn't buy it. The fees are too high, and the changes/issues with Starwood are not good. Rent!

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

I don't think $10k for an island view is that much of a bargin. If you will be satisfied with an island view you can probably rent for about the same as the MF. You should take your time over the next 3-6 months and research the Starwood system and others to find out what works best for you. The bargins will still be available.

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

Too much for Island View.

Unless you go to Maui every week, I would not buy. If you go in the fall, I would not buy.

Ocean Front may change things....maybe.