Resale Purchase at Havasu Dunes??

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

Hi All,

I found this forum/website (active member on TUG) while trying to get some answers to a resale purchase I am looking at.

I'm trying to understand all the ins and outs of buying a resale at Havasu Dunes with the intent of trading to Pono Kai in Hawaii. From what I can gather Havasu Dunes and Pono Kai along with another 11 or so resorts all have trading (and are managed??) by RCIM or at least there is an agreement of usage or something between the resorts??

Will I be able to do this type of trade? Is there something else I will need to do along with the purchase to enable this trade to happen? The unit I'm looking at buying at Havasu Dunes is a 2 bedroom, very affordable (under $1500 I hope) and the annual fees are $553. Is this too much for this unit (and I know value is in the eye of the one holding the MF bill every year )

Any input, help, answers, etc is VERY much appreciated... Thx!!

Steve

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Welcome.

You need to read this thread on PSE.


http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...ation-pse.html


There is now no fee for doing PSE no fee exchanges as well as the many other benefits.

If you need a two bedroom at Pono Kai then getting a two bedroom at HD is a good idea so you will not have to pay an upgrade fee to exchange.

I just saw two ebay resales for HD one bedrooms that did not get bid on at $1 opening bid and no reserve. So you could have picked it up for $1 plus just over $500 closing costs plus 2007 maint fees.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I forgot to add that you need to look into the inventory at the Pono Kai as I am not sure how many two bedrooms they have that are available for possible PSE exchanges. Pono Kai has several companies that manage different inventory.

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

Thanks for your posts!! The ebay info is surprising, I have just started this quest to pick up a cheap Hawaii usage (still trying to figure out how I convinced myself that a purchase at Havasu Dunes = Hawaii Dream Vacation ) So I guess at this point it really is a decision about yearly fees and what we get for those fees... It just seems like $553 to get to Pono Kai for a week in Hawaii isn't a bad way to go.... but now in light of the Ebay info I think I need to take a closer look.... and get my calculator out and add $553 to my other yearly timeshare fees.... I thought using TS's was suppose to SAVE me money

Thanks again,

Steve

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Steve the Havasu Dunes I have seen on ebay are not PRIME Season.
eBay: Havasu Dunes Timeshare Lake Havasu (item 160086463312 end time Feb-23-07 11:30:00 PST)

Pono Kai is Prime year round. So there would be a seasonal upgrade fee of $35/night.

Your target price is good. 2BDRM PRIME for around $1500. Probably less. Prime season is defined as week 1, 13 thru 39.

You can only reserve at 10 months out for the internal exchange system.

The MF sounds about right. RE Tax is included.

So $560 +/- for a 2 BDRM for a week anywhere is a bargain in my book.

HOWEVER if your goal is Hawaii every year. You might want to look at another resort system that has a bit more variety and flexibility. Like maybe a Premier Access Resort with Trading Places.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

This one is not prime season? I saw one prime and one non-prime

eBay: Lake Havasu Arizona Silver Crown RED Timeshare for Sale (item 290083286081 end time Feb-23-07 19:00:00 PST)



Item number: 290083286081

expired no bids $1


The Week
The week is a floating week during the resort’s PRIME season, which simply means that you will be able to call the resort each year and choose the week that suits you best for that year. You will be able to choose any of the following weeks: 1, 13-40, and 45-53. These are all excellent vacation weeks as they encompass all the major holidays and vacation weeks when the kids are out of school. You can then use the week yourself or you can trade your PRIME RED week for one of over 5,600 resorts in the Interval International (II code is HVD) or RCI Exchange Systems (RCI code is 2628) as it is affiliated with both. The trading power is exceptional as this area is very popular year round. It is permanently deeded and yearly fees total $489. The resort has had an excellent trading history for places like Orlando, Myrtle Beach, Vail, Mexico, and others. This is a deeded timeshare, which means you own it forever; leave it to your kids or sell it whenever you want.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

eBay: Lake Havasu Arizona Silver Crown RED Timeshare for Sale (item 290083286081 end time Feb-23-07 19:00:00 PST)



Item number: 290083286081

expired no bids $1


The Week
The week is a floating week during the resort’s PRIME season, which simply means that you will be able to call the resort each year and choose the week that suits you best for that year. You will be able to choose any of the following weeks: 1, 13-40, and 45-53. .

Got me John!
I just did a quick run before I had to leave and saw only the one which was high season.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Not a problem....it brought up a good point about prime and non-prime seasons. Great point and great reminder.

Another good point about limiting yourself to PSE and Pono Kai. If you also want to use San Luis Bay Inn and Laguna Surf as well as Pono Kai that is one thing...but only for Pono Kai you may want to re-examine your Hawaii strategy.

Got me John!
I just did a quick run before I had to leave and saw only the one which was high season.

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

I noticed I only have 2,066 post to catch up with John and
only 6,255 to catch Lawren... you guys are MAD DOGs!! Thanks for all the help.

I was thinking that I should target my purchase on where I will primarily want to stay with the unit... and then enjoy the trades, so I'm going to watch for a purchase at Pono Kai... I like what I have read about the resort.

The 2 bedroom I have a line on is ONLY $600 for a 2 bedroom, but after seeing the Ebay postings I'm not sure that is a good purchase.... I have yet to get an email back from the seller to confirm the season.

If it turns out it is PRIME season... do you think the price is at a point that I could likely resale it at some point if I wanted too?? or am I taking on a yearly fee for life

Thanks again!

Steve

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I noticed I only have 2,066 post to catch up with John and
only 6,255 to catch Lawren... you guys are MAD DOGs!! Thanks for all the help.

I was thinking that I should target my purchase on where I will primarily want to stay with the unit... and then enjoy the trades, so I'm going to watch for a purchase at Pono Kai... I like what I have read about the resort.

The 2 bedroom I have a line on is ONLY $600 for a 2 bedroom, but after seeing the Ebay postings I'm not sure that is a good purchase.... I have yet to get an email back from the seller to confirm the season.

If it turns out it is PRIME season... do you think the price is at a point that I could likely resale it at some point if I wanted too?? or am I taking on a yearly fee for life

Thanks again!

Steve

Yeah we are pretty rabid TS4Mers.

You also stumbled upon the miniscule "we own at HD" club.

I think $600 is a great price dependent on closing fees. You are probably signing on for eternity but I have been very happy with my HD week and where it has gotten us over the years. However my prime directive was never Hawaii.

Tell me. Do you own any timeshares now? Where did you get the Pono Kai bug? Where do you reside?

Don't get me wrong it is a nice resort in Kapaa. We enjoyed our stay there but nothing screams "Buy Me" unless you are guaranteed the views from the OF units. Even then it is not Embassy, Marriott, etc. Just a nice little place to call home that is centrally located enough to enjoy both North and South shore destinations on Kauai.

If that is truly where you want to go every year then I agree purchase it.

ETA That your profile says Mesa, AZ :doh: Isn't Painted Mountain Resort in Mesa? I "think" that one is PSE related and then you could get Day Use priviliges too.

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

My whole kick on this deal started with a post on TUG about Hawaii resorts for under $20k... that thread led me to Pono Kai... that led me to RCIM/PSE resorts being linked together... that led me to finding the Havasu Dunes resort as a "close" location and it actually looked like one of the resorts we would go to (for playing on the lake)... that then grew based on now the PSE is free and I "think" I can purchase Havasu and stay in Hawaii each year if we choose.

The main reason to pick up a low cost resort in Hawaii is because we feel that one of the main expenses with taking the family (5) to Hawaii is the airfare... so if were to pick up another TS we could stay for 2 weeks each time we go. We have been TS'ing for close to 3 years now... we now own Hyatt Tahoe, Westin Kierland, and 2 Sheraton Desert Oasis weeks.... even with those resorts its near impossible to get 2 weeks in Hawaii.... we might get lucky and catch a internal Westin Trade (then we would add Pono as the 2nd week) or Hyatt may finally actually build there then we could put that week together with Pono Kai.

I know our current resorts are a few steps up from Pono Kai, but we really feel that Hawaii is about the Island and not about the resort (a nice resort just makes it that much better) but Pono Kai looks quiet and right on the Beach... and I think the price is right...

Do you think I will get locked in for life with the Havasu Dunes maintence fee?? do you think it won't be sellable down the road?? That is one reason I have purchased higher scale resale units it because I strongly feel I can resale them for as much or more than what I got them for... so short of the loss of being able to use the capital I have tied up in the resorts... I know I am basically using them for just the cost of the yearly fees.

Our first timeshare 3 years ago was Hyatt Beach House that we sold for $2100 more than we paid for it 14 months later... so it basically paid us to vacation in it

I feel I understand the Hyatt/Starwood market enough to purchase at a good price, but now I don't have any more funds to really be able to sink into anymore higher cost resorts (wife says I'm forbidden from purchasing anymore!! what?!?) so now I'm trying to learn the low cost resorts like Pono Kai/PSE exchanges... but I would prefer to not learn the HARD way!

Thanks again for your input on the purchase..... I think I'm going to go thru with it... the seller has left the method of title transfer up to me... I did my last 2 myself but they were properties in the county I live in..... so I may have to spend approx $300-325 to get this unit transferred to me.

I couldn't find Painted Mountain in the list of PSE traded resorts??

Any speculation that the Fairfield relationship possibly opening up more options at some point with these family of PSE resorts??

Steve

This is long enough it should count as 4 posts so I'm catching up!!

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I got my HD studio unit for free with a week where the maintenance fees were already paid. The owner basically tried to sell it and couldn't so he posted an internet add to give it away. That was five years ago. So it basically cost me the $200 in closing costs at the time plus the PSE fee but I got the free week so that was a wash.

I have used it at SLB with PSE for two years and then have traded it in RCI for the other three. I have had great trades with it but that is because we know how to trade in the system. The maintenance fees are creeping up but still a relative bargain compared with several other resorts I own. So if I end up donating it or giving it away in the future it is no big deal. It works for me now so I don't feel I am stuck with it for life.

My only wish is that it was a one or two bedroom so there would be no size upgrade fee in PSE. My wife does not like the studio at SLB so we don't go there anymore. It is cheaper for me to pay the exchange fee (at least for now) if I want a larger unit at SLB. And my wife is unimpressed with Pono Kai so that is not on the agenda. There are so many resorts in Kauai that we have not stayed at yet so it is really not an issue.

That thread on TUG is very interesting. It has opened my eyes.

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

I got my HD studio unit for free with a week where the maintenance fees were already paid. The owner basically tried to sell it and couldn't so he posted an internet add to give it away. That was five years ago. So it basically cost me the $200 in closing costs at the time plus the PSE fee but I got the free week so that was a wash.

I have used it at SLB with PSE for two years and then have traded it in RCI for the other three. I have had great trades with it but that is because we know how to trade in the system. The maintenance fees are creeping up but still a relative bargain compared with several other resorts I own. So if I end up donating it or giving it away in the future it is no big deal. It works for me now so I don't feel I am stuck with it for life.

My only wish is that it was a one or two bedroom so there would be no size upgrade fee in PSE. My wife does not like the studio at SLB so we don't go there anymore. It is cheaper for me to pay the exchange fee (at least for now) if I want a larger unit at SLB. And my wife is unimpressed with Pono Kai so that is not on the agenda. There are so many resorts in Kauai that we have not stayed at yet so it is really not an issue.

That thread on TUG is very interesting. It has opened my eyes.

Curious if your wife is unimpressed by Pono Kai because you have been there or from looking at the website?? I have come to the conclusion that I would likely be "stuck" with the resort from here on out if I did the transfer so I am trying to decide if that is something we want to do.... if I didn't already have 4 yearly maintence fees for other resorts it would be an easier decision to aquire the property.

Any suggestions for Hawaii and low cost resorts that you can recommend looking into?? I have an itch for a Hawaii resort that we know we can book and stay in.... I liked the fact that you could bank the PSE week until the next year and then take 2 weeks at the same time.

Looking at the resorts in PSE... they might be older, but the land looks like its worth a mint at some of the locations... I wonder if Fairfield or is it now Wyndham?? would at some point want to refresh these resorts and pull them into the mothership of resorts?? Any talk at the local level of doing some type of assessment and upgrading the resort thru that type of move??

Steve

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Don't get me wrong about Pono Kai. My wife is picky. Camping to her is a 4 star resort. We only drove by the place on the back side...she didn't want to get out. Next time in Kauai I am going to make her go out and tour the place. I am interested in the place. She also has a issue with the non-swimmable beaches on the east coast.

There are several people who love the place and it is ocean front with nice features. It is not fancy but people love the place. Ask Boca for one.

I do not know about any plans to fold the RCIM/PSE resorts into FF...I have the same question.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

We only drove by the place on the back side...she didn't want to get out. Next time in Kauai I am going to make her go out and tour the place. ...I do not know about any plans to fold the RCIM/PSE resorts into FF...I have the same question.

The street side of Pono Kai doesn't do it justice. It really is a cute little place and the 2BDRM/Loft we had was HUGE!

Mesa, Why don't you just deposit one of your current weeks with Trading Places and use them to exchange to Hawaii? They seem to get tons of weeks as the manage several resorts.