Grand Pacific Marbrisa

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

We are staying at the Marbrisa this week amidst all the construction. Jackhammers, large machinery, tons of workers.

The units are nice. We are in a 1 bedroom garden/park view looking at a golf course, road and parking lot. The pool isn't done (we knew that) so we are able to use the Grand Pacific Palisades pool (way too crowded and cramped for my taste). The owners next door are disappointed that they are here with all the construction going on and landscaping being put in. We are really smack dab in the middle of a hard hat zone!

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

Hey Denise,

Yeah I saw all the activity and construction when I was there....I was in the lobby when the earthquake hit last week. Too bad they don't have an arrangement with the Sheraton for the pool there....it was practically empty when I was there.

I don't like how GPR keeps cramming more and more people into the pools at GPP. They are crowded enough as it is especially the family pool. The adult pool is not as bad but no kids allowed except on Saturdays for the family swim.

From what I saw the units and views are nice (well I am not sure about the parking lot view) but the golf course view seemed pretty wide open to me. Are you on the top floor?

I know if I was a full price developer owner and was amidst all that contruction I would not be happy either. But that is 'pre-construction' pricing.

Please give us more updates. Maybe we will break this off into a Marbrisa update thread. Thanks for posting.

John

We are staying at the Marbrisa this week amidst all the construction. Jackhammers, large machinery, tons of workers.

The units are nice. We are in a 1 bedroom garden/park view looking at a golf course, road and parking lot. The pool isn't done (we knew that) so we are able to use the Grand Pacific Palisades pool (way too crowded and cramped for my taste). The owners next door are disappointed that they are here with all the construction going on and landscaping being put in. We are really smack dab in the middle of a hard hat zone!

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

Hey Denise,

Yeah I saw all the activity and construction when I was there....I was in the lobby when the earthquake hit last week. Too bad they don't have an arrangement with the Sheraton for the pool there....it was practically empty when I was there.

I don't like how GPR keeps cramming more and more people into the pools at GPP. They are crowded enough as it is especially the family pool. The adult pool is not as bad but no kids allowed except on Saturdays for the family swim.

From what I saw the units and views are nice (well I am not sure about the parking lot view) but the golf course view seemed pretty wide open to me. Are you on the top floor?

I know if I was a full price developer owner and was amidst all that contruction I would not be happy either. But that is 'pre-construction' pricing.

Please give us more updates. Maybe we will break this off into a Marbrisa update thread. Thanks for posting.

John

Hi John,

Yes, we are on a top floor. There are only three floors. You enter on the 2nd floor and either go up a flight of stairs or down. There are no elevators. If you have a decent amount of luggage, it is a bit of work to get upstairs. DH was not happy about that, but we knew that it would be like that since I called ahead to request an upper floor. There is one laundry room with a W/D per building.

There are just two buildings complete so far, but only one has landscaping. We are in the 1/3 landscaped building at present. The workers were digging trenches for the past couple of days to lay PVC pipes. They are just putting in the gates to the pool. Hardscape is done and they are putting landscaping in before they can plaster the pool and fill it with water. Construction noise has started as early as 6:15 AM. Today it was quite loud, but it isn't really affecting our stay much. Like I said, we knew all this coming in, but it was cheaper to rent here than to stay at the local Homewood Suites for 5 nights.

The back entrance to Legoland is brand new and for guests at the Sheraton and Marbrisa. It is great. A bit of a walk at the end of the day, but otherwise fine. It lets you in the back of the park by the Hideaways play structure and Castle Hill/mini golf area. Today, we will head to the beach and then to the Sheraton for a walk-around.

I took a bunch of photos but haven't uploaded them to photobucket yet. I will get to this eventually, and post photos of the unit and construction.

All in all, we are happy with the unit. Walls are thin, but it is spacious and since there are only 26 units open, it is quiet here except for the construction. I prefer it to the craziness of Grand Pacific Palisades.

We did bring our own shampoo (recommended by the front desk). There is that dispenser thing in the shower with the combo shampoo/conditioner. I have my little bottles from the Westin, Hyatt and Marriott timeshares .

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

Grand Pacific Marbrisa

Here are some photos:

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

Construction photos

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

Garden/Park View

The view:

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

HGVC Affiliated resort- points do not transfer on resale

Just a quick note for anyone who isn't aware...

I just spoke with a gentleman who purchased via a by-owner advertisement.. Needless to say- he was quite surprised that the HGVC points did not transfer with the resale.. Evidently, both the seller and the closing agent were unaware that the points privilege doesn't transfer with this property(this was the closing agent's first transfer of this resort so they didn't know either).

I'm starting to see more of these come on the resale market- so just a word of caution!

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

More photos, pool with water

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

Thanks for the pics Denise. The place is transforming before your very eyes. Too bad you have to live through the dust and noise but good for you getting a good deal on a rental in the area.

I think the golf course view is pretty nice....at least it is wide vista instead of a block wall or other buildings. Not sure how the lower floor view is but probably similar since it is on a hill. I see your point about the upper floor that you are in could face the ocean for a ocean view but the lower floors would be looking at the pool or that hill next to the pool wouldn't they?

My understanding is the section you are in has its own pool (your pics) and will be far from the main area which is on the front side of the Sheraton. There is a temp lobby there to handle the first phase that you are staying in.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Denise, do you enjoy the resort? It seems far from the ocean but it is close to Legoland which your kids like. The resort looks nice but the view nothing special. [strike]Are there units with a view of the golf course and the ocean far away?[/strike]

PS. I see that John already mentioned that there is a golf course view.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Just a quick note for anyone who isn't aware...

I just spoke with a gentleman who purchased via a by-owner advertisement.. Needless to say- he was quite surprised that the HGVC points did not transfer with the resale.. Evidently, both the seller and the closing agent were unaware that the points privilege doesn't transfer with this property(this was the closing agent's first transfer of this resort so they didn't know either).

I'm starting to see more of these come on the resale market- so just a word of caution!

I see more developers giving perks to their buyers that will not transfer on a re-sale. They don't want to see a re-sale market blossom which is short-sighted because it drops so much of the value immediately. Are they stupid or what? They should help keeping values up for their buyers.

Wait till this becomes common fact and people will think twice before they buy such an expensive resort.

The Department of Real Estate should have this clause included in big, fat bold letters in the contract that values drop a lot the moment the ink is dry of the contract so people are aware of the loss in value. We all know it about new cars but do not think it will happen with real estate but that's not what you are buying with a timeshare.

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

Emmy...they have both the golf course view and the ocean view (overlooking Lego Land and GPP far off to the ocean). You can see the views in Denise's pictures.

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

I see more developers giving perks to their buyers that will not transfer on a re-sale. They don't want to see a re-sale market blossom which is short-sighted because it drops so much of the value immediately. Are they stupid or what? They should help keeping values up for their buyers.

Wait till this becomes common fact and people will think twice before they buy such an expensive resort.

The Department of Real Estate should have this clause included in big, fat bold letters in the contract that values drop a lot the moment the ink is dry of the contract so people are aware of the loss in value. We all know it about new cars but do not think it will happen with real estate but that's not what you are buying with a timeshare.

I agree -- this is bound to hurt the resale value for this property! I predict there will be some very unhappy resale buyers when they find out their purchase will not get them into the HGVC system.

Also, think about this: As time goes on, there will be less and less inventory at this location for HGVC owners to trade into. After a week is sold in the after market, that week will no longer be available in HGVC's inventory. This is a lose-lose situation all around!

Hey Denise -- are you planning on attending a sales presentation? I think you should -- be eager, just go along with everything they say -- and then when they have the contract out in front of you, drop the bomb (loud enough so everyone in the room can hear ) that you would never buy due to the points not transferring.

Just a thought....
Kurt

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Emmy...they have both the golf course view and the ocean view (overlooking Lego Land and GPP far off to the ocean). You can see the views in Denise's pictures.

John, I looked at Denise's pictures and didn't notice the ocean view at first but I looked again and see it vaguely in the distance now. The units look nice inside and the resort also looks great and spacious. When a family is sight-seeing all day, a panoramic ocean view may not be that important.

I just read your other post where they are building units on the ocean and are part of the Registry Collection too. We are building more timeshare condos here lately in Southern California than we have built over many years. That's great!

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I agree -- this is bound to hurt the resale value for this property! I predict there will be some very unhappy resale buyers when they find out their purchase will not get them into the HGVC system.

Also, think about this: As time goes on, there will be less and less inventory at this location for HGVC owners to trade into. After a week is sold in the after market, that week will no longer be available in HGVC's inventory. This is a lose-lose situation all around!

Hey Denise -- are you planning on attending a sales presentation? I think you should -- be eager, just go along with everything they say -- and then when they have the contract out in front of you, drop the bomb (loud enough so everyone in the room can hear ) that you would never buy due to the points not transferring.

Just a thought....
Kurt

The problem is that other big developers are doing this too. I believe that points for exchanging do not transfer with the new Wyndham properties either and what about DRI? I also believe that the Marriott may start doing this too when they will have their internal exchange system in place. May be I understand it all wrong but I feel that big developers work against the buyer's interest but they need the buyer to continue their sales. Who is going to buy new resorts when you know that most of your money is gone the moment you walk out of the office and your ability to exchange to other resorts is taken away too? They have got to find a better way that is is a win win situation for everyone concerned.