posted 06-02-2005 19:41               

After reading another thread about buying a 2nd house for retirement or using many timeshare weeks, I started thinking about this seriously, to plan for my future retirement.
I don't want the hassle of worrying about a 2nd property, the utilities, taxes, upkeep, etc. I think using timeshares to go to several different places throughout the year would work great for me. But where to buy??

I won't retire for another 15 years, but if I start buying additional weeks now (one a year), I'll be set. I'm looking to purchase in places I like to stay, but could also exchange them from time to time.

Here's where I need your help. I only done 3 exchanges since I bought my one and only timeshare week 3 years ago. I mostly like beach-type vacations or a place that has really nice pools. When I'm ready, I would like to buy resale in the $3-5K range or less. Would like 2BR places without astronomical maintenance fees. also being a decent trader would be good, too.(am I asking for too much?)
I'd like to try to mix it up a bit and possibly get into a points based system, but don't know too much about them. Reading on these boards, Worldmark seems to be popular.

I've looked in the II book and read many TUG reviews and have come up with some possible choices. If you've stayed at any of these can you give your opinion (good, bad or indifferent) or possibly a better place to stay in the same area? Some of my choices are:

Lawrence Welk Villas (stayed here and liked it)
Marriott Desert Springs (really liked it)
Tamarack
Suites @ Fisherman's Wharf
Coronado Beach Resort
Worldmark@Depoe Bay
Marriott (Ocean Watch, Grand Ocean, Ocean Pointe, Canyon Villas)
Sheraton Desert Oasis
Big Sky Resort
A resort in Key West
HGVC (to be able to go to Orlando, Las Veags and Hawaii)
DVC (I know this is a little pricier, but I LOVE Disney)
Kona Coast
The Whaler
A resort in Cayman Islands and Aruba

Any help would be appreciated. I want to make informed decisions before I buy so I'll be enjoying these weeks when I retire. And researching and buying is half the fun!

posted 06-02-2005 20:10               

Most of the rest you list are either points based (great for use at multiple locations) or other high end resorts with good to great trade power. The only downside to those is your desire to purchase for $5K or less. That won't be easy but since you have time it probably can be done. Time is on your side. Make low offers and let the deals come to you.

Good luck - I like the idea behind your plan.

posted 06-02-2005 20:19               

Lots of Worldmark credits or weeks like Eagle Crest or Schooner Landing that convert to WM credits. The advantages are: the m/f is reasonable; you can use a small number of credits (4000) to do flexchanges with II or RCI (II in particular has wonderful flexchange opportunities); WM credits are very liquid and can be sold quickly if necessary; bonus time is available off-season for .04 cents a credit; and during the summer, you can use credits to book wonderful places like Depoe Bay or Worldmark at Victoria.

A Starwood week (Westin Kierland): to use StarOptions to book other Starwoods like Westin Maui.

A Marriott silver week lock-off: great for Marriott flexchanges (during the flexchange period, Marriott owners have about 3 days to book the Marriotts first, so the good ones usually don't last long enough for non-Marriott owners to pick up).

Embassy Maui and Pueblo Bonito at Sunset Beach: high m/f's, but I love both places and have a particular view / unit, so it's worth it to me.

RCI Points: to book RCI Points resorts on Vancouver Island in Canada, and occasional RCI Weeks trades.

I've estimated average weekly costs of $300-400 a week, based on current m/f's and exchange fees.

The biggest drawback to the whole plan: with timesharing, nothing seems to ever stay the same. Especially if it's something that is a "good deal." So it's important to stay flexible and keep "readjusting" the portfolio as things change.

Have fun planning!

posted 06-03-2005 04:19               

On the capital side - Marriott, Key West, DVC
On the mf side - Marriott, DVC, Hawaii, Caribbean

You either need to move your price range up (a fair bit) or readjust where you'd like to go.

posted 06-03-2005 05:22               

We're approaching retirement with the same idea, but we're only 5 years out and accumulating timeshares.

posted 06-03-2005 09:20               

DVC will not be less money in a few years. (I just wish).
if DVC does not hold it value then WDW will simply buy them back and rent out the DVC villas as rooms. Depending upon the economy of course - if it is great - expect WDW to buy back any DVC that are for sales at a discount prices, which is what they do now. but instead of selling them to DVC members for a higher price - except them to be added to WDW resorts. If the economy is during badly I would expect DVC to give a break to current members and offer a deal for a few years more. WDW does not to give up its land - even the DD hotels and SOG have a 99 year lease.

I would definitely look at Worldmark in your situation. You can also get a great deal on Fairfield points in the resale market.

I love my DVC - I also the Marriott. Oh if you find a Marriott in a good season (need a good season for trades) - then send me a note. They are out of price market currently.

posted 06-03-2005 10:18               

quote:

---

Originally posted by TEK224:
This is kinda long, but I'm on a new mission now. I think this is gonna be fun!

But where to buy??

I would like to buy resale in the $3-5K range or less. Would like 2BR places without astronomical maintenance fees. also being a decent trader would be good, too.(am I asking for too much?)

I've looked in the II book and read many TUG reviews and have come up with some possible choices. If you've stayed at any of these can you give your opinion (good, bad or indifferent) or possibly a better place to stay in the same area? Some of my choices are:

Lawrence Welk Villas (stayed here and liked it)
These are all fixed weeks and a summer week will run about 5k with annual fees of $640 currently, excellent II trader, and all the independents will love to have a summer week.

Marriott Desert Springs (really liked it)
A winter platinum week will cost between 10k-14k, and Marriott is exercising their first right of refusal on anything under 10K. The annual fees are about $800 with the property taxes, but it is a lock-out, so you could use it for two weeks, or two traders.
Excellent trade power.
Tamarack
not familiar

Suites @ Fisherman's Wharf

not familiar

Coronado Beach Resort
not familiar

Worldmark@Depoe Bay

All the worldmarks are points based, and you own points usable in any and all of their 55+ resorts. Cost for 10K annual ( 2 bedroom red) is about $7500-$8000 with annual fees of $457. Great western resorts, growing and there recently added Orlando and Branson.
Great trade value with II, or RCI, and the independents will take many of their weeks.

Marriott (Ocean Watch, Grand Ocean, Ocean Pointe, Canyon Villas)
Sheraton Desert Oasis
Big Sky Resort
A resort in Key West
not familiar

HGVC (to be able to go to Orlando, Las Veags and Hawaii)

7000 annual points needed for most 2 bedrooms, Hawaii will be 8400-10000, cost for 7000 around 10k, and they are exercising their first right of refusal on anything less. Great system, great resorts, great trade value.

DVC (I know this is a little pricier, but I LOVE Disney)
not familiar

Kona Coast
The Whaler
A 2 bedroom Kona Coast Winter week will cost around 10k with annual fees of about $750, summer, fall weeks are slightly less. great resort, great trader.

The Whaler, most of these are multi week units, mostly studios, hardly ever come up on ebay or the other sites. Don't know about costs or fees, but being Maui in Kaanapali, I don't think they fit in your proposed budget.
A resort in Cayman Islands and Aruba

Any help would be appreciated. I want to make informed decisions before I buy so I'll be enjoying these weeks when I retire. And researching and buying is half the fun!

Thanks!
Terri

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Fwiw, Greg

My Website

posted 06-03-2005 13:22               

quote:

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Originally posted by TEK224:
...I plan to look into WorldMark. I don't know anything about them, except that people here seem to think they're a good company.

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I just posted an introductory story about how WM works here:
http://www.tug1.net/tugbbs1/Forum1/HTML/008669.html

posted 06-03-2005 20:59               

Hatrack: Thanks. I'm off to review the WM article now.

posted 06-04-2005 06:28               

One problem I see with the plan is what are you going to do with all of the weeks before you retire? 10 years from now you will own 10 weeks, owe 10 MFs, will you have 10 weeks of vacation and be able to use all of them? Maybe you would be better to buy just enough TS to cover your current vacation time and put some money aside in a future TS investment fund. Then when you get much closer to your actual retirement you can start looking for those deals. Keep in mind that your needs are going to change and in 15 years a lot is going to change. This is kind of like how they tell you not to buy a piece of property to build on way in the future, that you are better to wait till close to the time you plan to build. I have only been in TSharing for about 4 years and I have already sold 3 of my weeks and bought several more because I realized that a different mix better met my vacation needs. I can't begin to imagine what TS I will want to own in 15 years. JMHO

Patty

posted 06-04-2005 19:31               

You make some good points. I may not buy one every year (tried to use that as an example - that I wouldn't wait until the very end, but buy gradually).
Yes things will probably change over the years and I may even find new TS's I like.

posted 06-06-2005 04:17               

If you have 10 timesshares with an average maintenance and tax fee of only $500, that would be $5,000 per year x 10 years that would be $50,000 without any increase in fees over the years. A lot of money! If could easy have an average maintenance and tax fees of over $500 per year per timeshare.