Original Message:
No “list” exists, but... (by KC):
phils169 wrote:I'd prefer not to be at the mercy of a timeshare company that still controls things, especially upgrades and maint. cost. Thanks
Wise thinking. There are actually MANY (not just “a few”) non-chain, independent resorts with owner controlled HOA / Boards. However, no “list” of them exists anywhere. We own weeks at three different such resorts in two different states and have done so for many years now. Independent resorts where the original developers are now long gone and completely out of the picture are generally (by definition) older properties, but being “older” certainly doesn’t mean that they are not well maintained and well managed.
A more productive (and better focused) approach would be to first identify the specific geographic area(s) in which you would like to access time and then look through all the resorts available in those specific geographic areas. It is actually very easy to isolate specific geographic areas (and all of the resorts existing within any particular geographic area) right here on the RedWeek site. Then just “drill down” from there, eliminate the “chain” properties and investigate further into the remaining “independents”.
While many "independent" timeshares are (by definition) "older", many also have prime locations. There were lots more land location choices and options available back in the early 1980's when many of those now-independent places were first built. One thing about land is that (as Will Rogers once noted): "they're not making any more of it". Also, those "older" properties frequently tend to have more space in larger units (although this is not always true, especially for timeshares that are essentially just "converted motels"). All of our own deeded weeks are at places built as timeshare properties from square one and whose location is far superior to the locations of many newer, fancier (...and much more expensive) "chain" timeshare properties in their respective areas. We prefer prime property location over glitzy (but not nearly as well located) properties any day of the week, but individual preferences and priorities differ. Your mileage may vary, as the automobile advertising disclosures say.