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Re: Buying timeshares (even resale) (by KC):

danr84 asks, quoted in pertinent part: >> .... what are the advantages and/or dis-advantages to a floating week vs. a fixed week? We've been offerred a floating week....<< ======================================

Others have capably responded already, but I'll offer just a few related opinions / observations of my own:

1. Orlando is one of the most timeshare-overbuilt areas (along with Branson, Las Vegas, Williamsburg). There is a glut of available timeshares in any and all of these areas. You mention owning a Northeast Red week. If legitimately "red", with that week you could likely trade into Orlando virtually anytime you want. With that in mind, you might at least consider carefully whether Orlando is really where you want your "home resort" to be. If yes, and you intend to actually use your week there (i.e., as opposed to echanging or renting --- and Orlando weeks are generally lousy traders), you would be wise to at least shop around for your best deal before "giving up" your Northeast Red week. It's definitely a buyer's market in the overbuilt (and still building anyhow) Orlando area.

As a relevant observation, on the Bidshares site alone there are dozens and dozens of Orlando timeshares in all flavors being auctioned off at low prices at any given time (including right now). With that fact in mind, I'd encourage you to examine why you'd want to give up your Red Northeast week --- and then also be an additional $13k "out of pocket" --- just to own in an area where anyone can find space virtually anytime, for rent and/or for sale, and at relatively low cost. That's your prerogative and a value judgement to which you are certainly entitled; it just doesn't make financial sense to me, based upon the limited facts presented.

2. Know that the devil can definitely be in the details in some "floating" weeks in many Florida resorts. Particularly (but not only) in resorts in coastal FL areas, entire blocks of time are often actually "blacked out" (i.e., completely unavailable to) "float week" owners, who are prohibited from making any reservations during this time period (typically weeks 5 through 15 ----which constitutes most of the winter!). There may not be any such restrictions in Orlando area resorts, but it's certainly still a question worth specifically asking (and getting accurately answered, in writing) before buying. You don't want to discover AFTER closing on your purchase that you can't even reserve a week at your own home resort at what might well be the ONLY season in which you even want to go or be there!

Good luck and, as always...... CAVEAT EMPTOR (Buyer Beware)