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Re: Special Assessments in Orlando? (by Kenneth K.):

If you bought a timeshare and it was developed as a condominium, you are an owner...even if you own RCI points...you still OWN that week and are responsible for it. (THe points are backed by an owned week you own)

Owning a condo means you will have a HOA or COA that run the condo and are voted in by you. When you pay the maint fees, sometimes the HOA provides for some of the $$$ to be placed in the account for emergencies. If the HOA is on the ball ( the ones you voted for), they will make sure they have pruchased an insurance policy for damages caused by storms. fire or anything they want to pay the insurance for.

Assessments occur when the HOA & the management company they hire ( like Marriott or Sheraton) determine they need $$ for additional needs or even emergencies. The assessments come from the owners....thats you.

The hurricans in the past have damaged many of the Orlando resorts. The building codes have been upgraded since then ( for new buildings) as they were all under the false (???) impression that they are far enough inland for safety....of course not true..as is no area of Florida ( How far more inland can Orlando area be?

In other words, you, the owner, are one of 51 or 52 owners responsible for the apartment condo you have purchased.

Sometimes, with the bigger development companies, they MIGHT try to guarantee owners of an out of commission resort weeks elsewhere.....but the exchange companies need to get some help (usually in other weeks) from that development company.

Currently, the (Pompano Beach) Santa Barbara (Fairfield/Wyndham) is still out of commission since Wilma ( yes...weeks & FF points owners paid assessments) to help with the lack of $$ from the insurance companies.

I have read that Celebrity Resorts are charging all owners an assessment...( maybe more than one). UNfortunately, the HOA there appears to be under the control of the management company.