Original Message:
Re: want to buy a Marriott timeshare: advice needed (by Kevin L.):
As I stated back at the end of August, I would recommend buying a timeshare on the resale market, at the Marriott Surf Club, Palm Beach, Aruba. There are over a hundred for sale on RedWeek right now at this location, 2-Bedrooms, starting at $5,300 US all the way to $90,000 US, depending on the week, view, Gold season, Platinum season & Platinum Plus, etc.
There are (16) with prices under $7,000 right now. There are (2) starting at $5,300 with Garden view. There is one for $5,400 with Ocean view, another for $5,500. These are Gold season, weeks 18 to 50. These are excellent prices. And don't forget, these prices are negotiable, don't be afraid to make offers. Marriott will sell you the same 2-BR via destination points, but wants $25,000 to $30,000! This is 5 to 6 times the cost on the open market and the only difference is, when you by from Marriott, you get the destination points. When you buy via the resale market, you will not be eligible for destination points. The destination points allow you to trade into any Marriott in the world, but there is still no guarantee that you will get the location and date you want. We go to Aruba 2 to 3 times a year and we talk to many, many owners. We hear many stories from these owners about not being able to travel on points where and when they want to. Some do like the points system, but you are paying a premium for this.
By buying resale at a specific property like the Marriott Surf Club, you will have a deed and can book there during that season every year. It is suggested you book a year in advance. If you want to go somewhere else, you either have to use Interval International to trade, and there are nominal fees for this, or just book a week at the resort for a popular week and then rent it on RedWeek. Then use that money to rent where you want to go, also on RedWeek if you like. The Marriott Surf Club has excellent value and therefore I would not suggest trading it to Interval, you can get more for it by renting. We own several other timeshares that we paid anywhere from $5.00 to $450.00 for (found on RedWeek at very exclusive locations in Orlando FL), deeded, that we own in perpetuity (for ever). The maintenance fees range $500 per year to $850. We use these to trade with Interval and always get a week somewhere. Many times we have traded into the Surf Club with these.
We just purchased a 2-BR resale at the Marriott Surf Club back in August 2014 and paid a total of $5,200 ($4,750 for the week, deeded until 2061, $450 for closing costs). I used Concierge Realty located in Orlando FL. They are very reputable, professional and you will see them all over RedWeek. They were very helpful and the process took less than two months. During the process we asked them to ask the owner we were buying from to book the vacation weeks we were looking for next July/August 2015 since we didn't want to wait until the process was over as we were told to book early. They booked the exact dates we wanted, including splitting the 2-BR into two back-to-back weeks, Jul 30th to Aug 13 (lock off the first week, 1-BR the 2nd week). It will be just my wife and I, so we will get two weeks in Aruba next summer.
I am now in the process of negotiating another 2-BR week at the Surf Club. If we don't use it, we will rent it on RedWeek. Depending on the time of year, they rent for between $2,000 and $3,000 for a 2-BR for the week. The maintenance fees are approximately $1,600. Do the math. The pay-back is about 5 to 7 years if all I do is rent it every year.
I hope this was helpful. Good luck...
Kevin