According to the American Resort Development Association, timeshare sales in the United States exceed $10.5 billion in an ordinary year.
That means many prospective vacationers still think timeshare is a good idea, despite the bad vibes sometimes associated with these vacation products.
Are you one of these people who are eager to explore the world of vacation savings via a reputable organization like Disney Vacation Club? Have you been searching fervently for an affordable entry point to this exciting concept?
‘DVC resales’ is likely one of the terms you’ve seen while researching this vacation product. Find out more about the DVC resale market and its benefits, here.
What Is the DVC Resale Market?
Signing up for a DVC membership is a long-term commitment, averaging around 50 years. When they commit to these arrangements, most owners are confident that they can make the necessary payments for the duration of the contract.
Yet, the pandemic’s taught us that it’s impossible to predict what can happen to your finances with absolute certainty. That means that some people end up with a DVC membership they can’t afford.
You can’t cancel a timeshare contract, so the only way out for these owners is to sell their weeks on the open market. DVC does request the first option to buy, but this rarely happens – if ever.
The DVC resale market exists to help these owners sell their weeks, albeit for vastly reduced prices.
That brings us to the first benefit of buying DVC resale. When you buy a resale unit, you aren’t helping line the coffers of a major company, you’re helping an ordinary person get out of debt.
1. How Does it Work?
When an owner decides to sell their contract, they must first offer it to Disney in writing. Once they receive a negative response, they can contact a DVC broker.
Brokers have real estate licenses, so they can advise you on the value of the contract and find a buyer at the highest possible price.
Anyone can buy points from a DVC reseller, including existing DVC owners. These are the steps involved:
- Determine how many points you need
- Browse DVC resale listings for the perfect match
- Arrange to finance the contract if necessary
- Make an offer
- Reach an agreement
- Close the contract
Once you’ve completed the process, you’ll receive a welcome letter from DVC and you can book your first vacation.
It’s a similar process to buying directly from Disney, but there are a few differences when buying DVC resale vs. direct.
2. DVC Resale Savings
When DVC members decide to sell their weeks, they never get a good return on their investment. Technically, they’ve already enjoyed that return from savings on their previous holidays.
The price of resale points currently varies from $97 at Boulder Ridge, to $161 for Grand Floridian. If you were to buy DVC direct from Disney at those two resorts, you’d pay $186 and $255 respectively.
Remember, you can’t buy a single point, you have to buy that portion of the member’s portfolio. So, the upfront price you’ll pay depends on the size of the contract you’re buying.
The availability of the contract also comes into play, i.e. whether you’re paying for current points or banked and borrowed points too. Some contracts, like extended contracts and subsidized dues contracts, have other intricacies that affect the price, too.
Prices also vary widely depending on how in-demand the resort is as well as its facilities and location.
3. You’re Not Losing Out on Much
When you buy resale DVC points, you can still enjoy all the amenities when you visit a resort. Yet some membership benefits of DVC are off-limits to those who buy from a resale broker.
If you buy resale points for any resort other than Riviera, you can’t vacation at this resort. You still have access to all the other DVC properties. If you buy Riviera points resale, you can’t book any of the other resorts.
You’ll also lose out on the following:
- A discount on annual passes
- Merchandise and dining discounts
- Access to member cruises & special member events
- Adventures by Disney
- The Concierge Collection
- The Disney Collection
Many owners don’t mind losing out on these extras in exchange for the savings they enjoy via resale points purchases.
4. An Easy Entry Point into DVC
If these few perks are important to you, there is a cheaper way to enjoy them. You can buy into DVC by purchasing the minimum amount of points direct from DVC, and then top up your portfolio with resale points.
This will give you access to a wider variety of resorts and longer vacations, plus all the benefits of a full-blown membership. The only difference is that you’ll pay a lot less for these privileges.
What’s more, you’ll need to go on a waiting list if you want to buy vacation ownership at some high-demand resorts, like Grand Californian or Beach Club Villas. These resorts have sold out, so DVC can only sell you these contracts if they’ve reclaimed them from other owners.
You’ve got a better chance of finding these resorts among the many DVC resale listings available.
5. Ongoing Benefits of Buying DVC Resale
The ongoing debate about whether you save on vacations with timeshare depends entirely on your vacation needs and financial circumstances.
Yet, the one certainty is that when you pay less upfront for the same outcome, you’re saving as much as you can. So, your DVC resale points reward you every time you book.
Make Informed Vacation Decisions
Are you ready to reap the rewards of the DVC resale market, or still on the fence about buying into the timeshare concept? You’re right to hesitate.
Buying a timeshare is akin to investing in a vacation home, without having to worry about its upkeep. So, it’s wise to weigh up the future expenses vs the vacation savings you’re likely to enjoy.
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