We just signed a purchase agreement with Starwood at Kierland in Scottsdale. We purchased four weeks (two two-bedroom lockout units). The Starwood list price was $20K per unit. Each unit is worth 81,000 Star options or 48,000 Star points. Combined, this purchase represents 162,000 Star options or 96,000 Star points for trading purposes. We thought we had gotten a good deal with this purchase.
We've been owners at the Sheraton Desert Oasis for some years. I currently own two weeks at the Desert Oasis and we love it. We picked up the Desert Oasis properties on the resale market for about $600 total. Our combined maintenance fees at the Desert Oasis is about $1350 annually. During our most recent stay (Oct. 20-27) we took in the owners update meeting ($100 AMEX gift card) for two hours of our time. During the presentation, Starwood clued us into an owners upgrade program that lets us trade in our two weeks ownership at the Desert Oasis Under the program, we received full credit for the original purchase price for each of the one bedroom units that we acquired on the resale market. On paper, that worked out to approximately $18,000 in equity trade-in value that Starwood was giving us. (Not a bad return for an initial $600 cash outlay).
Applying the $18,000 trade-in equity towards the $40,000 list price for the Kieran units left us with a balance of $22,000 to pay off.
So what does this $22,000 investment buy us? Gold Elite status for life with SPG? Four weeks at a property we really like? Access to Star points for hotel/airfare? We own two properties at HGVC. We've exercised our trading options through HGVC over the years for air travel and cruises. We see SPG giving us similar travel and vacation flexibility. But is having that flexibility worth the cost? These are some the questions we have.
We love the Scottsdale area and plan to add an additional two weeks to our portfolio. Is the Starwood offer a reasonable course of action or should we rescind and pursue other avenues on the resale market? I'm in day one of seven on our right to rescind. The perspective from the forurm users is appreciated. Thanks.
We've been owners at the Sheraton Desert Oasis for some years. I currently own two weeks at the Desert Oasis and we love it. We picked up the Desert Oasis properties on the resale market for about $600 total. Our combined maintenance fees at the Desert Oasis is about $1350 annually. During our most recent stay (Oct. 20-27) we took in the owners update meeting ($100 AMEX gift card) for two hours of our time. During the presentation, Starwood clued us into an owners upgrade program that lets us trade in our two weeks ownership at the Desert Oasis Under the program, we received full credit for the original purchase price for each of the one bedroom units that we acquired on the resale market. On paper, that worked out to approximately $18,000 in equity trade-in value that Starwood was giving us. (Not a bad return for an initial $600 cash outlay).
Applying the $18,000 trade-in equity towards the $40,000 list price for the Kieran units left us with a balance of $22,000 to pay off.
So what does this $22,000 investment buy us? Gold Elite status for life with SPG? Four weeks at a property we really like? Access to Star points for hotel/airfare? We own two properties at HGVC. We've exercised our trading options through HGVC over the years for air travel and cruises. We see SPG giving us similar travel and vacation flexibility. But is having that flexibility worth the cost? These are some the questions we have.
We love the Scottsdale area and plan to add an additional two weeks to our portfolio. Is the Starwood offer a reasonable course of action or should we rescind and pursue other avenues on the resale market? I'm in day one of seven on our right to rescind. The perspective from the forurm users is appreciated. Thanks.