I really do trust everyone here on TUG, but how do I know "for sure" that Kierland is a mandatory resort and that I will get staroptions? Is it written somewhere in Starwood policy or on their website? I'd hate to buy a resale and have them say that the "mandatory" status does not apply to me!!!
The seller/current owner of the WKV unit should call SVO and ask for a "Resale Information Sheet" for the villa they are selling (or better yet, authorize you to have one emailed or faxed directly to you from SVO).
That sheet includes a detailed description of the property they are selling, including the current owners’ name, the villa (season, first available occupancy year, annual vs. EOY, status of maintenance fee payments, contract number, unit number (for deeding purposes only), and week number (for deeding purposes only)). It will have boxes checked for whether there is a Right of First Refusal (No will be checked for WKV units), and the amount of any required transfer fee (No will be checked for WKV units).
That form also includes this section:
Box 1 - "(Voluntary Resorts) Starwood Vacation Network and Vistana Plus Disclosure Statement: Membership in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN) or Vistana Plus is a benefit unique to the seller's ownership. Under the SVN Rules and the Owner Membership Agreement, membership in SVN or Vistana Plus, the Starpoints associated with the Gold Level Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program (SPG), and access to the SPG Conversion Program
cannot be transferred to the purchaser."
Box 2 – “(Club Resorts) Starwood Vacation Network Disclosure Statement: Membership in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN)
must transfer with ownership; however, the benefit of Gold Level Membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest Program (SPG), and access to the SPG Conversion Program are not transferable. Starpoints deposited in the seller’s account will remain there and cannot be transferred.”
Box 3 – “(Not Applicable) This resort does not participate in any type of club memberships at this time.”
Just make sure that “Box 2” (above) is checked for WKV (and it should be since ALL villas at WKV are “club resorts,”) and you will be good to go.
BTW, The legal name for the Westin Kierland Villas is the “Scottsdale Sonoran Villas,” (the timeshare only licenses use of the Westin name, which license can be pulled at any time by Starwood). To be legit, the “Resale Information Sheet” must be “signed” (electronic signatures are OK) by an “agent for Scottsdale Sonoran Villas Owners Assoc.”
To help with your due diligence, you should also enter the seller’s name into
this database.
Look for anything unusual, such as an unpaid-off mortgage/loan, which the lawyers call a “deed of trust,” and any conveyances of that property from that owner to someone else (which will be through a document the lawyers call a “warranty deed” and/or a “special warranty deed”).
Good Luck!
-nodge