Hello, my name is Syed Sarmad and I’m the principal broker for Advantage Vacation. Advantage Vacation is a licensed real estate company specializing in timeshare resales. Our office is now located in Hawaii.
I have been in the timeshare industry for over 35 years – 20 years of which have been in California. Today I would like to talk about the California timeshare market and timeshare resales in California. Before I go into the different regions of where timeshares exist in California, I’d like to talk about timeshares in general and the type of companies that are out there.
Marriott Shadow Ridge Golf Course
I think there are 3 types of companies out there. You have what’s called the “first generation” of timeshares of which many consist of converted hotels, converted apartments and converted condominium buildings – typically managed by non-name brand timeshare companies. Then you have the name brand timeshare companies, for example Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham and Hyatt. Finally, you have points based timeshare programs.
There are four main areas of timeshares in California – the Lake Tahoe area, the San Francisco, Carmel-Monterrey, Pacific Grove area and then you have the Southern California coastal timeshare market and finally you have the Palm Springs or the desert timeshares.
In particular I’d like to talk about the San Francisco timeshares. Many of the city timeshares entitle the owners to use it a couple days at a time. San Francisco, Carmel and Monterrey areas are exceedingly high demand areas and timeshares are very limited. It would be a very good idea, if you want to make San Francisco a destination you would like to travel to, I would recommend that you consider owning a timeshare instead of relying on the exchange networks to bring you there. The reason is largely because people have the opportunity to split their weeks into days in some of these San Francisco timeshares, therefore fewer weeks are being banked into an exchange network like RCI and Interval International for an exchange guest to make an exchange into.
In Southern California and the coastal area, the greatest time of demand for California timeshare resales is in the months of June, July and August. Even though Southern California has a demand year round, the greatest demand is during those months. Often times people experience difficulty when they own a floating week timeshare in these coastal California timeshares getting the time that they want, especially if they want to travel in the months of June, July or August.
Therefore, in a market like that it might be wise to consider looking at a fixed week timeshare that way you are assured of getting accommodations.
Highlands Inn Carmel
The Palm Springs and Lake Tahoe areas generally have availability of inventory and reservations are not that difficult to get.
It is always best to plan your reservations a maximum of 12 months or 24 months in advance that the Association would allow you to do.
Now as far as looking for California timeshare resales in the area, as far as valuation goes, it is wise to work with a good, knowledgeable real estate agent who can provide you with a background of the company that manages it, what special assessments that resort might have had, the escalation of maintenance fees, what the rental value of the timeshare unit is during the time you like to travel – look into the research of all of this and I think it will provide you with invaluable information in making your next decision.
I hope this information has been helpful. Thank you very much.
You may want to view the California timeshares video:
For additional general information about timeshare resales and a Timeshare Market Update for 2014, check out our video and blog resources:
Video:
What to look for when buying a timeshare resale:
Blog article:
Buying a California timeshare resale on the secondary market is much less expensive than purchasing direct from the developer because of the fact that the developer incurs marketing costs that are passed on to the consumer. It is the developer who sets the price on the retail market. On the secondary market of time share resale, prices are determined by individuals and current market conditions.
A timeshare interval should be purchased for enjoyment. The purchase of timeshare resales ensures that you will be able to vacation and spend quality time with your family and friends each year. You might want to think of it as vacation insurance for all your future vacations!
Syed Sarmad, Principal Broker for Advantage Vacation
