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Original Message:

Re: Marriott Vacation Club Points (by Den):

Answers:

1. Maintenance fees were billed at $0.604 per point for 2021 (3,500 x $0.604 = $2,114 per year). You will also pay a membership fee of about $200 per year depending on your ownership level.

2. Closing costs - about $1,000

3. Reservation access is year round - points expended per reservation vary by property and season.

Other considerations:

1. Consider the cost of 3,500 points - approx $42,000 (3,500 x $12.00 per pt) upfront cost and $2,200 in annual maintenance fees. You may borrow to buy this at 13.99% on a 10 year note.

2. Consider what you can do with 3,500 points per year. For example a prime 2 bdrm summer week at Newport Coast would use 4,700 points. A prime 2 bdrm summer week in Branson would use 2,400 points. Just be aware that your 3,500 points will not provide much vacation.

3. Consider renting what you want each year - the aforementioned Newport Coast week could be rented for about $2,600 per week - no other cost to you.

4. Consider buying a prime week or two - Example - buy a Newport Coast, platinum week for less than $8,000 per week with annual maintenance fees of less than $1,500. These are the same weeks you would acquire with points - you can use, rent out for about $2,600, or deposit for exchange through Interval.

Final comment - Your initial $42,000 will disappear with no residual value once you buy. All you will have left is points (a fictional currency good only for point reservations) and you get to pay maintenance fees.

Now, good luck in making an informed decision.

I hope this helps.