Owners on resale

Just came back from obbr and really enjoyed it. Am a Marriott owner and traded there. Am thinking of buying a resale. Wondering if resale owners are given equity at the unit, or experience difficulty booking the weeks they want, etc. I know as a resale owner you cannot upgrade your studio, but want to know, with all of the fixed week drive going on there, will resale owners get put to the end of the line in regards to booking their week? Is there anyone who is a resale owner there? What has been your experience? Thanks.

I purchased 2 weeks on eBay last year and have been able to book the weeks I wanted AND was able to upgrade as well. I personally have not experienced any sort of restrictions as a "resale owner". They even do a lockout upgrade where yo can upgrade one week in a studio to a week in a studio and another week in a 1BR.

There is one restriction on resales that I am aware of. Resale owners can not upgrade to a 2 bedroom and then split that it into a one bedroom and a studio over two consecutive weeks.That is a unique feature at OBBR that I have never heard of elsewhere.

I am also considering buying at OBBR, but prices are much cheaper online than through company. Appeal of the split weeks is a draw for me. So you cannot do split/upgrades on resales?

I've never had a problem with upgrading my resale contracted units at time of reservation. I typically make my reservations for the next year while staying there annually.

I dont know if you purchased already. We bought a resale two summers ago and funny enough I am a marriott owner also and traded to get there. we loved the location but haven't been able to return with 3 in college now.

Mine is a 2BR front oceanview suite floating week. and we are allowed to upgrade to a penthouse if anything is avail

I have been an obbr VIP ownerfor15years & just recently started buying multiple resale timeshares for their recent renovation of $20million has been unbelievable & there has been more & more requests all year around. I hope to have 30-40obbr timeshares over the next 8-10years so my parents can enjoy & I can visit whenever I want, maybe even rent a few weeks too.

Great feedback, thanks. I was curious about that at first as well.

want another ;)

I am a floating week owner at OBBR and have been able to get my requests for the last 10 years. This year, I was on a waiting list for a one bedroom and for next year, which I requested exactly one year ahead of time, I was told there was no available 2 bedroom for upgrade even though I requested the first day I was allowed to. They are reselling everything they can as a fixed week and that is pushing out floating week owners in winter. I like it very much there but the fixed week prices are outrageous for what their asking of current owners. You can get a much better fixed week rate at the Westin.

I have been an obbr owner for 15years as well. There have been plenty of 2br to upgrade to. I have been able to upgrade to three of them. The only weeks that are tough is Dec1stthru Feb 28th, their peak season. I think the only reason theyhavehad more visitors is because ofthe$20million expansion over the last 2-3years. I know ihavecalledevery 7-10days on a week and have finallygotwhat I wanted...just need to keep trying because theyhavetoldme over theyearsthatthey get 20-30vip owners to call in everyday to either book a week, deposit a week or upgrade to another one. I hope this is helpful & you continue to visit obbr when you can. Westin is a great propertyhoweverthe staff isn't as great as obbr. Love their casino tho.

I'm sorry, I read your post and shook my head. I have owned at the Royal Islander since 1989 and I love it. However, to buy 30 to 40 units and pay a maintenance fee on all of those is so crazy. If you have $30,000 to $40,000 to throw out the window, why not just buy a home there on the ocean and actually really own it, vs time sharing it? I think (no, make I know) that would be a very horrific financial decision unless you have so much money that you don't have to worry about blowing that a year on fee's.

We came to Oyster Bay in 2010 and 2011 with my parents. We bought in 2011. We payed the asking price! Even though I knew better. We want a second week but will be buying on the secondary market too.

I'd be very careful about buying at OBBR. Long time owners are being pushed out for fixed weeks and conversion to resident condos. I paid $14,000 for one week studio upgradable to two bedroom in 2000. You can buy this online now for about $3,500. I don't think there is a future here for owners unless you are willing to invest a lot more money. If I could get anything out of this, I would sell. It's cheaper to rent a house in Oyster Pond with 2-3 bedrooms than it is to buy timeshare and pay maintenance

VERY good insight, thank you. I thought I was missing something by not being an owner here in OBBR. I LOVE ST. MAARTEN AND LOVE DAWNS BEACH BUT..........seems cheaper to visit via rental of a house or hotel, and just as easy.

Just returned and if I had it to do all over again, I would not buy here. They are investing a lot of money in the new marina and not the units. The renovations were suppose to be completed a year ago (we were told then) and seems to have stalled. Agree that floating owners are getting pushed out as they keep selling. Not a happy owner

I am a resale owner there & we've never had any problems with booking in advance at all. I would always advise an Owner to book at least 6-12months in advance for any peak times from Nov-March but usually there's some availability with 60-90days notice as well. I know more & more owners, renters and online shoppers are booking more often since they spent $22million on renovations the last 2-3years. I currently own 8weeks every year & usually use 2-4wks personally & rent out the rest of the weeks I hope this helps in your decision making process. Feel free to call me with any questions. Sincerely, Sean Stobart, President All Executive Limo & Travel 404.550.3451

lynn704 wrote:

Just came back from obbr and really enjoyed it. Am a Marriott owner and traded there. Am thinking of buying a resale. Wondering if resale owners are given equity at the unit, or experience difficulty booking the weeks they want, etc. I know as a resale owner you cannot upgrade your studio, but want to know, with all of the fixed week drive going on there, will resale owners get put to the end of the line in regards to booking their week? Is there anyone who is a resale owner there? What has been your experience? Thanks.

Do you rent your two bedroom. Are you in the bldg with the elevators

Lisa, Thank you for your concern on my "financial concern", but I own a limousine and travel service out of Atlanta & have 35-40 timeshares at 20+ beach getaways all over the place such as Barbados, Aruba, Bonaire, Bahamas, Saint Martin, Saint John, Paris, Marbella Spain, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, South Beach Miami, Saint Augustine, Destin and Los Cabos Mexico. The main reason that I bought a dozen of these is because I love to travel& my parents are about to retire & I want to be able to give them options to go play 4-6weeks a year to travel & explore places that they haven't been yet. I'm loading up on my Staroptions to use any Westin, W or St Regis hotels worldwide in 1200 locations for them to use on my dime. Furthermore, I've built a limousine company that has 3500+ amazing clients that call us twice a week, twice a month & twice a year. We extended that service to give them options on travel to exclusive, higher end beach resorts & beach getaways. I agree with you that it is cheaper to buy a house on Oyster Pond and do it that way but it's not just me and my parents anymore. I now have 150+ VIP clients that love to travel & have been consulting them on travel options & finding out what their travel preferences are first & try to match them up with our in-house rentals. I hope that explains my program a little better. I do enjoy traveling 7-10weeks a year wherever I decide to travel with options. Sincerely, Sean Stobart, President All Executive Limo & Travel 404.550.3451 Allexecutive@mindspring.com

I do rent most of my two bedroom units, however they are on the ocean view & marina view on the southern part of the resort closest to the beach without the elevator access. The only units that have elevator access are the two buildings adjacent to the lighthouse tower. I hope this helps. Sean