Condo Resales

You don’t often hear me say that you should put your timeshare vacation plans on hold. But if you own timeshare weeks in Kenya, now is probably not the time to plan a Kenya timeshare holiday. Over the past two years, I have written several timeshare blogs about the fact that Africa timeshare is really beginning to come into its own. South Africa in particular is an up and coming market for timeshare resort development, timeshare resales, and condo resales. While Africa, from mysterious Morocco all the way to cosmopolitan Cape Town, has always attracted adventure seekers, I have to think that reality TV shows like Survivor, The Amazing Race, Survivorman and perhaps even Meerkat Manor have inspired people to pick up a camera and a pith helmet and plan a safari vacation.

But before you make your travel plans for an Africa timeshare vacation, keep in mind current political and civil unrest in some parts of the continent. In October, the US Department of State issued a warning about the risks of travel to Kenya, stating, “American citizens in Kenya should remain vigilant, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as clubs, hotels, resorts, upscale shopping centers, restaurants, and places of worship. Americans should also remain vigilant in residential areas, schools, and at outdoor recreational events, and should avoid demonstrations and large crowds.”

Since that time, the Department of State has updated that warning twice, most recently on January 11, adding, “US citizens should strongly consider the risks of travel to Kenya at this time and defer non-essential travel to the three provinces of Nyanza, Western, and Rift Valley…Although widespread violence, demonstrations, and looting in Nairobi and throughout Kenya have subsided, there is a potential for spontaneous violence in the current political climate…Road travel in western Kenya remains unsafe.”

Likewise, the British Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to Kenya. The British Federation of Tour Operators continues the suspension of travel and tours to Kenya that began last month and urges all travel and tour agents to either rebook travelers to other destinations or refund their money. Previously scheduled tour flights from the United Kingdom to Kenya continue, but only for the purpose of providing travelers already there with a way to leave the county.

In tomorrow’s Timeshare Owners Blog, I am going to talk about strategies for timeshare owners if your timeshare resort is located in an area that is experiencing crime or unrest, and the important role Sell My Timeshare NOW can play in assisting you.

Remember that for US citizens, the Consular Information Program provides the most accurate and up to date information about security conditions for travel in all parts of the world. You can visit their website or contact them by calling 888-407-4747 from the U.S. and Canada or 202-501-4444 from outside the U.S. and Canada as a regular toll call. British citizens should check the website for the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk

The US State Department’s Travel Advisory for Kenya will be reevaluated on February 12.

Kenya Timeshare Resales and Timeshare Rentals

• Mnarani Club
• Royal Reserve Safari & Beach Club

Solana Beach could become the first city on the California coast to ban the development of California timeshare resorts. While I understand their objective of protecting their tourism dollars, I personally don’t think banning timeshare condos and timeshare resorts is the answer.

The problem has arisen because some Solana Beach residents and business people view the conversion of coastal hotel properties into timeshare resorts as “privatizing” beachside property that should be available to tourists. The San Diego Union Tribune says that the Solana Beach city council has been considering this move for more than a year.

On December 12, the council approved a ban that includes three types of property within the commercially zoned areas of Solana Beach: condo-hotels or condotels; fractional ownerships, including traditional timeshare real estate; and any other timeshare arrangement for property ownership not covered by the first two. Some existing timeshare real estate in Solana Beach is to be excluded because it is considered to have ownership through non-conforming use agreements.

While timeshare real estate and condotels sound to most of us like they should be good for tourism, the Solana Beach city commission’s concern is that some condotels cost as much as $600 per night, a price they consider to be out of the range of many tourists. Yet as one Solana Beach property owner says, “Why would you want to make a financially reasonable way to own property in our very desirous town unattainable to many? By outlawing this form of ownership you would be needlessly shutting out opportunity to many.”

The city is expected to formally approve the ban in its next meeting, which would then make it effective 30 days after the approval.

Overall, this question has been raised in many locations. Do timeshare owners spend less money than hotel guests spend in the local restaurants and at area attractions because they tend to stay on property at the resort, using eat-in kitchens and other timeshare resort facilities? Or, because they save money in the long run on their vacation costs, do timeshare owners have more money to splurge on dining out, recreational activities, shopping, and themed attractions?

I’d love to hear your take on the situation. If you’d like to share your thoughts, be sure to post your comments here on the blog.

And if you are looking for opportunities in California timeshare resales and California timeshare rentals, visit Sell My Timeshare NOW. Here is a list of a few of some of the many good deals you will find in timeshare resales in the San Diego area:

• Lawrence Welk Resort Villas
• Winners Circle Beach & Tennis Resort
• Harbor Vacations Club San Diego
• Gaslamp Plaza Suites
• Wyndham San Diego at Harbour Lights
• Lawrence Welk Resort Villas on the Greens
• Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara

Before you buy vacation property, learn the facts.

According to statistics recently released by the National Association of Realtors, four out of every ten homes sold are purchased either as investment properties or as a second home. As today’s baby boomer generation enters their peak income earning years, as well as comes into inherited money from previous generations, this trend is expected to escalate.

The vacation home market it thriving and with it comes new options for ownership beyond the traditional cabin in the woods or condo on the beach. Fractionals and private residence clubs are choices for people looking to buy deeded property to use on a part time basis. Destination clubs are another option in which owners do not acquire a deed to a specific property but instead gain the right to use a portfolio of homes.

Condo hotels or condotels are actual operating hotel properties that offer some or all of their suites for sale to individuals. While the hotel units may be privately owned, the condo hotel management assumes responsibility for running the hotel and providing contracted management of the units to be rented like regular hotel rooms. Owners can schedule the units at any time for their personal use.

And of course, there are timeshares and vacation club memberships which offer a variety of products from deeded ownerships, to right-to-use, to points-based programs. Timeshares enable you to buy vacation property yet pay for only the days and nights you actually schedule to use. While new timeshare in 2005 sold for an average price of more than $17,000 per week or interval, resale timeshare is available at much lower prices. If you are among the many people who are looking for vacation ownership, ARDA, the American Resort Development Association, has developed the following questionnaire to help you decide which option is best for your lifestyle and your budget:

1. How much time will we be using the vacation home?
2. Is the destination choice difficult to purchase in, or seem over-valued due to location popularity?
3. Are we looking at this second home as an investment and/or family legacy, or perhaps primarily as an annual ‘go to’ vacation spot?
4. How much time and money are we willing to invest in home maintenance or decor?
5. Is it important to be in the same vacation home every time we visit the area, or do we prefer variety?
6. What level of luxury are we seeking, and are we realistically able to achieve it in a second home?
7. Is it important for the vacation home to be deeded?
8. What is our annual vacation budget?

Here’s one more important addition to the list: Before you buy any vacation property, visit www.sellmytimesharenow.com and look into your opportunity to buy resale timeshare at excellent prices.

Overlooking the Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates is the seventy-four story Dubai Torch Tower. When completed in 2008, the building will house between 200 and 500 apartment units, as well as numerous indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a health club, gymnasium, restaurants, aerobics room, shops and parking garages.

Dubai Select has recently announced that they will sell timeshare condo units in the prestigious Torch Tower. The units will be available for exchange through Interval International’s worldwide interval timeshare network and will be sold in two-week increments.

The entire Marina project is an amazing undertaking. It is billed as the world’s largest man-made marina and the world’s largest master planned waterfront development. The design objective has been to create a city within a city, with the marina area offering the best and most luxurious in a city already known for opulent luxury.

The first phase of the Dubai Marina in Al Marsa was completed in 2003 at a cost of roughly $200 million US dollars. Built to be a modern interpretation of Venice, this waterside community occupies valuable real estate on the Persian Gulf. Man-made lakes on both sides of the community connect the land with the sea. A 700-berth marina, already completed, accommodates ships and yachts of all sizes.

The Torch Tower is among the tallest skyscrapers which will be in the community, although a few of the buildings rise about it with roughly 100 stories.