I'm a Marriott owner and have been for 22 years. Sure, the up front cost and the HOA fees are part of the usage cost. Ours is deeded property for the weeks (we have a 2BR lock out feature which doubles our one week to two).
Investment, NO, but if used properly all you have done is pay up front for future vacations. We have been very satisfied with our Marriott venture for 22 years and we've not used any foreign destination. I'm a USA guy, too many nice places here. We've used our weeks, plus purchased twice that many over the 22 years. Plus we have a guaranteed buy back from Marriott.
There are people that consider their purchase well worth the $$$ spent. Over those 22 years, if we would have paid the cost of the weeks we used, we would have spent at least TWICE the cost of the unit purchased plus HOA fees. Was it an investment? NO! It was having that vacation available and paid.
So it is not all bad as many of you think.
Investment, NO, but if used properly all you have done is pay up front for future vacations. We have been very satisfied with our Marriott venture for 22 years and we've not used any foreign destination. I'm a USA guy, too many nice places here. We've used our weeks, plus purchased twice that many over the 22 years. Plus we have a guaranteed buy back from Marriott.
There are people that consider their purchase well worth the $$$ spent. Over those 22 years, if we would have paid the cost of the weeks we used, we would have spent at least TWICE the cost of the unit purchased plus HOA fees. Was it an investment? NO! It was having that vacation available and paid.
So it is not all bad as many of you think.