Is Buying into DVC While You're Young a Good Investment?

I don't think it's a bad idea if you're going to vacation for twenty years and have the money to do that.

My point would be run the numbers; not trying to be a downer because I know the feeling of wanting dvc, but if you really look at the numbers of financing riviera, it may be the worst deal in history. Im not a "never finance" person, however I'd look at buying a small contract resale if you have to have dvc. I echo others about buying with someone you aren't married to, especially if you're buying riviera which you really don't know what it will be worth if you have to sell it in a few years.
 
Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Congrats...100 points is worth at least $1,600 assuming you can use them at RR

Now that you are an owner, here are some crucial tips

1. never let any points go unused, it is better to borrow than bank and not use them
2. try to pay the loan off ASAP if financed
3. research the best way to maximize your points
4. try other resorts
5. only use points for DVC - never for a cruise or RCI/II trading
6. Buy a RR shirt to remind you of home
7. watch the sunset from the roof top lounge with a drink in hand
8. visit RR and skip the theme parks once or twice
9. take your significant other to Victoria & Alberts
10. Keep active on DISboards

My point would be run the numbers; not trying to be a downer because I know the feeling of wanting dvc, but if you really look at the numbers of financing riviera, it may be the worst deal in history.

That is not the worst deal in history....it is just an expensive purchase when adding financing fees. But they are young and have 50 years to use and enjoy this.
 
I am not trying to bash anyone's decisions I just could tell that the OP really wanted dvc and stressed looking at the numbers first. I actually did not see the OP posted and had already bought in.

I still would recommend trying to pay it down as fast as possible; between interest and dues and principal 100 points is about $40,000 spent in the first ten years.
 
Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Thank you all again!

You definitely jumped in whole-heartedly & I truly wish you the best for years to come! Welcome!!

Now, I’d like to throw in my $0.02 regarding the term “investment.” Many pointed out that the DVC is not one, and strictly financially speaking, they would be correct. But I believe they neglected to look at the broader meaning (and possibly even the intent) with that particular wording. We do, in fact, invest time and money into many things which we do not expect financial gain from. My husband and I considered a “true investment” (a rental property near Disney) first, but in the end, we remembered the primary reason for that particular purchase: to invest in our relationship(s), future vacations, and our health... so for us, the DVC easily won out! In that regard, it has been a wonderful investment and I’m thankful for it every day!! Our investments with money that have the sole purpose of making us money go through a much different filter and take us in very different directions... as it should.

(Obviously, a purchase of this size shouldn’t be purely emotional either, and one shouldn’t invest into anything they cannot afford... but that’s just common sense.)
 


My husband and I married young. We bought into DVC at around your ages when we were married.

From a legal stance I would wait until you are married to buy DVC.

From a financial perspective, do either of you have student loans or other loans? You mentioned that your fiance would be going back to school, are you getting loans for that or paying cash? Do you own a home or plan on buying a home in the near future? I would not buy DVC without knowing what your full big financial obligations will be in the future, and looking at the grand picture of what kind of situation you will be in. Having a contract is a financial yearly burden, plus you have money tied up in it that you might end up wanting or needing.

I definitely would not finance DVC since the interest rate is crazy. Therefore, if you owe a lot in loans, or if you can't pay cash I would not buy DVC. DVC is only fun if you can hold onto it and afford it. It definitely isn't cheap. We have to pay dues each year, plus we do more trips and get annual passes now. Before we purchased DVC we did Disney on the cheap. We would stay off property at a cheap hotel and whatnot. Moderate Disney resorts can be quite cheap at times too.

Because of the time that we bought our resale contracts we did quite good "financially". To the point, that if we sold our resale contracts now I believe we wouldn't be out anything when compared to what we bought them for. In this current DVC era though, it looks like the most benefit comes with owning the contracts over a longer period of time. It would not be good to buy direct (or possibly resale) and have to sell it in a few years. I would make sure you are financially stable, so that you can hold onto your contracts for as long as you are interested in Disney.

The specific DVC route we went was buying resale. The only direct contract we own is for 25 points, so we could get full member privileges. Disney has since increased the minimum on direct points for full benefits to 100. I would recommend resale over direct.


Edit to note:
Just saw your update of buying. Congrats! There is a 10 days period where you can rescind your purchase if you and your fiance want. So, maybe keep thinking about all of it now that you have bought in. It's a nice window of time to make sure you both made the right decision.
 
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My husband and I married young. We bought into DVC at around your ages when we were married.

From a legal stance I would wait until you are married to buy DVC.

From a financial perspective, do either of you have student loans or other loans? You mentioned that your fiance would be going back to school, are you getting loans for that or paying cash? Do you own a home or plan on buying a home in the near future? I would not buy DVC without knowing what your full big financial obligations will be in the future, and looking at the grand picture of what kind of situation you will be in. Having a contract is a financial yearly burden, plus you have money tied up in it that you might end up wanting or needing.

I definitely would not finance DVC since the interest rate is crazy. Therefore, if you owe a lot in loans, or if you can't pay cash I would not buy DVC. DVC is only fun if you can hold onto it and afford it. It definitely isn't cheap. We have to pay dues each year, plus we do more trips and get annual passes now. Before we purchased DVC we did Disney on the cheap. We would stay off property at a cheap hotel and whatnot. Moderate Disney resorts can be quite cheap at times too.

Because of the time that we bought our resale contracts we did quite good "financially". To the point, that if we sold our resale contracts now I believe we wouldn't be out anything when compared to what we bought them for. In this current DVC era though, it looks like the most benefit comes with owning the contracts over a longer period of time. It would not be good to buy direct (or possibly resale) and have to sell it in a few years. I would make sure you are financially stable, so that you can hold onto your contracts for as long as you are interested in Disney.

The specific DVC route we went was buying resale. The only direct contract we own is for 25 points, so we could get full member privileges. Disney has since increased the minimum on direct points for full benefits to 100. I would recommend resale over direct.


Edit to note:
Just saw your update of buying. Congrats! There is a 10 days period where you can rescind your purchase if you and your fiance want. So, maybe keep thinking about all of it now that you have bought in. It's a nice window of time to make sure you both made the right decision.

I hope the OP reads the PP. These points have already been stated by others, but let it serve as a testament to the depth of knowledge people here on the boards have. Everyone here is just looking out for everyone's best interests.

The OP ended her last post with "Glad to finally be a member!", which tells me that perhaps the decision to purchase was more about heart than head. I understand the pride in being able to say "I'm a DVC Member!", but do not feel that it is worth such a large price, especially when financing. That same amount of money can be used towards a car or a home, things that you'll use everyday. DVC is only used X amount of days a year. That's why I, and others, have recommended that all other important things are taken care of first.

Though I respectfully disagree with buying DVC in this scenario (20s should be spent traveling the globe!), in the end, it's the OPs decision. Welcome Home.
 
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Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Thank you all again!

Congratulations on buying. Enjoy your vacations.
 


Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Thank you all again!
Congrats and welcome home neighbors! When ya'll do get married it is very easy to get the name change done on the deed if you both signed your names to it already. They just need a copy of the marriage certificate
 
OP. Welcome Home! I hope you enjoy your DVC Membership for a long while! :)
 
Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Thank you all again!

Excellent. If you knew you were going to do it, doing it before the price went up was absolutely the right decision.
 
Congratulations and welcome home!

We own at RIV also. I think with a 100 point contract and incentives, an $18,000 ish loan isn't a terrible thing to have - it's less than many people's car payments. And RIV seems to be holding *enough* value that you wouldn't be out too terribly much if you had to sell. One benefit that those of us with kids have forgotten is the ability to be very flexible with time off. 100 points will get you some nice stays in a tower or standard studio in value season, so enjoy! And it's a small enough contract that if you're financially squeezed for a year or two, renting out the points will help pay the dues and then some.

I'm sure you've thought about this, but many couples register for contributions for a honeymoon instead of stuff like linens and dishes - your upcoming wedding could be a good way to pay down that loan pretty easily.

My story is a little different, but we also bought in big when we were finally ready, and a part of me wishes that we had just bought a small contract back when we were younger. If only that crystal ball had worked. DH and I celebrated our 25th anniversary at WDW. We married in our 20s, both in school with some pretty sizeable school debt. I'd grown up going to WDW (and DL), like you, but he had not. so it took some time for him to get into the Disney bubble. (We did look into honeymooning at WDW and doing the Disney Institute... !!! that dates us.)

We had a modest wedding; our parents helped out with a down payment on a house so we were able to buy a house right away, we drove used cars until they had 200k miles on them, etc. We waited 17 years to have kids - almost too late - and paid off all our school debt before we thought about WDW. But I look at some of the choices that we made - back when we were engaged, we were going to spend $3000 on a Sandals vacation, and that would have bought 50 points at OKW free and clear. DANG! If we had taken any of the money we spent on any single vacation splurge back in the 90s, we would have had points at Disney for a lot less than we paid 20+ years later.

No regrets on our part, though. And I'm grinning vicariously for you. Enjoy and congratulations.
 
I still would recommend trying to pay it down as fast as possible; between interest and dues and principal 100 points is about $40,000 spent in the first ten years.

$36,500 assuming 100% financing and 10% interest and obviously the more $ put down and the lower the interest rate, the better.

We own at RIV also. I think with a 100 point contract and incentives, an $18,000 ish loan isn't a terrible thing to have - it's less than many people's car payments. And RIV seems to be holding *enough* value that you wouldn't be out too terribly much if you had to sell.

What????....$18,000 loan at 10% or more interest is terrible, but at 4% is not so terrible.

Unfortunately Disney charges high interest rates and that is obscene profit taking.

Agreed that if anyone has to sell, they will lose money, probably $30pp (don't forget sales commissions) and that is $3,000 for 100 points and hopefully, the seller would have had the ability to use the points for a few years taking the sting out of the $3,000 loss.
 
Again, I appreciate everyone's input as it was very helpful to help us make a decision. We decided to buy in and along with that, we got 100 "free" points and we were able to lock in RIV's pricing before it was scheduled to go up. We both thoroughly enjoyed our experience there and ultimately we could see ourselves spending many vacations at that resort alone. Everyone has their opinions but, for me, RIV is very homey and reminds me of the time I spent in Europe, as well. Glad to finally be a member!

Thank you all again!


Good for you! I am sure that 20 years from now you are going to look back and say, I'm so glad we bought when we did! I think Riviera is beautiful. Have fun and Welcome Home!
 
$200 a point is nuts. We bought our in 1997 direct at $50 a point. Add on annual fees and it's a whole lot of cash.
 
Hi All!

My fiance and I just returned from our first Disney vacation together (his first, not mine) and we went on a DVC tour at the Riviera resort. He has since become a "Disney person" and we have been seriously considering buying in to DVC while the points are in a decent price point. We are fairly young, 23 and 22 respectively, and I have a full time job as a human resource specialist and he is returning to school full-time. I do have the ability to take on the cost fully without him but, he will also contribute.

We all know the value of the points will increase and hotel and ticket costs will increase, but is it worth it to make that big of a commitment. We will most likely start with the 100 points and then increase as we have children. My thought is that after its paid off, the maintenance fees will seem insignificant to the overall value we will get.

We are not necessarily long vacationers (4 to 5 days max) and we have a lot of flexibility to travel during slower times of the year. We are definitely coming back to WDW but, does paying more now and accumulating points while we pay it off seem worth it?

I would love to hear more opinions on how long it took for you to make the commitment, what sold you on the membership, how you get the most value out of your members, etc!

Please use this as a thread as an free discussion of all aspects of DVC membership!
DV is a prepaid vacation, there is no guarantee the value of points will increase.
 
Though I respectfully disagree with buying DVC in this scenario (20s should be spent traveling the globe!), in the end, it's the OPs decision. Welcome Home.

Absolutely! And we plan on traveling as well, (I spent 2 weeks in Europe by myself) and this does not mean we won't do those things. We just know we want to make this commitment to ensure we will have plenty of time to enjoy our membership as well.

We are also prepared to rent out points and just pay on it but, I am hoping to use the "free" points at VGC and RIV later this year! :)
 
Absolutely! And we plan on traveling as well, (I spent 2 weeks in Europe by myself) and this does not mean we won't do those things. We just know we want to make this commitment to ensure we will have plenty of time to enjoy our membership as well.

We are also prepared to rent out points and just pay on it but, I am hoping to use the "free" points at VGC and RIV later this year! :)
So when you say free does that mean you bought X amount of points and they added in extra for a deal or is it due to your use year?
 

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