Buying DVC Resale

Guide to Buying DVC Resale

Purchasing DVC resale provides an affordable pathway to Disney Vacation Club ownership at prices significantly below Disney's direct offerings. Understanding the resale buying process helps prospective owners navigate transactions successfully from initial research through closing and membership activation to your first vacation booking.

Starting Your Search

Begin by determining your priorities including preferred resort, desired point quantity, budget constraints, and use year preferences. These criteria guide your search and help identify contracts matching your vacation ownership goals. Flexibility on some factors expands available options and may improve value opportunities in the current market significantly.

Research current market pricing for your target resort to establish realistic price expectations. Per-point prices vary by resort from approximately $100 to $175 depending on property desirability and market conditions. Understanding typical pricing helps identify good deals versus overpriced listings that may sit on the market longer than fairly priced alternatives.

Understanding Use Year

The use year is an important aspect of DVC ownership, as it determines when your points are allocated each year. Choosing a use year that aligns with your typical vacation planning can maximize your booking flexibility. For instance, if you frequently travel in the fall, a use year that begins in August or September might be advantageous.

Finding Available Contracts

Multiple resale brokers list DVC contracts for sale on their websites. Visit several broker websites to compare available inventory and pricing across the market. Each broker maintains different listings since sellers choose individual representation. Comprehensive searching requires reviewing multiple sources rather than relying on any single broker exclusively for your search.

Set up email alerts with brokers for contracts matching your criteria. New listings often attract quick interest from motivated buyers, so prompt notification improves your chances of securing desirable contracts before other buyers act on the same opportunities in competitive situations.

Considerations When Choosing a Broker

• Reputation: Look for brokers with positive reviews and a solid track record in the DVC resale market.
• Fees: Understand any commission or closing fees associated with the broker's services.
• Support: Consider the level of customer service and support offered throughout the buying process.

Making an Offer

When you identify an attractive contract, submit an offer through the listing broker. Offers typically include your proposed price, deposit amount, and closing timeline preferences. Sellers may accept, reject, or counter your offer, initiating negotiation toward mutually agreeable terms for both parties to the transaction.

Be prepared to negotiate while respecting fair market values. Extremely low offers may not receive serious consideration while offers at or near asking prices for well-priced contracts may face competition from other interested buyers actively shopping the market.

The ROFR Process

After offer acceptance, your contract enters Disney's Right of First Refusal (ROFR) review period lasting approximately 30-45 days. Disney can exercise their right to purchase the contract at your agreed price. If Disney waives ROFR, your purchase proceeds to closing as planned with the original seller you negotiated with.

Disney exercises ROFR on roughly 5-10% of transactions, typically targeting attractively priced contracts below current market rates. If Disney exercises their right, your deposit returns in full and you can pursue alternative contracts without financial loss to restart your search.

Strategies to Avoid ROFR

• Offer a price closer to market value to reduce the likelihood of Disney exercising ROFR.
• Consider less popular resorts or use years, which may be less likely to attract Disney's interest.

Closing Your Purchase

After ROFR passes, your transaction moves to closing handled by a title company specializing in DVC transactions. You will receive closing documents for signature and instructions for submitting closing funds. Complete documents promptly and fund your purchase according to title company instructions for wire transfers or other payment methods.

Closing typically takes 30-45 days after ROFR waiver depending on document processing. Once complete, the title company records your deed with Orange County, Florida and notifies Disney of the ownership transfer. Disney then processes membership activation, taking an additional 2-4 weeks typically before you receive access to the member portal.

Beginning Your Membership

Once Disney activates your membership, you receive welcome materials and can access the DVC member website. Link your membership to your Disney account and begin making reservations using your points. Your DVC ownership journey begins with access to Disney resort accommodations through the flexible points-based system for years of magical vacation memories with your family.

Maximizing Your DVC Membership

• Book early: Reservations open 11 months in advance for your home resort, so plan ahead for popular travel dates.
• Explore member benefits: Take advantage of discounts on dining, merchandise, and special events available to DVC members.
• Consider banking or borrowing points: Manage your points effectively by banking unused points for future use or borrowing from future allocations for a larger vacation.