Do people have any experience w/ the r-ranches? www.r-ranch.org , www.rwildhorseranch.com , etc. There are several in California. The model seems to be a large property (a few thousand acres) a limited # of owners (2-3,000.) A stable with horses to ride, a couple pools, etc. It's a little hard to figure out how many nights you can stay from the website, but something like 3 weeks in, 1 week out, repeated as often as you would like. Seems like it is basically a campground membership (just a rather nice one.) They sell on e-bay all the time for $2-4,000. Yearly fee is just under $1000. I am several years away from buying one, but I have wondered about them for the last 10 years (got excited about the concept when I was living in San Francisco and heard about the Napa/Lake Berryessa one.) When we start full-timing I won't be in any hurry to buy, but I expect to spend a couple months in California every year working, so it might be a good thing... Heidi
azrving said
04:35 PM Feb 20, 2011
Looks interesting but too restricted and sort of like a timeshare IMO.
We are looking at several RV Resorts/RV Lots in areas of the country that appeal to us. We can buy 3-4 lots for less than $50,000 and since you own them, you can stay as long as you want and rent them out when your traveling. We are looking at purchasing two back east and two in the southwest. Some have the following amenities: Lake, Pool, Weight Room, ATV Trails, RV barns w/washer dryer etc. With the economy in the shape it's in, there are a bunch of great deals out there. Why rent when you can own and you will not have all of the restrictions to deal with either?
Happy Camping
Terry and Jo said
11:43 PM Feb 20, 2011
Jo and I may be in a much different situation than most. I am nearly 65 and she is six years younger than I am. Thus, we are planning the RV'ing as a full time situation. We are selling our home to live in the RV. Should it be that we again decide it is convenient or necessary to settle down, we will either live in the RV or sell it and rent somewhere.
What with getting rid of stuff and not having so much that our kids would have to get rid of, we don't plan on buying anything in the way of a time-share type membership or a permanent lot somewhere. If our kids weren't anywhere near what we purchased was, it would just be a nuisance to them to have to get rid of it.
Now, that is our feelings, but many people are younger and might get better use of such facilities and their amenities. It boils down to whether one wants to tie oneself to something like that. The cost of many memberships would pay for quite a bit of travel and campgrounds.
Good luck with what you decide. But, I will agree that the northern California area is beautiful.
Terry
53 Merc said
05:42 AM Feb 21, 2011
I tend to look at time-share involvement with a jaundiced eye. Made the mistake once of going to a "presentation" and thought I was going to have to fight my way out. High pressure does not describe their tactics. Then, if one looks at for sale ads in RV publications, there are innumerable ads to sell existing contracts for pennies on the dollar. Makes one wonder why so many want out of a contract that absolutely is to protect the Time Share Operator until the end of time? JMHO
Racerguy said
09:18 AM Feb 21, 2011
53 Merc wrote:
I tend to look at time-share involvement with a jaundiced eye. Made the mistake once of going to a "presentation" and thought I was going to have to fight my way out. High pressure does not describe their tactics. Then, if one looks at for sale ads in RV publications, there are innumerable ads to sell existing contracts for pennies on the dollar. Makes one wonder why so many want out of a contract that absolutely is to protect the Time Share Operator until the end of time? JMHO
Excellent point.Be careful,be very very careful.
VanMar said
03:31 AM Jun 19, 2012
53 Merc wrote:
I tend to look at time-share involvement with a jaundiced eye. Made the mistake once of going to a "presentation" and thought I was going to have to fight my way out. High pressure does not describe their tactics. Then, if one looks at for sale ads in RV publications, there are innumerable ads to sell existing contracts for pennies on the dollar. Makes one wonder why so many want out of a contract that absolutely is to protect the Time Share Operator until the end of time? JMHO
53 Merc
Shortly after Marla and I got married, 20 years ago, we went to a "presentation" also. We had it all planned out to say 'Thanks but no thanks' at the end of the presentation. That was the 'plan'. At the end of the presentation, my bride looked at me with bovine eyes and said, "Can we, please?" So, after paying $14,000 for the time share and ever increasing annual fees, we finally ended up paying someone $3000 to take it off our hands. I still get serious symptoms when I hear anything about buying memberships to anything.
I am several years away from buying one, but I have wondered about them for the last 10 years (got excited about the concept when I was living in San Francisco and heard about the Napa/Lake Berryessa one.)
When we start full-timing I won't be in any hurry to buy, but I expect to spend a couple months in California every year working, so it might be a good thing...
Heidi
We are looking at several RV Resorts/RV Lots in areas of the country that appeal to us. We can buy 3-4 lots for less than $50,000 and since you own them, you can stay as long as you want and rent them out when your traveling. We are looking at purchasing two back east and two in the southwest. Some have the following amenities: Lake, Pool, Weight Room, ATV Trails, RV barns w/washer dryer etc. With the economy in the shape it's in, there are a bunch of great deals out there. Why rent when you can own and you will not have all of the restrictions to deal with either?
Happy Camping
What with getting rid of stuff and not having so much that our kids would have to get rid of, we don't plan on buying anything in the way of a time-share type membership or a permanent lot somewhere. If our kids weren't anywhere near what we purchased was, it would just be a nuisance to them to have to get rid of it.
Now, that is our feelings, but many people are younger and might get better use of such facilities and their amenities. It boils down to whether one wants to tie oneself to something like that. The cost of many memberships would pay for quite a bit of travel and campgrounds.
Good luck with what you decide. But, I will agree that the northern California area is beautiful.
Terry
Excellent point.Be careful,be very very careful.
53 Merc
Shortly after Marla and I got married, 20 years ago, we went to a "presentation" also. We had it all planned out to say 'Thanks but no thanks' at the end of the presentation. That was the 'plan'. At the end of the presentation, my bride looked at me with bovine eyes and said, "Can we, please?" So, after paying $14,000 for the time share and ever increasing annual fees, we finally ended up paying someone $3000 to take it off our hands. I still get serious symptoms when I hear anything about buying memberships to anything.
Vance