Is your current week already enrolled in the points program, or would you have to pay to enroll it?Have you ever tried trading your week via II?  Trying this route, you may be able to exchange into a desirable location without having to pay more to rent the additional points you would need if you went the points route.    If going the points route is the way you chose to go, then it is very easy to rent the additional points you would need here on VPE.  Just click the Classified link on the top menu bar and send a message to whomever is listing points for rent for the year you need them and the price that you like.  I have rented additional points each year since about 2012, and have always found it a quick and easy transaction.  Renting points is certainly a better approach than purchasing the additional points you feel you would need (no upfront costs, and the annual outlay is very close to what the annual MF's would be on the owned points.)

I would buy 1000 points which would enroll you for free and get you to select level (>4000) for 13 months booking window, instead of 12.Sent from my SM-G900FD using Tapatalk

Of course renting makes more sense!  You don't have a lifelong commitment if you rent, and right now there are a glut of rental points around so low prices are readily available.However, to rent points you will need to establish an active account by enrolling your existing week.I would suggest asking Marriott if they'll wave your enrollment fee.  The worse they can say is no..

Adding 1000 points to your portfolio would put you at select level(>4000) which would allow you to make 13 month out reservations without any fees, rather than at the 12 month mark which you are now at.  If you have no interest in getting special weeks, i.e. 4th of July, Christmas, President's week, etc., then your observation to just buy points when you need them makes sense. 

Adding 1,000 points, though, would cost $12K-ish.  I'm a big supporter of the DC program; I think it works well for most people in most cases.  For me, it gives me a lot more flexibility than a typical 7-day/full week ownership.  I never stay anywhere for more than 4 or 5 days.  Maybe when I get a bit older, I'll settle in for a 7-day stay.I have advised a few friends that were interested in DC to buy the minimum number of points necessary and then just rent points year-to-year depending on their vacation needs.  I have had reasonably good luck at "last minute" rentals, as well.  But, of course, I don't typically do them during the busiest times of the year. I'm an owner at the Marriott Grand Residence Club in Lake Tahoe, so I have points coming out my ears.  When I got ready to enroll, I begged, pleaded, and sent humble emails to anyone I could find at MVCI to see if I could get them to waive the enrollment fee.  No dice.  I have found in most corporations that there is always someone willing to bend the rules in the name of good customer service... or to get you to just leave them alone.  Except for Marriott and United Airlines, that is.  🙂