How to understand a timeshare vacation property?

Step #1

Understanding fractional ownership. Owning a timeshare property is much like owning a townhome or condo, except that your ownership is limited to a specific time period during the year. A timeshare has a deed and a property description just like any other real estate. It is recorded in the county courthouse just like other real estate, and it requires property tax, insurance, a title, title insurance, and a formal closing like other property. The one difference is that the property description will have a time element included. That is key since if you don't like the time slot, you essentially have to sell your unit and buy a new one to get a different time slot. Two more rules that apply to real estate may be important here. First, understand that nothing that the salesperson tells you is binding since in real estate, the only thing that matters is what is in writing. Second, since these purchases are legally recorded, they are very difficult to undo.

Step #2

Red, blue, and white weeks. The key difference between a condo and a timeshare is the time factor in ownership. A unit owner typically gets one week per year. That week nearly always starts at noon on Sunday, and ends at noon on Saturday, but this varies at different resorts. Some resorts offer points that can be used at different times of the year. This is more flexible, but the best weeks often require more points than you are allocated in a given year, so you get to visit less often. The very best and highest demand weeks are called Red weeks. The middle demand weeks are called Blue weeks, and the low demand off-season weeks are called White weeks. The Red and Blue weeks will typically cost more than White weeks, however, most White weeks are truly times that you would typically not want to visit the resort. Think of Minnesota when it is minus 20 degrees, or Bombay during the rainy season. While you should pick the time that works the best for you, keep in mind that anything less than a Red week will hurt resale value and be hard to trade.

cancel timeshare contract sample letter
http://www.timesharerelease.com/cancel-timeshare-contract-sample-letter-that-works

Step #3

Do not get sold down the river. Never allow yourself to be sold a timeshare. Don't get involved in the high pressure sales events. It is not worth the TV set or other gift that is offered. Timeshare sales commissions are so high that it is worth whatever mind games and illegal tricks that they can think of to get you to sign on the bottom line. If they tell you that this is a unique property, read that as the market is almost flooded. If they say it is a limited time offer, know that they have more units on the drawing board ready to go when yours is sold.

The best way to buy a timeshare is to be an informed buyer. You are the one who needs to research resorts and find out who has units for sale. The Internet makes this work relatively easy. The secret of the industry is that many timeshares end up being abandoned and foreclosed. You can buy these repossessed units for next to nothing. For example, a $20,000 timeshare can be picked up for 10% of that on the resale market. I have seen deals at older resorts where they will give you the unit and several years of waived management fees just to get you locked in to pay future management fees. Never, ever pay full price.

Step #4

A timeshare is not an investment. The sales staff will tell you that a timeshare is an investment that you can sell for a profit or include in your will. That is true, you can sell or pass on a timeshare. You will likely never sell it for more than 25% of what you pay. So, expect to lose 75% of your value within 5 seconds of signing on the dotted line.

cancel timeshare after rescission period
http://www.timesharerelease.com/how-to-cancel-timeshare-after-rescission-period

The definition of an investment is a capital tool or item that you buy with the intention of using it to manufacture goods or services at a profit. A timeshare does not fit that definition. A timeshare is actually an expense item. In fact, since you don't have to have one, it falls in the luxury expense category. There is nothing wrong with that if you can afford it, and you have no delusions of making money on the deal.

Step #5

Management fees. The key problem with a timeshare is that it eats money. Typical time share fees are $500 to $750 per unit per week per year. You pay this management fee on top of any ownership fees. That $500 to $750 doesn't sound like much when you are thinking of spending $20,000 to $35,000 on a unit, but it gets old after a few years, especially if you don't use your unit every year. In fact, it becomes such a problem for some people that they simply walk away and take the credit report hit. The yearly fee prevents most charities from accepting timeshare donations since they don't want to get stuck with the fee, either.

cancel timeshare within 5 days
http://www.timesharerelease.com/how-to-cancel-timeshare-after-rescission-period

Step #6

Selling a timeshare. Selling a timeshare is very difficult. This goes double for someone who bought a timeshare without understanding how they work. The truth is that a timeshare drops in value by 75% or more the moment you buy it. Most people find it impossible to sell a timeshare. The resort sales staff don't want to compete with individual sellers, so they often make it impossible to advertise on-property where new victims might see the signs. Also, some scam artists prey on this problem by offering to sell your unit as long as you give them an up-front fee. In reality, this fee only pays to place your ad in their timeshare book. You will never sell your unit this way, and simply end up losing the fee on top of your other losses.

how to get rid of timeshare without ruining credit
http://www.timesharerelease.com/how-to-get-out-of-timeshare

There are a few ways to sell your timeshare. You may be able to list it on E-bay or in your local newspaper. It may sell if you have a price that is under $2500 or it is a high-demand unit for some reason. You might also be able to bribe your sales agent into selling your unit if the place still has new sales going on. They don't normally resell units, but if you offer a huge commission, they may sneak it into the mix for you.

Step #7

Trading your timeshare. The timeshare people always tell you that you can trade your timeshare for properties all over the world. For example, you can trade your Branson unit for something in Paris, the Riviera, or Waikiki Beach. In reality, people with the good units like this don't trade very often. Second, it is difficult to get someone to trade down. Why should someone who owns at Pebble Beach come to Branson? Hopefully not for the golf. Third, the trading organizations all require a membership fee and a fee for each trade that they arrange. By the time you pay the fees for a trade, you are probably just as well off staying in a nice hotel at the destination and keep your week in reserve.

timeshare cancellation letter sample
http://www.timesharerelease.com/cancel-timeshare-contract-sample-letter-that-works

Step #8

Letting others use your timeshare. If you don't use your timeshare in a given year, you have the option of letting someone else use the unit. You can simply give them the usage, or rent out the unit. If you do this, make sure to let the management company know so they don't question the strangers that show up, and to allow these guests to use the facilities. The issue here is that if your guests do not behave, or cause damage, you are on the hook to pay. Make sure that you only give your keys to someone that you trust in your house.