Frequently Asked Timeshare Buyer Questions

Timeshare Buyer's FAQ: Buy Timeshares the Safe and Smart Way!
Before you buy timeshare resales online -or anywhere else- READ THIS! Here you can find information about buying timeshare resales. Drawing on our experience in the timeshare sales business, we have compiled this FAQ to answer people's questions about buying timeshares.

What is Timeshare?

Buy timeshare and you get the exclusive right to vacation and enjoy ownership of a unit at a specific resort during a specific week each year for as long as you own it.

What is the average Timeshare property like?

If there's one thing you can say about timeshares, it's that they're not average! Timeshare resorts are far superior to most hotels, offering a wide array of owner amenities and services. Most resorts are nestled in breathtaking settings, and many offer the timeshare buyer fully-furnished kitchens, spacious living areas, TV's, VCR's, and accommodations for numerous family members and friends.

Does my Timeshare give me access to anything more than just my unit?

There are many benefits when you buy timeshare. A daily schedule of on-site sporting, recreational, and social activities are normally available for both adults and children. Many resorts offer swimming pools, tennis courts, golf courses, horseback riding, skiing, and numerous other amenities and often all on-site. Most timeshare resorts are staffed with well-trained hospitality professionals whose sole duty is to make your vacation as fun and stress-free as possible.

What affects Timeshare prices?

If you plan on buying timeshare weeks, consider that these are priced according to a variety of factors including time of year, location, resort amenities, and size of the unit. When you buy timeshare resales online, it is best to keep all of these factors in mind.

What is a Timeshare Exchange?

One of the best reasons to buy timeshares is exchange-ability. As an owner, you can "trade" with other owners at any of nearly 5,000 resorts in over 80 countries worldwide. This flexibility means that you may return to your home resort year after year, trade for any of the thousands of affiliated resorts throughout the world, or alternate back and forth between the two options.

Is Buying Timeshare Financially Sound?

Yes! Aside from a nominal maintenance fee, your vacation property is available for your use every year thereafter without any additional cost. And most people find that after just 6-8 years of ownership they have more than recouped what they have paid for their timeshare in what they would have spent on luxury vacations that had to be planned and booked each year. In other words, when you buy resale timeshares, you TURN EXPENSE INTO EQUITY!

How Does Timeshare Exchanging Work?

There are several timeshare exchange companies. The two most prominent are Resort Condominiums International (RCI) and Interval International (II). Between these two giants, over 1.5 million exchanges were processed last year alone.

Spacebanking means to "deposit" your timeshare week with an exchange company to be saved for use at a later time. You may spacebank a week for later use at your home resort or any other resort affiliated with the exchange company.

What is the Difference Between Deeded, Leased, and Licensed Timeshare?

Most timeshare ownerships are either deeded or leased for a specific number of years.

Deeded Timeshare - Like any other real estate purchase in that after you buy timeshare, you own it outright forever. It may be sold, rented or even willed to your heirs. It is yours to use every year.

Leased Timeshare - Gives you the right to use a specific week or weeks at the property for a set number of years (usually 20-99. The right to use the property normally returns to the selling resort at the end of the lease period.

Licensed Timeshare - Generally requires joining a "vacation club". Club members have use of the club and its services.

What Are Timeshare Use Periods?

There are four common ways that timeshares are used:

Fixed Week - Buying a fixed week timeshare allows you the use of the unit for that specific week each year for as long as you own the property. Fixed weeks generally commence on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Float Week - Buying a float week timeshare allows you to use the unit anytime during the year based upon a resort's availability.

Flex Time - Similar to a floating week, but with restrictions. Flex time refers to a season -- winter flex or spring flex, for example -- or a time frame such blue time frames and white time frames, industry "lingo" that defines certain periods during the year. High and low seasons vary from resort to resort, so flex time may be defined differently at different locations.

Bi-Annual - Bi-annual timeshare ownership allows the timeshare buyer use of the resort every other year for a fixed week, float week or flex time.

What is the Difference Between Red, White, Yellow, Blue and Green Time?

Each color reflects the overall desirability of a particular week at a timeshare resort in a sliding scale from red (peak season) to green (off-season).

What is the difference between a Five-Star Resort and a Gold Crown Resort?

Different ratings are given by different timeshare exchange companies. A Five-Star Resort is the most desirable rating appointed to a resort in the Interval International system while a Gold Crown Resort is the most desirable rating in the Resort Condominium International system.

What Are Maintenance Fees?

After you buy timeshare, there are some small additional yearly expenses. Maintenance fees, ranging from $200 - $700 annually, are the owners' shared cost of the upkeep of their unit, as well as the common grounds of the resort property: property maintenance, beautification, capital improvements and general upkeep. Maintenance fees are also used to compensate the hospitality staff, ensuring that owners enjoy the highest level of luxury and service each time they vacation.

Why are Prices so Low on the Timeshare Resale Market?

It is common knowledge that over 50% of the cost associated with buying timeshares directly from a resort development company are related to the sales and marketing of the timeshare property. When buying timeshare direct from the resort owner, it is a sad fact that you are being charged an over-inflated price to cover the marketing expenses and assorted administrative fees associated with the timeshare sale. If you buy a resale timeshare, your only expense is that of the honest and fair market value of the timeshare property! Timeshare resale buyers, not only do you enjoy the use of the timeshare unit, but you will also reap an average savings of over 30-50% of the developer's original asking price! Click here to check out our exciting inventory of great deals on timeshare resales and rentals!

Is Financing Available?

Yes! We can show you a number of helpful and sensible financing opportunities for timeshare buyers. Just contact us for more information.

Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer to Handle the Closing Process?

No! Timeshare Broker Services can refer you to a reliable, trustworthy timeshare closing company. Specializing in timeshare sales, these licensed and bonded title companies are selected by us on the basis of outstanding past performance. These title companies will provide security for both timeshare buyers and sellers, ensuring that the sale process goes "by the book". You don't need to hire your own attorney when you buy timeshare! Timeshare closing companies can take charge of the closing process from beginning to end- including deed preparation, escrow of funds, estoppel certificate, closing statements and recording fees. They typically do all this for one low flat rate. Their work is scrupulously reviewed by in-house attorneys and guaranteed to be free and clear.