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             TABLE OF CONTENTS


  Usage Rights ……………………………………………. 08
  Exchange Companies ………………………………… 10
  Why Time Shares Make Sense ……………………. 11

  The Importance Of Advertising …………………… 13
  Successful Selling ……………………………………… 14

  How Does It Work? ……………………………………. 19

  Fixed Location; Fixed Service Provider …………. 21
  RCI Time Share Advantage …………………………. 23
  Facts To Think About Before You Buy …………... 24

  Exchanging Your Time Share ………………………. 26
  Your Time Share Options ……………………………. 27
  Sample Costs of a Time Share …………………….. 29


  Tips For Selling …………………………………………. 34


CHAPTER 8: SELLER BEWARE ………………………….. 39

CHAPTER 9: BUYER BEWARE …………………………… 41

  Finding The Right Selling Help …………………….. 46


  Time Share Commissions ……………………………. 56




It started as a simple idea based on the assumption that
people don't need vacation lodging except for a week or
divide ownership into 52 weeks (in practice it's usually
divided into 51 weeks with one week allowed for
maintenance). It allows you to purchase the time spent as
The next logical step in the development of timeshare was
to be able to exchange time in these places between people
two entities you'll likely be dealing with are the resort
lodging, or timeshare itself, and an exchange company.

The number of systems in use for buying timeshares has
grown tremendously in recent years, but three systems are
(RTU). With fee simple you buy a portion of the property
outright and own title to that portion. Under the leasehold
system you own the property, but only for a specific length
of time. With a right-to-use system, you don't actually own
the property, but are purchasing a right to use the property
for a certain amount of time and for certain weeks of the

There are many reasons why you might want to sell your
time share. One reason may be that the time share no
longer fits into your lifestyle. Perhaps you now have a
family with young children and no longer want a time share
in an adult resort area. Or perhaps you have reached your
retirement years and are looking for a time share that has
any time of the year. Another reason that you might want
to sell your time share is because you can no longer afford
to pay the taxes, maintenance fees, or mortgage on your
time share.

No matter what reasons have led you to want to sell your
sell their time share it may be very hard for them to
achieve both the top dollar and the quick sale. The truth is
that most people who sell their time share gain back very
little of the original price that they paid for their time share
to begin with.

There are many different types of time shares available
these days. Your ownership of your own time share may
be made up of a combination of plans. This includes the

 Fixed Week or Fixed Unit: With this type of time share
  you have a deed that gives you a specific amount of
  time at your condo, or other time share, at a specific
  time of the year.
 Floating Time Agreement: You will have some
  flexibility when you can use your time share. In many
  cases reservations will be taken on first come, first
  serve basis. This means that you and all the other
  owners of the time share have the same options.
 Right to Use: This time share is much like a lease.
  Once your time share lease is over you will no longer
  have any rights to use the property.
 Vacation Club: This time share program allows you to
  plan your vacation around a variety of different
  destinations. Every time that you stay somewhere
  you use up points which are deducted from your
  balance. The points needed for different locations will
  vary according to where they are located.
 Time Share Developers: A time share developer is
  someone who builds and sells new time shares. State
  laws in the United States control the building and sale
  of these time shares. Before you buy a time share
  make sure that you are familiar with the laws where
  you are planning to buy your property. You can do
  this by searching for information at the real estate
  commission that can be found on the Internet. You

     can also check out agent pages for even more
     information about the time share that you are
     considering buying. You want to know as much as
     you can about the laws in the area where your time
     share is located before you make your final sale.
   Time Share Re-sales: You may be able to buy a pre-
     owned time share at much less than the original cost.


The basic concept behind a time share is that you can use
your share of the property at a specific time. The time
share condo is the most popular type of condo, however,
there are many other different types of time shares
available. This includes campgrounds, cruises, and
recreational vehicles. You have the ability to purchase
different types of ownership that can anywhere from
flexible to quite rigid depending on the term of that
particular time share. For instance you may be committed
to a specific destination or a specific time of year that you
can use your time share.

Time shares first became popular during the 1960's in
Europe. The price of property was increasing and this
made it difficult for most people to buy a vacation home

where they could get away from the city. When a shared
ownership was established the cost of vacation homes for
each person were reduced, making it possible for many
families to own a share in their own home. Developers
could reduce the single cost of a home by spreading out the
cost equally among several owners. There are many
common costs that are spread out among the owners of a
time share. This includes management fees, maintenance
fees, and the cost of maintaining recreational areas such as
tennis courts and swimming pools. The fees for these costs
will vary from one time share to the next and when you a
buy a unit you will be given all of the specific information.

Perhaps the most important piece of advice that you can
get before you buy is time share is to be absolutely certain
that you are getting what you want at a price that you are
going to be able to handle for several years to come.

Usage Rights

There are different types of time shares based on
ownership rights and usage rights. Following are the
different types available:

 Fixed week time share: In this type of time share,
  each buyer gets to own the rights to the property for a
  specific period each year.
 Floating time share: In this type the buyer chooses
  the time to use the time share. This type of time share
  is not contracted out as in fixed type.
 Right to use time share: Here the buyer actually rents
  the property for specific period each year and is not
  owned by the individuals.
 Points Club: Here different groups of time share
  owners take part in a points sharing club. The points
  are utilized to use timeshare property of the group
  members based on reservations.
 Fixed and Flex Weeks: With timeshares you own a
  portion of time within a year. Within the three basic
  systems of timeshare, there are two common methods
  for ownership of time: fixed weeks and flex weeks.
  With fixed weeks, you buy a timeshare for a specific
  week or weeks during the year. This is the most
  straightforward method since you can deposit the
  timeshare directly with the resort's exchange company
  or one that you find yourself. With flex weeks, you
  purchase the right to a certain block of weeks during
  the year, but others also have rights to those weeks
  and you might have to negotiate using a week that

     may not be convenient. Buying under a flex week
     plan, however, is cheaper.

Exchange Companies

You can purchase a timeshare either to use yourself as a
vacation place, or primarily as something to exchange for
other vacation timeshares in other locations. If you choose
to go with an independent exchange company, you will still
need to prove that you own the timeshare's availability for
that week and that all utilities and maintenance are paid
for. Making a timeshare available with an exchange
company for a week, you should expect to be able to
choose from timeshares of similar value for the same
amount of time. It helps if you can be flexible in dates and
locations for the timeshares you're hoping to use.

Some exchange companies allow you to browse their
spacebank (a term for the timeshares that are available at
one exchange company) before having to place or deposit
your own timeshare; others require you to deposit a
timeshare before accessing their spacebank. You'll specify
the geographic location, time of year, length of stay,
minimum size unit, and any amenities you'd like. If you
don't immediately find what you want, it may only be a
matter of the exchange company not having what you need

at that moment. Everything in the world of timeshare is
based on availability and that fluctuates daily.

Why Time Shares Make Sense

A vacation time share is more popular than ever. The
largest and most respected companies in the resort
industry are now selling time share resort condos. Marriott
and Disney have produced blistering sales statistics, among
others. The fact that strong consumer legislation now
governs the timeshare industry, combined with the fact
that solid developers are now the rule, has given the time
share industry the stability once only accorded to luxury
hotels. Following are reasons why time shares are so

   Stay without paying: Time share owners are delighted
     when they check out at the end of their week's stay,
     their lives because they OWN their accommodation as
     deeded property!) The money saved here quickly pays
     back the low initial purchase price.
   Not just a hotel room: As opposed to being a hotel
     room renter, enjoy status and fine treatment as a
     condo owner. It's a much higher style of vacation.
     Condos are spacious, have kitchens and private

     bedrooms. Sleep up to 10 persons. Most resorts have
     great activities/tours all arranged and often free.
     Spend your time enjoying vacationing. Save the hours
     and hassle of planning, because it has already been
     done for you.
   Save money on dining out: Because the condos have
     dining in expensive restaurants for every meal.
   No extra charges: There is no charge for extra people
     like there would be in a hotel, and no extra costly
     occupancy taxes so common with hotels.
   Earning income: Owners can rent-out their time
     rather than using it.


Vacation timeshares usually sound like a good deal in the
beginning, but often the shine wears off after a while. They
can be costly, with maintenance fees, taxes, and the like,
and if you want to try a different timeshare or week, it can
be difficult to switch with someone else. Adding insult to
injury, once you decide to sell, you may find the process
expensive and time-consuming. If any of this sounds
familiar, you may want to donate your timeshare to your
favorite charity. will sell your

timeshare and donate the profits to your favorite charity. It
costs nothing for the charity, and you get a simple, fast,
and socially-responsible way to get rid of your timeshare.
You may be surprised to learn that often, donation makes
the most financial sense. So if your timeshare is more
trouble than it's worth, consider donating it to your favorite
charitable cause. You'll support work that you admire and
get a tax write-off to boot! More about this in the next

The Importance of Advertising

Whether it’s a Web site, advertisement, or other marketing
collateral, we’ve heard that a picture is worth a thousand
words. Having a visual of the product enhances marketing
communication, we’re told, because people don’t have time
to read. People seldom fail to read most of the advertising
copy they come across, but that’s because of the hype
that’s part of most ad copy, not people’s lack of time to

In a study of 3,600 consumers, researchers concluded that
to get people to notice an ad, text was twice as important
as pictures. Buyers of your time share are interested in
reading about your services, but you must grab their

attention. What’s new about your offering? What’s your
story? Is there news?

What’s most important is that the fluff be ruthlessly
eliminated from your ad copy, Web page or other
marketing communication. If you include hype and half-
truths about the time share that you are selling, you make
it nearly impossible for buyers to separate the wheat from
the chaff. The result: a lost sale. Ten different studies have
shown that when the bull is stripped from what you are
selling, consumer interest skyrockets.

Of course, other studies have shown that long ad copy does
work when selling products and services. When it comes to
selling your time share, though, to improve your buyer’s
rate of interest, make every word count. And remember
that the “right” words, not just any words, are the ones
that sell.

Successful Selling

The best way to get the maximum return from a time share
is to use and enjoy it. And if you’re using your time share,
don’t sell it! Except for exceptions that are rare indeed, a
seller will take a great loss when selling. However, if you
are not using your time share, it is foolish to hang on to it

just to avoid facing and accepting the reality that it will sell
at a great loss. Often owners will call the resort and will be
told the price at which the resort sells them. The seller
doesn’t realize or accept that the resale market is a totally
different market than the higher new-sales prices a
developer can obtain by offering various incentives and
while the buyer is “under the ether” of the pleasant
surroundings of the resort, and the reassurances of the
sales staff.

Following are ways that you can be successful at selling:

   Just accept the fact that time shares sell for 30 to 50
     per cent of what was originally paid. And the loss will
     be even greater than that by the time commissions
     and closing costs are deducted from the proceeds of
     the sale. But realize that if you hang on to it for
     another 10 years, your loss will increase by an
     average of about $5,000 by the time you pay for
     maintenance and taxes, which usually add up to $500
     per year.
   Think like a buyer, because it is the buyer who has
     your money in their pocket. Buyers think of pretty
     much only one thing – the price. Find out what price
     at which other sellers are selling units like yours. Then
     price yours at the bottom of that price range. Buyers

  pick off the bottom prices of the list, not even a little
  bit above that. Choose to be the one they pick.
 Think about how great the savings will be to you for
  the rest of your life, if you sell it, by NOT having to
  pay any more maintenance fees or other costs. These
  fees go on forever! This is a LOT OF MONEY! Think
  about that money, not the money you will get from
  the proceeds of the sale! Pricing it just a little bit too
  high to sell, will prevent you from keeping all that
 Do not even listen to what anyone has to say about a
  recommended sales price, if they are connected with a
  company that has a mandatory up-front listing fee or
  mandatory upfront appraisal requirement. Beware of
  any company promising a refund of the upfront fee.
  Most states have strict trust record guidelines for
  advance fee refunds. These guidelines and the way
  timeshare sales really work in real life, make any
  refund unrealistic.
 Use a professional licensed company to close your
  sale. Don’t try to do it yourself. It is amazing how
  involved it can be to close a timeshare sale and get all
  the entities involved to responsibly do their part, and
  to get the resort to get the new owner on their


There are literally thousands of time share owners eager to
sell their time share. Many have been roped into paying a
listing company an upfront fee of $400 to $700 to list their
time shares for sale. Typically, a listing company
representative is able to talk the seller into the listing price
by saying the timeshare has a resale value four times the
actual amount. Once the seller pays the listing fees, the
time share does not sell because of the incredibly inflated
price. At the end of the one-year listing contract, the agent
calls the seller and attempts to get them to re-list for
another $400 to $700. In the meantime the seller has not
made arrangements to use the time share, expecting it to
sell. In addition to listing fees the seller has also been
paying maintenance fees and taxes on the property. Often
times a seller will spend $800 to $3,000 trying to sell a
property that will eventually sell for only $1,500 to $4,500.

This is why Donate For A Cause is the perfect solution for
these sellers. Donors can get rid of their property in a
matter of weeks at no cost to themselves while getting a
tax write-off. By donating, time share owners capitalize on
their profits while also assisting charitable organizations.

Take a look at the amount of money that is donated to

             National Foundation for Cancer Research $124,069.90
             American Kidney Fund                    $37,525.01
             Florida Veterans Assistance Association $16,607.34
             Thomas More School                      $15,997.74
             International Hearing Dog               $8,514.04
             Network Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse $4,918.29

             Other Charities                        $143,177.53

             Totals                                 $334,202.51

There are several reasons why you should donate your time
share to a charity of your choosing:

   No cost to you: The donation process will cost you
     nothing (though the donor may be charged a $25
     document retrieval fee if they are unable to produce a
     copy of their deed).
   Fast and easy process.
   Get a tax write off.
   Save money in broker’s fees.
   No more paying maintenance fees, taxes, or special

How does it work?

Simply contact a charity that donates time shares and tell
them about the time share you wish to donate and which
domestic charitable organization you wish to donate the
time share to. There are many companies that will do all
the work for you. Once they receive your submission to
sell your time share they will assess your property and
determine if it has sufficient market value. You will hear
from back from them within a few days. Properties that
have mortgages, liens, loans, or outstanding maintenance
fees that you are unwilling to pay off are not acceptable for
donation. Properties that are deemed acceptable are then
sold, and the net proceeds are given to the charity of your

Non-US residents are welcome to donate timeshares to
many charities. However, if you are interested in receiving
a tax write off for this donation in your home country you
must first consult a tax advisor in your country and find out
if this donation would qualify for a write off.

Upon transfer of ownership of your timeshare, your chosen
charity will send you a receipt as proof of your donation
which you can then use to qualify for a tax write off. Once
you receive your receipt, you should discuss its use with

your accountant (or whomever you use for tax advice). You
can also review the IRS web site regarding charitable
donations at


Buying a time share can be fun or tiresome depending on
how you approach it. In many instances, it is advisable to
belong to a club or some membership-based group which
can help you to minimise risk and reduce costs. The reason
why you make great savings with clubs is that clubs are
usually run on volunteer basis; meaning, you are not
charged for the labor of people working on your behalf in
the club. Though membership-based clubs take fees, they
normally apply these fees to postages, administrative
expenses, research and if they have an online presence,
towards the hosting of the website and emails.

As a buyer of time shares, you may note that it is cheaper
to buy a time share from a previous owner than from a
developer. A previous owner who wants to dispose of his
time share is prepared to offer it at a great discount to the
advantage of the buyer.

It is advisable to do a thorough research on any purchase
you intend to make - whether big or small. Do a
background check of the company in question before
committing any funds. Of late some companies have
begun demanding advance fees from buyers, explaining
that these fees are for conducting appraisal or some other
purpose. You will have to point it out to the sellers or the
intermediating company with this kind of approach, that
you want the sale to be closed before you pay any fee.
This stance will ensure that you get protected from a
dubious sale. After all, why pay a fee for a sale which will
end up with you being a loser. Again it is in the interest of
the buyer to read wide about buying a time share which
resource is readily available on the web. If you are
interested in a time share, then you should know that the
package you choose is going to be the most important
decision you'll make!

Fixed Location and Fixed Service Provider

The more traditional of the sold packages, with a fixed
location package, you are effectively limiting yourself to a
certain period in the year (although you may have a certain
flexibility with others in your group), at a particular
location. As such, you need to make sure you really like the
place before you commit your hard-earned money to this

type of package. So, before deciding on a fixed location
package make sure you take a good look around the
amenities (such as the swimming pool, lifts, bedrooms,
kitchen, etc.) and make sure they not only suit your short-
term needs, but also your long-term ones. Also, make sure
you scout the surrounding area and check-out the local
bars, restaurants and amenities to ensure you can enjoy
different experiences each time you visit.

A more recent and more innovative package - as the name
suggests - with the fixed service provider package you limit
yourself to one service provider - but you neither limit your
destination, nor the time you visit (although, if you chose
to, you can do so). Fixed service-provider packages have
become the more method of recent years simply because
you have a greater variety, while being able to depend on
the brand name of the service-provider. So, if you are
particularly keen on a particular service provider, but want
to keep your options open as to where and when you visit,
this could be the package for you.

Deciding which time share package to select is like most
things in life, up to the taste and needs of the buyer. Some
people like continuity, while others like variety. Either way,
you're sure to have lots of fun!

RCI Time Share Advantage

Just as file compression has almost become synonymous
with WINZIP, so has RCI almost become synonymous with
time share. RCI time shares are among the most popular
of all time shares. In 1974, RCI introduced the idea of
exchange vacations and from then millions of people have
patronize this service. The reasons why RCI has over three
million members and affiliated 3700 resorts worldwide is
not far fetched.

An RCI time share offers enhanced value to its holders. Of
course, if you desire quality and value - added vacationing,
then you may have to seek RCI time share first. Members
of this program are entitled to expert knowledge,
experience and resources of RCI's Guides, who offer
unparalleled assistance in the planning of exchange

Being an RCI member also entitles one to a wide range of
incentives. You can subscribe to the Endless Vacation
magazine which provides you with travel tips, savings ideas
and vacation ideas. You can also book a cruise on almost
any cruise line. More importantly, you can apply your
Vacation Week or 50,000 Points toward the cost of your
cruise or buy at a special rate reserved for members.

Facts to Think About Before You Buy

If you are keen on making any gains out of timeshare, then
you may as well be keen in going for reasonably priced
ones. Time share transactions are not necessarily the
preserve of the professionals; with a few pieces of advice
you can buy a time share and make enormous gains within
a short time.

The central point in buying a timeshare is to reduce the
cost of purchase. You will also have to consider
exchangeability. The following points are also worth
considering in dealing with timeshare purchases. Be sure
to buy through recognized real estate brokers for both
security and legal reasons. If you buy through this means,
the risk of fraud is reduced considerably as right to titles
(ownership) would have been adequately researched.
Perhaps the most important point for dealing with a broker
is that, payment can be safely escrowed and funds released
only when you are satisfied about the title and transactions.

You can minimize litigations arising out of your purchase of
a time share by demanding a title insurance. This piece of
document testifies that the title being transferred to you
has no pending liabilities against it and that once you take

ownership of the title, no one is going to bother you with
legal actions.

Many buyers have fallen victim to an erroneous impression
that only Gold Crown or 5 Star timeshares need be bought.
Why? The peddlers of this impression claim that they have
a better exchange leverage? This notion is false. Resorts
which are not rated are equally in demand and it will be
unwise for a buyer to lock in extra funds on these rated
ones when alternatives are equally viable for exchange and
may give even a higher price. The demand for timeshare is
mainly driven by ratio of availability of timeshare and
demand for vacation in the area of the property so one
cannot determine marketability solely on the ratings of a

Location is another strong factor in determining the trade
power of a time share. The demand for a resort will
determine the exchange power of the timeshare. You may
have to note that, the programs that manage a time share
itself have inbuilt mechanisms to determine demand which
is factored into the price. To buy a time share is to court
risk. The above few suggestions can help you eliminate the
dangers that a beginner may encounter.


There are several options when it comes to using your time
share or selling it. One option you have is exchanging your
time share.

Exchanging Your Time Share

Your home resort is the destination you return to year after
year. Some people prefer to vacation only in their home
resort with no variation. But for many other people, time
share is especially attractive because of the exchange
factor: You have the chance to stay in a different place in
the world every year. Time share exchange companies
allow time share owners to trade their week with a time
share week in a different location. Keep in mind that
exchange companies prefer that trades are generally
“like for like,” and rank high demand/low demand
destinations with devices like color codes and industry
ratings. It may be hard to trade your week in a low-
demand resort during the low season for a high demand
resort in high season, although it can happen — and it’s all
a matter of personal preference and flexibility anyway.

Orlando, Florida, may be as high demand as a destination
can be (and it doesn’t get any hotter), but that doesn’t

necessarily mean you want to vacation there. Even though
you may be purchasing your time share with the express
purpose of trading or exchanging, the mantra in timeshare
is this:

The power of your exchange is dependent solely on what
you put into the system, not what you take out.

In other words, the power of your exchange is dependent
on how desirable your time share week is to other traders.
For more on exchanging and the two major exchange
companies, Resort Condominiums International
(RCI) and Interval International.

Your Time Share Options

One big determination for potential timeshare buyers is
making sure the time share unit is large enough to
accommodate your needs — or, paradoxically, making sure
you don’t buy more space than you actually plan to use.
Timeshare units range from efficiencies or studios that
sleep two people to houses with four or more bedrooms
that can comfortably sleep 12 or more people. The resort
directories for both II and RCI exchange companies
differentiate between private sleeping capacity and total
sleeping capacity.

Another feature about time share unit size is whether the
unit can be split up. The common term for a time share unit
that can be split into separate usages is a lockout or a lock-
off unit. Lock-off units are units that can be split into two
or more separate units or combined into one large unit. For
example, a two-bedroom unit can be used for either one
week every year in a two-bedroom unit or two weeks every
year each in a one bedroom unit. Some units are actual
physical lockouts. For example, a two-bedroom unit may
consist of two separate one-bedrooms, connected by a door
that can be locked out (hence the terms lock-off or
lockout). Other units are one unit consisting of two
bedrooms (and generally two baths) and one living/eating
area. Those units may not be physical lock-offs, but the
resort may still allow you to convert a two-bedroom into
two separate one-bedroom units. Always ask whether
you’ll need to pay a fee to split up your weeks, no matter
what the physical unit looks like. Make sure to also ask
whether a two-bedroom unit will split or convert into two
full one-bedrooms. Often, resorts will allow a split, but
what the owner ends up with is a one-bedroom one week
and a studio the next, not two weeks of full one bedroom

Sample Costs of a Time Share

Most resorts offer time share purchases on an annual or
biannual (every other year) basis. Some resorts even offer
triannual ownership. In most cases, the cost of a three-
bedroom time share will be lower than the cost of buying
three separate one-bedroom time share units, and the cost
per week will be even lower if you have full lockout
capabilities. For example, John and Sally vacation three
weeks each year by themselves. If they purchase three
separate one-bedroom time share units, their expenses
might look like this:

   Time share #1: $9,000 + Annual maintenance and
     taxes ($350).
   Time share #2: $9,000 + Annual maintenance and
     taxes ($350)
   Time share #3: $9,000 + Annual maintenance and
     taxes ($350).

Effective cost per week: $9,350.

But if John and Sally purchase one three-bedroom time
share unit with full lockout capability (meaning it could be
used for three separate one bedroom stays each year),
their expenses might look like this:

    Time share #1 $20,000 + Annual Maintenance and
      Taxes ($700).

Effective cost per week: $6,900.

Never buy more than you think you’re going to use, unless
money is of no concern to you. The best value is often a
three-bedroom lockout annual that can be used for three
weeks each in a one-bedroom condo. But if you aren’t
going to need three weeks a year, don’t buy it even if you
are going to be using it only for a short while before you
resell it.

                       TIME SHARE

Out of all US states, Florida has the most time shares, and
Orlando has more time shares than anywhere else in
Florida. Colorado is known for its many time shares, and
these benefit from Colorado's status as a year-round resort
destination: winter attracts the skiing crowd, whereas the
summer months are perfect for backpacking, mountain
climbing, or just relaxing in a spectacular natural setting.
In California, time share sales are booming, especially in
the vicinity of Lake Tahoe. And let's not forget Las Vegas,

which offers some extraordinary time shares, either off the
beaten path, or right in the heart of the action.

Though time shares are a cost-effective -yet luxurious-
alternative to hotel rooms, buying a time share is not a
decision to be taken lightly. A time share is often a major
purchase, so you should weigh your options carefully. Time
shares are not for everyone, though we feel that most
people can benefit from time share ownership. If you can't
use your time share at the same time each year, you will
still be responsible for your share of the upkeep, so be sure
to get the most out of your time share purchase!

Resorts typically pass the cost of marketing new time
shares on to the buyer. This is because of the elaborate
time share sales presentations which are used to sell new
time share units. Prospective customers are wined and
dined by a resort's time share sales staff, who often
promise free gifts and other incentives to secure the sale.
Combine the costs associated with this style of marketing
with the cost of direct mailing campaigns, and you can see
how most time share sales companies can spend thousands
just to market a single time share. As a result, new time
shares rapidly depreciate, and the resale value of a time
share is generally about half of the original sale price. For
this reason, time shares are by no means a viable financial

investment if you're looking to sell a time share for more
than you paid for it. However, this also means that the
time share resale market is a buyer's market, and resale
time shares may be bought for a small fraction of a resort
developer's original asking price.

Another way to beat the high cost of new time shares is by
renting timeshare, and thus alleviate the hassle of trying to
sell your time share. A time share rental can be just the
thing if you can't get away for a vacation every year.
Consider renting a time share directly from the owner if
you're not ready to make a big purchase. And if you’re the
owner think about renting out your time share so that you
make an annual profit. Time share rentals can help
vacationers learn more about a particular resort or vacation
destination and may encourage them to eventually buy the
property from you.

Finding the right time share property can take many hours
of browsing self-serve time share-by-owner websites, so
some people prefer to enlist the services of a qualified
timeshare broker. Be advised that a time share broker
typically accepts no money up front, instead taking a
modest commission from the sale proceeds.

Selling a time share in this climate requires two things:
massive exposure and competitive pricing. If you are
listing a resale time share for too high a price, there is a
strong likelihood that the time share will not sell. A
reputable time share resale company or brokerage will be
able to help you price your time share competitively by
investigating other, similar properties and their selling
prices across the resale market. If asked for an "appraisal
fee", be aware that, since your time share was not
appraised before it was sold by the resort, there is
absolutely no reason to pay for a time share appraisal if
you are going to resell it. Sometimes, an appraisal is
required if you are donating a timeshare to charity and
want to claim a tax deduction based on this, but for regular
timeshare sales purposes, an informal market value survey
is all you need to price your property aggressively.

The poor resale market doesn't mean sensible travelers
should shun time shares, but it does suggest they should
buy with their eyes wide open. Buying direct from the
resort developer might yield the exact week wanted, but at
a steep premium that will probably never be recovered.
A good place for advice on buying or selling a time share is
the Timeshare Users Group, at on the Web.
The site offers valuable insights on the time share business
and specific resorts and runs ads listing units for sale or

rent. Ads cost members $10 for three months. The group
advises consumers to avoid real estate brokers who charge
excessive up-front fees or require costly appraisals, but it
also recommends pricing a week competitively by checking
what comparable units at the same resort are selling for.
One advice column on the site written by a Los Angeles real
estate broker suggested a sales price 50 percent below the
original price for someone eager to sell. For someone
looking to sell immediately, the broker suggested cutting
75 percent off the original price.

Tips For Selling

The values of time shares are constantly changing. There
are numerous time share-selling companies arriving every
day. Time shares are big business, and when one wants to
sell a time share, the object is to gain more money than
what he or she paid for. Here are several tips that can help
anyone seeking to sell his or her timeshare make a profit:

   Choose the right company: There are many time
     share sellers out there, and unfortunately, some are
     scams. It is important to do research on any company
     before advertising your time share with them. Watch
     out for companies offering to sell a time share within a
     certain timeframe, or for a certain amount of gain.

  Some say that reputable companies will not charge
  more than $50 for an ad. This is not true. Some of
  the best companies have ads that are more than
  $200. It is important to understand what the
  company will do for you. If you believe that the
  company will help you make a profit on your time
  share, or at least help you break even, then it is worth
  a large investment.
 Set aggressive prices: Once you find a company to
  advise you, they will likely suggest a selling price that
  is significantly lower than what you paid. This is good
  advice. Some sellers attempt to sell their time shares
  for more than they are worth, and end up being forced
  to lower the price, and possibly losing large amounts
  of money. The longer a time share stays on the
  market, the less likely it is to have a high yield.
  Depending on the company and the market, time
  shares may be sold at least 20-30% what the resort is
  currently selling. The best prices will naturally attract
 Get exposure: Choose a company that will expose
  your time share to the most potential buyers. Quite
  simply, a time share that is for sale will not sale if no
  one knows about it. Some companies claim that they
  have high exposure, but always check the facts. A
  company may claim to be number one in a search

     engine, but you should never be afraid to investigate
     further. A good way to test a company's claims is to
     search for time share-related keywords in Google.
     Observe the companies’ rankings on specific
     keywords, and you can attain a good idea of their
     exposure to a potential buying audience. Many
     customers selling time shares fail to check the facts
     and lose money as a result. In order to make money,
     you must get exposure.

It is important to understand the market in which you are
selling your time share. Most time shares decrease in value
and it is important to understand and accept this fact. With
the proper advice and the proper approach to selling, a
time share can make a seller large profits. Always have an
aggressive price for your time share and choose the
company that is best for you. Finally, gain the most
exposure for your timeshare sale as possible. Following
these rules will help make your time share sale experience
a success.


In just over 18 months, more than 20,000 listings for new
and existing homes have been posted on eBay. On

average, an eBay posting generates more than 1,000
viewings per property, but there's no way of knowing how
many postings result in actual sales. EBay Inc. executives
say the company doesn't keep track of concluded
transactions. In addition to new and existing homes, the
postings include land, vacation homes, and time shares.
You don't have to be wealthy to buy or sell at an online
real-estate auction and this venue can be the perfect place
for you to sell your time share.

Should you buy, or sell, a time share on eBay? Or is it too
risky? Before you decide to participate in an online auction
familiarize yourself with the rules of the road. The format
for eBay real-estate auctions is different from those usually
used on eBay. For starters, a bid to buy or sell real estate
on eBay isn't legally binding. A bid on eBay for a property
merely expresses your serious interest in the purchase and
indicates that you want to proceed to final negotiations for
the property. Neither the seller, nor the buyer, has a legal
obligation to actually complete the real-estate transaction.

The Internet is an effective medium for advertising time
shares, but has its flaws when it comes to the actual sales
transaction. The lack of a binding agreement is an issue.
In most traditional auctions, bidders must bring a cashier's
check for the deposit. When that gavel comes down, the

buyer is locked in, and the deal closes at a predesignated

And for buyers, there's the question of whether the other
bidders can be trusted. Bidders are concerned that the
bidding isn't real for a time share and many times eBay
doesn't provide enough analysis of the properties or allow
for sufficient due diligence on them.

EBay has been a particularly effective marketplace for
vacation time shares, likely because their price tags are
much lower than for family homes, lessening the financial
risk for buyers. For example, a one-week time share near
Carnegie Hall in New York City recently was going for
$10,000. In the past, time shares were marketed mostly
through seasonal industry publications. Time share owners
can literally list a timeshare year-round to an audience that
approaches eight million on a given day. When you think
about it, this is a perfect example of how eBay can bring
the power of its marketplace to buyers and sellers who
really don't have a better way to connect with one another,
as in the case of selling a time share.


If you own a vacation time share be cautious about people
offering to help you resell it for an appraisal fee. Most of
these sales programs are bogus. The market for resale's is
very active, but it is trying to sell the needle in the
haystack. One recent survey found that less than 4 percent
of owners reported reselling their time shares during the
last 20 years.

Unscrupulous companies may contact you by phone or
mail. For an advance "appraisal" fee, often $300 to $700,
some salespeople promise to sell your time share for a
price equal to or greater than your purchase price. To
further entice you, they may offer you a money-back
guarantee or even a $1,000 government bond if they can't
sell your time share within a year. Others offer to purchase
your time share for 80-90 percent of its appraised value if
they don't sell it within a specified time.

In reality, the market for resale's may vary considerably,
depending on the location and time of year. The lists of
sales agents and buyers may consist of people who have
never heard of the company or have no interest in buying a
timeshare. It may be unlikely that the company can sell
the time share at all, let alone at a price equal to or greater

than your original purchase price. In addition, many
consumers whose time shares don't sell after a year may
be presented with a government bond worth only $60 or
$70 or told there's no refund on their listing fee.

If you want to resell your time share and are approached
by a company offering to help, consider taking these

   Don't agree to anything over the phone until you've
     had a chance to check out the company.
   Ask the salesperson to send you written materials.
   Find out where the company is located and where it
     does business.
   Contact the Better Business Bureau, state Attorney
     General, and local consumer protection agencies in the
     state where the company is located. Ask whether
     complaints have been lodged against the company.
   Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell
     real estate.
   Be wary of companies charging an advance "appraisal"
     fee for services.

You have several other resale options. You may try selling
your time share yourself, by placing an ad in a newspaper
or magazine, or contacting a real estate agent familiar with

the area. If all the time shares have been sold in your
development, consider asking the seller to establish an on-
site resale's office. As an alternative, you may consider an
exchange program. For a fee, these programs allow you to
arrange trades with other resorts.

             CHAPTER 9: BUYER BEWARE

Most people know that when buying a time share, great
care should be taken. However, even more care and
research should be used when buying a time share resale.
Time share resales cost much less than buying directly
from a resort developer, but you should still keep your best
interests at heart. Being informed about your time share
will lead to a positive experience.

It is a very good idea to actually see the time share you are
buying. Some time share resellers may try to talk up their
time share. If the reseller says that the time share is in a
beautiful place, be sure to check it out. A time share, even
a resold time share, is a great investment. It is important
to make sure that you are buying what you want.

Time share resales often have very appealing prices.
Sometimes, these prices can cause the buyer to overlook

crucial questions. Be sure to ask about maintenance fees
and property taxes. If these have not been paid up-to-
date, then the time share will cost significantly more than
the base price. It is very important to know the whole cost
before you decide to buy a time share.

Some time shares are affiliated with an exchange company.
If the time share you are purchasing is affiliated with an
exchange company, make sure to find out if this
membership can be transferred. Doing this can help you to
avoid unnecessary hassles in the future. If the time share
you are purchasing is a point-system time share, find out if
the points are transferable. Finally, if there are any
additional bonuses with the time share, find out if they can
be transferred.

The seller often pays to advertise the time share, while the
buyer is stuck with the closing costs. Be informed and find
out all of the charges that you will be responsible for upon
the closing of the sale. This is important because some
buyers do not know how much they are paying when they
decide to buy the time share.

Visiting the time share can solve this problem, but it is
important to be aware of it. Time shares can sometimes be
located in a facility that has only been partially remodeled.

Other time shares have not been touched at all. Paying an
extremely high price for an old, worn-out time share is
never a good idea.

Time shares have different times that they can be used.
Knowing when you can use your time share is very
important. Some times hares are odd-or even-year-use
time shares. If you buy one of these time shares, it may
be another year or two before you can actually use the time
share you purchased. If there is a lease on the property,
make sure to find out how much time is left on the lease.

Last, but certainly not least, find out why the time share is
being sold. Too many buyers simply overlook this crucial
information. Some resellers don’t want it anymore, but
other resellers may have discovered a problem with the
time share, or an inconvenience. It is important to know
these issues so you can decide whether or not you yourself
want to deal with them. If the reseller tells you the
negative aspects concerning the time share, and you are
still fully confident in its success, then it will be a good

Time share resales can be complicated business. It is
important to be as informed as possible when purchasing a
time share because it is often a very large investment. The

more investigating you do, the more informed you will be.
Being informed is the best way to ensure that you have a
positive time share resale experience.


There are basically four types of listings used by licensed
real estate brokers:

   Non-Exclusive Listing: This is the least restrictive type
     of listing to the seller, and the type we use and
     recommend for timeshare listings. The seller can list
     with any number of brokers and if it sells, the listing is
     null and void to the other brokers.
   Exclusive Right to Sell: Also known as an Exclusive
     Listing. With the type of listing, the seller is giving the
     broker the exclusive right to sell the property. If it
     sells, no matter who sells it, whether it is sold by the
     owner himself or any other broker, the listing broker is
     due a commission. If an outside broker sells it, the
     seller is liable for two commissions, one to the listing
     broker, and one to the broker who procured the buyer.
     Great consideration should be given before entering
     into an exclusive listing, because it is the most
     restrictive listing to the seller. Given to the wrong

  broker, it just ends up tying up the property without
  selling. Time shares are so difficult to sell, so it is
  recommended to not give only one broker the
  exclusive right to sell it. This type of listing mainly
  protects the broker. The seller is not allowed to list
  with other brokers or sell it himself without owing the
  broker a commission.
 Exclusive Agency: This type of listing gives the right
  to sell to only one agency. The seller can sell on his
  own, but not through any other broker, without the
  liability of paying a commission to the listing broker if
  the property is sold. Again, this is a very restrictive
  listing to the seller.
 Net listing: In a net listing, the seller agrees to a net
  price on close of sale, and the broker can keep any
  amounts in excess of that net amount regardless of
  the ultimate sales price. While not illegal, the net
  listing has led to numerous abuses and
  misrepresentations. As a result, the real estate
  department of most states discourages them and
  requires full disclosure of the final selling price to the
  seller and buyer.

Finding the Right Selling Help

Have you paid an upfront listing or appraisal fee to sell your
time share? Then what happens next? The Lights Are On,
But Nobody's Home. That expression can be said of many
time share classified advertising websites.

Non-licensed time share advertising companies who know
NOTHING about time shares have put up thousands of
websites, not to help you sell your time share but to gain
revenue by selling ads.

A real estate broker only makes money if he sells your time
share. He is on commission and must perform or he makes
nothing. Ever notice the difference in level of service when
you are at a store where the salesman is on commission?
The ones not on commission don't care, whereas the
salesman on commission works really hard to make that
sale. A similar principle applies on the Internet. We have
numerous sellers tell us their time share sat on the market
for years with such advertising companies until the seller
found us and we quickly sold it.

Many of the classified ad websites look and sound very
appealing, but if you go to the Better Business Bureau
online and enter their company name you will find many of

them, even the prominently found ones on leading search
websites, have been kicked-out due to unresolved
complaints. Only a licensed broker can act as an agent to
sell your deeded time share. Non-licensed advertising
companies can only refer the buyer to you. What will you
do if a miracle happens and you obtain a buyer from such
an ad?

You'll need a broker to negotiate the many details of the
sale, address the many problems a closing agency won't
handle, and someone to see that you are protected
throughout the sale. A licensed time share broker knows
the ropes, and must follow stringent laws already
established for your protection.

Why not just use a licensed, experienced, professional
timeshare broker to begin with?!

Understand that placing an ad on the net with a company
with no physical location, no agents, no license, is not the
same as dealing with a licensed experienced professional
time share broker who has many methods of obtaining
buyers and experience in managing all the problems clear
through to the close of the sale.

Yes the problems arise AFTER you have a buyer, and during
the closing process! Internet classified ad websites don't
deal with these problems, so why not deal with a licensed
time share professional to begin with? The only sure way
to protect yourself from wasting your time and money on
upfront fees, appraisals, or non-licensed classified ad
websites, is to list for sale only with a licensed broker, only
if the commission is due at the close of sale and only if
there are no other up-front fees no matter what they are

An appraisal is nothing more than an estimate of value
based upon offer and acceptance. A successful time share
real estate broker should have a record of sales and should
be able to tell you what your time share is worth as a
routine part of his/her job.


If you are thinking of selling a vacation time share you've
no doubt found that the Internet is literally cluttered with
websites offering the seller the opportunity to place an
online time share classified ad to sell their time share. To
the untrained and unsuspecting, the come-on sounds quite
enticing: Advertise your time share here for a fee, and you

keep all the money. No real estate broker fee to pay. The
seller pockets more money, the buyer gets a lower price. It
is a win-win situation, right?

Wrong. The problem is that in the real-life time share
resale, for both the seller and the buyer, the scenario just
doesn't work out that way in the vast majority of cases.
Following are the reasons why:

   Sellers will NOT necessarily net more money by selling
     on their own compared to using a real estate
     professional. A trained time share broker who is
     experienced at sales techniques and skilled at
     negotiating offers from buyers can often get a higher
     price or structure a better deal for sellers than the
     inexperienced seller could obtain independently.
   Buyers will NOT necessarily be able to buy at a lower
     price directly from a seller. Sellers on their own
     usually price their units way above fair market resale
     value. Brokers can assist buyers by showing
     comparable sales to the seller, and factually justifying
     an offering price that is at fair market value even if it
     is less than the asking price.

That broker in most cases can actually get a better price for
the buyer and the seller wins too because a formerly

unsellable listing becomes a sold listing. Since the typical
buyer is not experienced, an offer for less than the asking
price, with no factual market experience to substantiate the
offer, will usually serve only to anger the seller and
subsequently that buyer completely loses the opportunity
to buy the time share at all!

A buyer and seller who go through a licensed time share
broker have a professional who is responsible in seeing that
there are no surprises in what is being sold, as to unit
description, fees, and all terms of the sale that would not
otherwise be verified.

Classified ad time share websites are there to sell ads.
They don't provide personal assistance to help you sell your
timeshare. They have no licensed real estate agents, not
even someone to whom you can personally talk in order to
receive counsel as to sales strategy and how to properly
price the timeshare so it will sell.

These companies offer zero service and they are not
interested in selling your time share. Their only interest is
to charge you to place an online ad that somehow
magically is supposed to sell your time share with no one to
advise you and no one to prompt and encourage the buyer.
Such sites may offer you a link to a closing agency, but

they don't disclose hidden costs and the fact that closing
agencies do not handle many of the common problems that
come up during the escrow sales closing procedure. These
web sites are NOT licensed real estate brokers and they do
not have to follow the comprehensive laws a licensed
broker must follow for your protection.

The majority of buyers simply do not like the idea of
dealing directly with a seller. They want to make an offer
but they want someone else to do the negotiating because
they find it distasteful to deal directly with the seller. An
online classified ad will miss these valuable offers from this
type of buyer.

Similarly, sellers in reality don't really like negotiating
directly with the buyer either. Experience proves that
buyers dealing directly with a seller will propose all kinds of
"mickey mouse" insecure ways to try to accomplish the
transfer and handling of funds, all of which could have been
done easily by a trained licensed professional time share
broker who knows how to structure the transaction so that
it flows smoothly and follows strict real estate laws that are
already in place to protect BOTH buyer and seller. Plus, the
time share broker services the sale and follows it through
from start to finish, expediting the signatures, forms,
funds, etc.

Virtually ALL online ads you see on such sites are
OVERPRICED, will never sell, and the seller has wasted
their money and more importantly their time. Buyers who
are browsing these sites until they are cross-eyed,
eventually learn the listings are over-priced (or no longer
for sale), and the buyers sooner or later narrow their
search to the professional sites where there are actually
trained professionals they can speak to, as opposed to the
speaking to the seller who is obviously biased in his/her
own favor.

A broker serves to protect the seller from frivolous offers.
There are many many buyers who constantly browse the
Internet and make ridiculously low offers to sellers. Such
buyers are "bottom fishers" and they are very "brave"
sitting behind their computers and sending ridiculous and
disgusting offers. They can actually get quite hostile. They
will make offers and say things that they would probably
never do in person. Kind of like the drivers we've all met
who "hide behind the wheel" of an automobile, honking the
horn and acting far more aggressively than they would if
they were face-to-face with the other person. The seller
who wisely has a licensed real estate broker representing
the listing, will be shielded from such distasteful buyers.

An online ad is limited because it is only one source of
locating a buyer. A licensed real estate broker brings many
other sources to the table for you, such as walk-ins to the
office, repeat business from previous buyers, referrals of
buyers from previous buyers, large databases of proven
buyer sources, referrals from timeshare industry related
agencies, Internet and print advertising, direct mail, and
more. There is just no comparison between an online
classified ad, and a dedicated licensed professional time
share real estate broker who lives, works, and experiences
the business day in and day out.

As a seller, please think it through - is it really to your
advantage to try to cut out the professional licensed time
share real estate broker? Do you really want to deal
directly with a buyer? If problems come up during the sale,
do you really want an angry buyer on your hands who
probably has your home telephone number and address?

What problems, you ask? Misunderstandings and problems
are so common during the sale, it still amazes me even
after all these years in the business. And these problems
are not handled by the closing agencies. There are many
entities involved in a time share transfer, far more than

most would realize, and the greater the number of
agencies, the more chances for misunderstandings.

The entities include the resort management company, the
lender, the exchange companies, the escrow companies,
taxing agencies, local governmental agencies and more.
Each can represent a problem or misunderstanding.

If you have no broker you are on your own. A broker
serves a very important "referee function" and often pays
out of his/her own pocket to save sales that would
otherwise fall through.


When you’re ready to sell your time share you’ll want to
have some basis on which to establish your asking price.
The following guidelines can be applied to coming up with a
fair asking price for your time share:

   Typical: This includes at least 95% of time shares
     that can viably be resold. The maximum resale prices
     average approximately 30% to 50% of the developer
     new price.

   Special: This includes Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons,
    and other major names where in addition to time
    share benefits, the owner can use credits for other
    things such as airline tickets, or accommodations in
    the chain's hotels worldwide. These special type of
    units typically resell for 50% to 85% of the developer
    new price.
   Mexico Resorts: Depends on the city, but resale
    prices are typically slightly lower than category one
    above, and since the right to use is for a number of
    years, when the end is near the price drops
   Little Or No Demand: There is very little demand for
    studio units (no private bedroom), or for off-season
    (Non Red) weeks. The honest truth is these can be
    nearly impossible to sell. Don't focus on "what you
    will get out of it", rather, focus on "what you are
    getting out of", which is the maintenance fees and
    taxes which go on forever. Even if you net zero on
    the sale, focus on the thousands of dollars you'll retain
    over a few years by enjoying NOT having to pay out
    further ongoing maintenance costs!!

If you encounter companies proposing substantially higher
prices, examine their motive, no matter how impressive the
company or sales pitch seems to be. Is their only motive

to sell your time share? Could they be trying to make the
price enticing enough to extract some sort of advance fee
from you?

Most typically the motive is to derive a fee to be paid by
you in advance of the sale. Such fees could include: online
classified ad fees, upfront listing fees, appraisal fees, or
referral fees paid back to the timeshare company from the
appraisal company. Because the competition for buyers is
so severe it is suggested that sellers price at their firm
lowest acceptable price, because wisely setting a price is
different for timeshare than it is for a house: Unlike time
share, a house is individually unique and irreplaceable, so
the seller commonly starts high, and then plans to come
down later if needed.

But since time shares are in such abundance, Internet
buyers simply search for the lowest price and buy it. The
over-priced owner will simply be repeatedly passed-by and
never see an offer.

Time Share Commissions

Since most of us are entrenched with the idea that the
commission charged on RESIDENTIAL real estate is usually

6 per cent, it warrants discussion why timeshare Brokers
charge a higher percentage.

First, realize that 6 per cent on a typical house may be a
low percentage, but because the sales price is many times
higher than for time share, 6% is a HIGH amount of

A time share sale involves just as much work and expense
as selling a house, sometimes even more, but the
commission DOLLAR AMOUNT is so low that most
traditional realtors consider it a waste of their time to sell
time share.

So yes, the percentage is higher for time share, but the
actual dollar amount is far smaller. It is a high-percentage
but low dollar-amount commission. Compared to home
sales, time share is a completely different industry with
very small sales prices and expenses that are
proportionately much higher.

It is very difficult and expensive to properly market the sale
of a time share. On a new sale from the time share
developer, it is well known that the commissions and
marketing paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price,
total approximately 50 per cent! That is one of the reasons

that the resale on a typical time share is only a maximum
of about 50 per cent of what was originally paid.

In the time share RESALE industry, brokerage commissions
average between 20% to 30%. Time share resorts and
time share developers, typically charge 25% to 30% for
resale transactions

Also, most licensed timeshare real estate brokers have a
mandatory minimum commission amount ranging from a
low of about $1,500 to a high of about $2,500, with the
average being about $2,000.

Because the average resale price is so low, the mandatory
minimum commission is necessary if the broker is to stay in
business while paying the proportionately higher expenses
pertinent to professionally marketing a time share.

Again, the average commission of $2,000 is not a lot of
money compared to the work of initiating the sale,
following it through with buyer and seller until it closes, the
liability, and the responsibility for the expenses incurred for
the whole process.

In conclusion, when considering paying a time share
commission, focus on the dollar amount for the job done,

and not the commission percentage. And when comparing
between brokers, the lowest offered commission may not
be the wisest, either.

If the goal is to actually sell the property, the broker with
an average commission who expends what it takes and
actually sells the time share, is certainly a wiser choice
than choosing a broker willing to list it with a low
commission but who doesn't do much, and doesn't sell the

The worst thing a seller can do is to take the attitude where
the seller says to the broker, "no way am I going to pay
'that kind of percentage' to sell my time share!" - then they
foolishly turn around and pay upfront fees repeatedly to
companies who DON'T SELL THEIR TIME SHARE and usually
aren't even licensed real estate brokers.

The result is that these sellers end up paying exorbitant
fees to NOT SELL IT, rather than a fair commission, to SELL

On a positive note, before the Internet came along, there
was virtually no means of marketing a time share resale at
any price, but the good news is that there now is a strong

market, as long as the price is in accordance with the price
for which other sellers are willing to sell identical units.


   DBW: Developer Bonus Week
   EOY: "Every Other Year"
   Floating Week: Owner requests a desired date from
     the time share resort every year subject to availability
     at the time of request.
   FK: "Full Kitchen"
   FROR: "First Right of Refusal". Used by some resorts
     to control resale values.
   GC: "Gold Crown". An RCI designation of their highest
     quality resort.
   HGA points: Marriott Honored Guest Award points.
   II: "Interval International", an exchange company.
   Interval: One time share week.
   LH: "Lease hold". Time share is deeded property on
     leased land.
   Lockout: If allowed, a time share unit can be
     subdivided and used as two smaller units for the
     purposes of use or exchange. e.g.: a three bedroom
     unit might be split and deposited as one 2Br unit and

  one 1Br unit giving the owner two weeks for use or
 Lurker: Non participating visitor to BBS sites.
 OBO: "Or Best Offer".
 MF: Maintenance Fee
 Rack rate: Non discounted hotel room rate.
 RCI: "Resorts Condominium International", an
  exchange company.
 RID: "Resort of International Distinction". An RCI
  designation of their second highest quality resort.
 Right of Recision: Time period after sale in which the
  buyer can cancel the sale.
 RTU: "Right To Use". Time share ownership has an
  expiration date.
 SFX: "San Francisco Exchange" , an exchange
 Trade Power: A measure of desirability of a time share
  week for use in exchanging. Based on location, time
  of year and resort quality.
 TUG: "Time share Users Group"
 T/S: Time share or ownership interval.
 VEP score: "Vacation Exchange Profile". An RCI resort
  rating score (company confidential).


The above information should give you all of the advice and
tips that you need to successfully sell your time share. The
most important thing to remember is that you take your
time and don’t sell in haste. You want to make sure that
you have covered all the bases when it comes to selling
your time share. Otherwise you may find yourself losing
great sums of money by making decisions that aren’t
founded in legal or financial importance.

Make sure that you find out what the specific laws are
where you live when it comes to the sale of your time
share. This includes how you can list your time share all
the way to how you will be able to use the sale as a tax
write off.

Time shares are increasing in popularity as more and more
people recognize the advantage of owning one. This can be
to your benefit as you sell your time share since you may
find that it is a seller’s market.


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