How To Buy A Timeshare? Does This Vacation Model Work?

Let’s start with a story!

Sara and her husband, Ricky, were on a honeymoon trip to Greece. They booked the top-notch Greek hotel, and everyone in our “Friends Forever WhatsApp group was like, “Have you gone mad?”

Yes, it was indeed difficult for us to imagine them doing so, as we knew how hard they saved the money, and the prices in top-notch Greek hotels can be close to $1000 per night.

To our surprise, Ricky used the points accumulated in his family’s timeshare for the payment. Sounds great, right?

So, for Ricky’s father or grandfather or whoever bought the timeshare, it became a worthy investment.

Now, it’s not just about Ricky. Young Americans love this timeshare vacation model. The 2024 report by ARDA, the American Resort Development Association, supports this trend.

Almost 10 million households in the USA own one or multiple types of timeshare products.

More than 90% of the timeshare owners found their products worthy of purchase.
The average age of timeshare owners is 45, and the average age for recent timeshare owners is 39.

Moreover, 69% of the timeshare owners in the USA belong to the millennial, Gen Z, and young Gen X groups.

Do you also own a timeshare, or would you like to explore this vacation model? We will discuss how to buy a timeshare on the resale market.

However, before that, we will talk about the benefits of owning a timeshare and whether it is a profitable investment.

What Are The Benefits Of Buying A Timeshare?

Have you heard the term “Workcation?” Yes, the post-pandemic world has given us this word that permanently merges vacation and work.

Now, today, most Americans, working remotely or as digital nomads, constitute the largest population of this Workcation community.

Also, with the USA being a popular vacation destination for these remote workers, they are willing to invest $24,170 to own a timeshare and enjoy more flexibility and customized services during their vacations.

Moreover, resale platforms such as SellMyTimeshareNow now offer personalized offers and experiences in timeshare ownership.

So, timeshare is one of the smartest vacation models you can opt for these days. Having said that, let’s check out the other benefits of buying a timeshare.

1. Timeshare Allows You To Own Your Vacation

Today, we all want our vacation experience to be unique, and our preferences are different! With a timeshare ownership, you can plan your holiday just the way you want.

It’s a completely customized affair!

2. Timeshare Ensures A More Affordable Vacation Stay

Timeshare ownership is beneficial because it allows you to budget your travel like a pro. You can plan a stay for weeks or months without booking a luxury hotel or renting a home.

Moreover, you can rent your unused time to any other traveler to recover some of the expenses.

3. Helps You Plan Your Vacation With Peace Of Mind

Timeshare ownership functions as an extra impetus when we go on a vacation. Especially for someone who loves to plan holidays with their family at a specific time every year, this ownership model works as a blessing.

4. You Can Exchange Your Timeshare

Do you have a timeshare in the USA, but you want to visit Rome this time? You can trade your timeshare for a vacation to different parts of the world.

This is an excellent opportunity for a traveler who loves exploring new places.

5. Offers You The Best Amenities Without Hassles

Oftentimes, timeshare properties or accommodations are part of big resorts or communities. So, you will get all the perks and amenities of staying in a luxury hotel, minus the hassle.

6. Timeshares Come With Legacy Options

Timeshares can be passed on to future generations. So, if you buy a timeshare today, you can transfer the ownership to your children and grandchildren.

It’s like gifting them a vacation as a tradition.

Buying A Timeshare: Is It A Worthy Investment?

There are debates about whether buying a timeshare constitutes an investment. However, with the vacation timeshare industry contributing $85.7 billion to the USA economy, the timeshare owners now have more reasons to purchase one.

Additionally, as I mentioned earlier, if you are not using your timeshare, you can rent it out to someone else.

Nevertheless, here is additional industry data from the ARDA that supports why buying a timeshare is a profitable financial decision.

The timeshare sales amount in 2024 was $10.6 billion.
In 2024, the rental revenue for timeshares in the USA was $3.0 billion.
The amount rented for the night was 12.6 million.
The total output of the timeshare vacation industry was $35.7 billion in 2024.
On average, the occupancy rate in timeshare was 76.8%.
Timeshare owners spent $11.6 billion during their stays in 2024.
53% of timeshare owners earn $ 100,000 or more.

Today, timeshare is a full-fledged vacation model that offers budget-friendly vacations for owners, while also boosting timeshare sales and rentals.

How To Buy A Timeshare On The Resale Market?

With young travelers now having a new approach toward vacation accommodation and ownership, it’s time to explore how to buy a timeshare on the resale market for better flexibility.

Here are the details.

1. Understand Different Timeshare Types

Most timeshares work on a fixed-week model. These timeshares work if you plan a holiday for a particular week every year.

However, a floating week timeshare offers you better flexibility by allowing you to choose a selection of weeks during different calendar periods.

The floating week timeshare works on a first-come, first-served basis. Moreover, many vacation clubs operate on a points-based system.

You can use the points to plan a stay at any accommodation within the club’s network and book the same six to twelve months before your visit.

2. Know Your Travel Preferences

What are your travel preferences?
What is your travel budget?
And, what activities do you want to choose during your travel?

Try to find the answer to all these questions so that you can buy a timeshare based on your preference.

Also, check out the advertisement sections on the resale platform to find seasonal offerings from the top timeshare resorts.

3. Know How To Buy A Timeshare By Assessing The Annual Fees And Other Costs

Is a timeshare owner selling their ownership due to high maintenance charges? You need to evaluate this while buying a new timeshare.

You also need to check out the schedule for paying the maintenance fees. Choose a weekly, quarterly, monthly, or annual repayment schedule.

Moreover, along with the regular maintenance charges, you must also consider special assessments for renovations and other upgrades, which are often charged by many resorts.

4. Be Careful About The Contract Details

Timeshare resale transactions are complex. Also, these transactions include title and transfer fees. Typically, the buyer is responsible for these expenses.

Some resorts may also charge activation fees after the sale. All these elements must be included in the contract details, and you should read them carefully to budget appropriately.

Furthermore, a developer can use their right of first refusal during timeshare resale transactions. The developer can buy back a timeshare upon an “agreed-upon sales price” before it is sold to a prospective buyer.

So, when you buy a timeshare on the resale market, you must be careful whether the right of first refusal is clearly mentioned in your contract or not.