Author: Arnold Brod

Timeshare buying can be accomplished in several different ways. It is important to understand the choices available because there may be $1000s of dollars at stake. It is very possible to save $1000 of dollars with the correct choice. This article will look at 3 of the most common methods of timeshare buying.

Most people are sold timeshares through a presentation at a resort. Free vacation weekends are the usual method of attracting people to listen to a sales presentation. There is a lot of pressure to buy during a presentation because that is how the salesman makes a living - by selling you a timeshare. A resort salesman makes a living by earning commissions from selling you something. Timeshare salesman are not the best and most reliable source of information concerning the advisability of your purchase. The cost of the sales commissions and support staff salaries are all included in the cost of the purchase of your timeshare.

Timeshare resellers are the second most common source of timeshare purchases. These companies act as brokers and bring together property sellers and property buyers. When using a reseller service there are a number of things to consider. As a buyer you need to understand what type of fees they have that have been added onto the price. You also need to understand what fees there are above and beyond the price of the timeshare. A partial list of these would be title fees, state transfer tax, special resort assessments and unpaid maintenance fees. It is also important to be aware of when you will have access to the property. If this year has been used you will have to wait a whole year before planning your vacation.

The third and possibly the least expensive method of purchasing a timeshare is to buy one directly from the owner. There are many places that list timeshares for sale by owner. Of all the places that list these timeshare my favorite place is Ebay. There a many examples that I can site but one that comes to mind is of a timeshare that is selling for $14,000 less then the resort’s sales price. Now that is an incredible savings. As with any direct purchase of a timeshare the additional fees that are seen in a reseller purchase apply here as well.

In any purchase the buyer should always be aware of any pitfalls. Do your homework and carefully research your potential purchase. The advantages of buying a timeshare directly from an owner are incredible. Using the above example you would see a savings of $14,000 not including the cost of interest. Incredible.

Author: Lionel Wayne

Everyone has heard the horror stories associated with purchasing a timeshare property. Huge payments, poor accommodations, stolen funds, and resorts that shall we say have lost their appeal!

Well once you have decided to go the timeshare rout for your vacations it is important to take into account a few factors when making your purchase decision. A timeshare can be owned forever but most are sold after 8-9 years. This makes the price you pay very important if you hope to avoid a major loss when the time comes to sell.

When purchasing a timeshare make sure the seller has an escrow arrangement with his or her solicitor (or accountant) to administer the sale of the property and handle the transfer of funds and title. Only when you are completely satisfied should you instruct the solicitor to release your money and certify the transfer. If you are offered a banked week, then check that the owner actually owns the week and that the management fees are up to date by contacting the management company and the exchange company.

Make sure the exchange company is informed of the change in ownership before transfer and always be sure you understand who in the purchase agreement (seller or buyer) will assume the costs of transferring the ownership of the unit. A “right of use” ownership transfer may cost from $140 to $1,700 and the transfer costs for a deeded ownership may amount to as much as $3,000.

Only buy from the developer of the resort as a last choice alternative and if you do have to go that route be prepared to pay substantially higher prices for your timeshare units.

The starting price for “sleep 6″, peak season week in good quality resorts in most of europe should be in or around $4000 and should provide good exchange power and minimum losses on resale. In the United Kingdom a larger unit in peak school season at a top class resort should cost you between $6,000 and $10,000, and most of your money should come back when you resell. Once you find what you want, bargain hard! It’s a buyers market so take advantage!

The idea is to learn the tips and tricks for saving on your family vacations and get a good understanding of fractional cottage ownership, destination clubs, wholesale travel groups, vacation clubs, all inclusive resorts and timeshare units. Like anything else we do education is key. You do not drive without taking driving lessons, and you do not swim without taking swimming lessons so take advantage of the resources that are out there and learn how to save money on your family vacations. Learn to avoid those costly vacation scams and do not let your family down.