Buying Timeshares: 7 Tips

While owning a timeshare may not be for everybody they are a very viable way to stay in 1,2,3 or even 4 bedroom condos in nice resorts for a fraction of the price you would normally pay.

Here are 7 tips that will help you if you are in the market.


1. Buy in a timeshare resort you would like to go to often
The number one reason to buy a timeshare is to use it in you home resort. Eventually, you will most likely want to do a timeshare exchange to other RCI resorts or use Interval International,but that requires work and extra fees.

2. Exchanging timeshares to other locations is one of the benefits so make sure you get one that has great exchange power

Since you will most likely want to do a timeshare exchange in addition to staying at your home resort, buy one that has great exchange power. The more demand there is for other timeshare owners to exchange into your resort through the RCI directory the more timeshare exchange power you will enjoy.

Good places to own for exchanging are Hawaii, Caribbean, Key West, southern California beach areas, ski resorts and urban areas like San Francisco, Boston, New York, London or Paris.

The few timeshare resorts in your area the better. Orlando has a lot of people wanting to do a timeshare swap there but there are nearly 200 timeshare resorts in the area which waters down your timeshare exchange power.

3. Do not buy because the maintenance fees are low

Never buy based on how low the maintenance fee is. Good trading resorts require better maintenance. If the fees are too low the resort manager is deferring maintenance to keep costs down and that will bite you big time in the end

4. Make sure the timeshare resort is affiliated with RCI or Interval International

Even though there are other timeshare exchange companies you can use to swap timeshare they usually have limited availability.The RCI directory has over 4200 timeshare resorts and Interval International has more than 2000.

5. Do not buy a studio timeshare unit

Studio units have lost a great amount of trading power as far as exchanging timeshares goes. Your best bet is a one or two bedroom unit as there is much greater demand for them. On the other side of the coin, you shouldn't purchase a 3 or 4 bedroom timeshare condo, unless it is a lock off, because of the added purchase price and maintenance fees. In addition, there are not that many 3 and 4 bedroom timeshare units in the RCI resort directory or in Interval International.

6. Get input from owners at the resort

If possible, always visit the actual site of the timeshare resort you are wanting to purchase. Take a stroll by the pool or clubhouse and ask the actual owners their opinions. This is gold.

7. Read the contract with a fine tooth comb

Take your time and read not only the actual contract but also the CC&R's of the resort. In the CC&R's you will find all of the nuts and bolts of your rights as an owner that are not in the actual purchase proposal.

In conclusion, do not take lightly the purchase of your timeshare resort. You will most likely own it for a very long time. Ideally, buy in a resort you want to visit often, make sure it has good exchange power and be suspect of maintenance fees that are too low.

In addition, make sure the resort is affiliated with RCI or Interval International, never buy a studio unit, go to the resort and get input from actual owners and read the contract and CC&R's with a fine tooth comb.

Do this and you'll have many enjoyable timeshare vacations whether at your home resort or when exchanging to other RCI resorts or Interval international.