Buy Timeshares Online

The current wave in timesharing sales at resorts is investing in all inclusive resort packages. You are charged one fee that includes everything from your room to your meals and entertainment. Other than spending money for shopping, etc., you don’t have to spend a time on your resort stay. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?

There are a variety of timeshare resort packages that you can chose from in exotic places like Mexico, Cancun, The Dominican Republic, Australia, Egypt and Brazil. As a matter of fact, you can purchase a package at almost any of the 5000+ timeshare resorts located all over the world.

Prices depend on location, room and the extra amenities that you would like included. It is important to request a written contract that lists all the options that you are requesting to make sure you are getting what you pay for. For example, if you are a sports enthusiast, there are packages that are available in mountain resorts that include activities like skiing, hiking, golf, mountain biking and climbing. This is in addition to your room and meals.

The upfront cost of these timeshare packages is more expensive than a regular timeshare purchase. But when you figure out the costs of additional activities like skiing, golfing, tennis, etc., and you throw in three meals every day – you end up saving a lot of money in the end. If you add up the expenses of a traditional vacation week and compare them to a timeshare package, you’ll decide there is no other way to go.

Timeshare companies sell vacation properties to people for a particular amount of time. These properties were originally sold as condominiums, but now timeshare companies also selling yachts, boats, motor homes, luxury cars, recreational vehicles and campgrounds to people who wish to buy them on a timeshare basis.

The roots of timeshare companies can be traced to the 1960s in Europe. One of the oldest timeshare companies was the Société des Grands Travaux de Marseille, a French company that operated in Marseilles in France. Two condominium resorts that this company developed – Devoluy and Paul Doumier – became immensely famous and brought the whole business of timesharing to the forefront. Another Swiss company started around this time, Hapimag, became extremely popular and is still in business.

Today, timesharing is not the obscure market that it was a few decades ago. There are big names among timeshare companies like the Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and Disney.

People can buy timeshare properties directly from these companies. But these prices are substantially higher than purchasing a resale unit. Timeshare companies have to charge more to keep in stride with their advertising campaigns that include seminars, free dinners and free stays and tours to prospective buyers.

There are about 6000 timeshare resorts around the world an estimated 7 million families own timeshares. Most legitimate timeshare companies in the US are affiliated with the American Resort Developers’ Association and every timeshare company in Europe should be affiliated with the Organization for Timeshare. These organizations regulate the timeshare industry.

The bad news is it is not easy to sell timeshares. It can be very difficult, if not impossible because of supply and demand. There are many timeshares up for sale; the demand is just not there.

Many timeshare owners want out because they bought blindly during a promotional offering including free gifts and a vacation in the resort that had units for sale. What they find out in the long run is that prices are over inflated and some of what they were told is simply not ‘as it seems.” For instance, many people are told that they can trade time to spend in other resort locations, only to find out that they can’t. Not only that, they also learn the hard way that if they do want to sell their unit, they will only get about half of what they paid for it. It is a sad fact that the demand side for timeshare resale just isn’t there, and those who are looking to buy are looking for extreme bargains because they know they are available.

Now that you know the bad news, and you still have ambitions to sell there are a few points to take into consideration. The first is to look at what other units sold for in your resort. Check auctions and see what final bidding was, and check with resale brokers for pricing information about your property. Remember that you are competing with hundreds of other sellers, so in order to sell you have to price as low as possible.

You also need to advertise your property. If it’s not out there for people to see, it will never sell. Post ads on the Internet in as many “timeshare” sites you can find. The Internet has proven to be the most used resource for timeshare resale, and it has a targeted market. Many of these websites allow you to post your property free of charge, especially if they are just launching their site.

Also, let the company that you purchased your property from know that you are interested selling. Often times they get renters who are interested in purchasing a timeshare after staying a week.

You can use a broker, but realize that one way or another; there will be a fee involved. Stay away from brokers who demand an upfront fee and go with one who collects a commission upon sale.