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<b>Timeshare Consumer Advisor</b> - Advising Timeshare Owners On Their Options
Today, we’re well aware of how overrated timeshares are. The salespersons make so many promises at the point of purchase whereas only a few of those promises are actually met. Irrespective of this, it does not mean you can’t have a good time owning a timeshare. Sadly, only a poor number of timeshare owners enjoy their timeshare.

One of the most asked questions about timeshares is: How much does a timeshare actually cost?

In 1990, a timeshare cost approximately $10,000 – $16,000, with an average annual maintenance fee of $250 – $500. The buyer thinks that bulk of the cost of a timeshare comes at the initial stage of the purchase. The accumulated cost (annual cost of maintenance- which is prone to increase) turns out to be more expensive than the initial cost. Today, the average maintenance fee amount is $850 -$1000. The average increase in maintenance fees is 10% to 12% per year. When purchasing a timeshare, your contract specifies the duration of your ownership. In most cases, it is in perpetuity. This means that your estate is responsible, even after your death. Taking this fact into account, the average timeshare owner could be paying over $100,000 in maintenance fees for the duration of their life!

In recent times, the cost of a timeshare ranges from $20,000 to as much as $100,000. It all depends on the type of contract. Prospective buyers are often shown the largest unit, with the best view, with the most luxurious amenities. This gets the buyer thinking that all the units are the same, when in fact, this is not the case. These showroom units are often the most expensive. When a buyer cannot afford the most expensive, a lesser unit for a lower price is offered. Of course, the buyer never gets to see what is actually on the deed and contract. Instead of the $100,000 unit, the buyer gets a deal at $20,000. What the buyer does on know is that the lower priced unit is much smaller, has modest furnishings, sometimes is located at a different resort completely, and does not have the expected, breathtaking view. More often than not, the buyer is left disappointed.

For more comfortable units, the initial cost should be in the range of $320,000 and above. The annual maintenance fee which follows is an average of $700 – $800 for one bedroom, and $850 – $1000 for a two bedroom unit. The larger the unit, the more expensive it will be. You must remember that prices are also affected by the period or week of purchase, resort location, resort quality, and resort size. Simply put, the more comfortable and beautiful the resort, the more expensive it is.

One of the side attractions of a timeshare is the promise of being able to transfer from one location to another. So, you can tour the world with the pay of one timeshare. All these heart-melting goodies come at a price. It is said that the average cost for vacation exchange is $100 – $250. Resorts have their customized plans and different modes of approach when it comes to timeshare exchange.

Often, when timeshare owners eventually tire out from all their timeshare troubles, the most popular option is outright sale of the timeshare. However, the reality is that timeshares cannot be sold as easily as they are bought. The owner would most likely pay the closing costs and usually prepay some maintenance fees. These incentives can cost thousands of dollars to the seller, with nothing in return. It is important to note, that very few timeshares sell on the secondary market.

Resale of timeshares can be a bit difficult. The unit acquired is usually sold at a loss. A terrible loss.

If you’re looking to get out of your timeshare, a team of professionals who understand the legal process are available to help you. TS Elimination can help you with your timeshare. Contact us today on www.tselimination.com or 888-559-5660.


The greatest misconception most timeshare owners have is that their timeshare contract is a lifetime one. This is not true. Timeshare developers do not really want people to know how to exit their timeshare because their business model depends on keeping owners and their families in the system. Here are a few tips to getting rid of your timeshare.

Renting out the timeshare
This does not exactly get you out of the contract but, at least, it helps in sharing the financial burden. Renting out your timeshare is a good idea but it also comes with some setbacks. Most resorts have renting restrictions. Many resorts actively rent out available inventory. This means you’ll be competing with the resort to find interested renters. Many times, the resort where your timeshare is located would have many empty timeshares available for rent. This depresses the rental rate since the resort is more interested in filling the units than getting premium rental amounts.

Donate it
The responsibilities attached to timeshares can be overwhelming. Many owners think they can donate the ownership of their timeshares. Unfortunately, charities will not accept them. The problem is that your timeshare has an annual maintenance fee, and the charities do not want to pay the fees. You may be able to donate your paid-for week to a charity for their use. Of course, this does not help you get rid of the ownership and future fees. Donating a timeshare is not an effective strategy if you want to make any money out of it.

Pay someone to get you out of the timeshare
This is called a transfer. A timeshare owner simply pays someone to take over their timeshare along with all its responsibility. The individual would then continue the payment of the annual maintenance fee while the original owner of the timeshare is relieved of the burden. It’s a very simple approach but it is important to ensure that you work with an experienced timeshare elimination company. Are you looking to get out of your timeshare contract? Then, speak to experts with a seamless track record. Contact TS Elimination today on 888-559-5660 or www.tselimination.com

Return it to the resort
Most resorts will not take back the timeshare. Their business model is to sell out timeshare resorts, then collect the maintenance fees in perpetuity. The more resorts they sell out, the more maintenance fees they can collect. It is not in the resorts best interest to take back the ownership. The resorts do not want to pay the fees. Regardless of what you were told when you bought the timeshare, the resort in most cases is not interested in taking back the timeshare.

Sell it
Most owners wish they could sell their timeshares. When you purchased your timeshare you may have been told that someday you can easily sell your timeshare. The honest truth is that it is not easy to sell a timeshare. There are few buyers on the secondary market. Most people do not know where to start. Some check with family and friends. When acquaintances are not willing to buy the timeshare, owners will try a listing company. Beware of these listing companies as they are not always successful. At most, 3% of listed timeshares ever sell. A quicker way out is by using a transfer company.

If you need professional help in terminating your timeshare contract, contact TS Elimination, LLC. on 888-559-5660 or www.tselimination.com


Over the years, timeshare management has taken different turns. Today, it is a little more complicated than it ought to be. When you wish to purchase a timeshare, proper research must be done so you have a clear understanding of the commitment you are making.

On the one hand, timeshare salespersons might not explain fully to you how the point system works. On the other hand, perhaps, you simply don’t understand how it works. This article would shed more light on how resorts and vacation club use the point system for their timeshares.

The timeshare point system can get really confusing. This is because it does not have a particular way in which it runs. Different resorts and vacation clubs have different ways of running their point systems. Vacation clubs have points values which they use as currencies. Different vacation clubs have different point values and how they are used.

A point system or club system consists of a number of timeshare resorts and hotels that have grouped together to provide a range of accommodation in different locations around the world. Every resort that joins the point system has its weeks valued and expressed in common currency (point system). These timeshare points can be sold and purchased. Points are flexible and can be obtained according to holiday needs and value of unit desired. Each shareowner has a certain number of points that can be used for different types of accommodations at different times of the year. If you want a large suite at peak tourist season, it might cost you more points than a small hotel room during the slow season. This allows owners to alter their vacation plans from year to year, although early booking is still a good idea.

A misconception people have about points is that you don’t have a deeded property. This is not true. You can have what is called an undivided interest which means you share the overall property with everyone else who owns a property at the resort you’re a part of. If you own a particular unit, you share ownership with everyone who has every other week in that year for that unit only. So, undivided interest is the same as a deeded timeshare except on a broader scale.

Say a one bedroom takes 100,000 each week (12,000 each weeknight and 20,000 each weekend night). A two bedroom takes 140,000 for the week (18,000 each weeknight and 25,000 for each weekend night). You have a choice of how many points you wish to purchase but they will only go so far in this type of system. If you own 280,000 points, you can get two whole weeks in a two bedroom each year or you can get a one bedroom for a week, plus two 5 day excursions taking only weekdays in a one bedroom, plus 60,000 points still left over for a weekend and another night. If you go during less than peak times, your points go even further because the same units go for far lesser points per night.

Point systems also have some disadvantages. If you wish to reserve a high-demand period ( e.g. Christmas, President’s week), you need to call on the earliest possible date to secure your reservation. You need to confirm at some resorts from which you own points as early as 13 months in advance! All others must wait until the 10-month opening reservation date, and by then the week you want may already be unavailable.

The points must be paid for and used in the year received, or otherwise deposited with one of the exchange companies, thus incurring additional fees and rules governing usage.

There are many points-based systems including Marriott, Starwood, RCI, Hilton, Disney, Interval International, Diamond, Wyndham, Worldmark, Royal Holiday Club, etc… Each has its own distinct rules, fees, options, and conditions amongst others. Indeed, the learning curve can be steep! Sometimes, the Customer Service representatives of the program don’t even know the rules. They may simply give you contradictory, misleading or just plain false information. More so, if and when you finally learn, some companies can and do change the rules.

Points-based systems may not allow you to rent out the weeks or nights you have reserved. You may obtain “guest certificates” (usually for a fee of $49. to $59.), but in many cases, their rules forbid you to do so for profit. People who have posted rental ads on web sites have been “caught” and have had their allocated week cancelled. This can result in a lawsuit from the renter who does not get to use the week agreed upon.

If you need help leaving the complex world of timeshares, contact the experts at TS Elimination, LLC on 888-559-5660 or www.tselimination.com

If you own a timeshare and you’re really frustrated about it, it’s certain that the thought of not paying your maintenance fees must have crossed your mind. As good as this might sound, it is neither the best nor cheapest way to get rid of your timeshare. In this article, we’ll consider why backing out of your timeshare obligation is never the best option for you.

Deciding to stop your timeshare payment can result in a court case. Imagine how messy that would be.

When you stop paying for your timeshare, you’d get collection letters to remind you about your payment. After the fourth letter, the case becomes way more complex than you’d be comfortable with. It is important to remember that most timeshares come with a perpetuity clause. This means that just because you stop paying does not bring an end to fulfilling your timeshare obligations. When your account is delinquent, you cannot sell, rent, donate, gift or get rid of the timeshare in any way. You would be stuck with the timeshare and all its responsibilities until you clear and settle the financial delinquency with your timeshare management company.

What exactly happens when you stop paying for your timeshare?

Different things can actually occur.

If you reach some sort of legal agreement with the resort, the timeshare developer may opt to auction your timeshare. The problem with this is that there are no buyers to bid in the auction. Timeshares auctioned on eBay go for as low as $1 and less, with the seller paying transfer costs and future maintenance fees. It is for this reason, that most resorts do not even bother with this option. They just continue collection efforts.
If the timeshare development is a ‘high end’ resort (Only a few resorts fit into this category. Most timeshares are not ‘high-end.’), then the resort management may be successful auctioning off the deficient unit. The previous owner would then be responsible for the deficiency, having to pay what is left of the debt on the timeshare. This, however, does not happen without the involvement of lawyers. These lawyers all charge fees, which gets added into the deficiency judgement. This option is not as easy as it seems on the surface. Often, you are left owing more than the original debt.

The ugliest path this decision can take is when the court gets involved. Depending on where your resort is located, the management may pursue the action of foreclosure. This can be expensive as you would end up paying the funds you owe, attorney fees, court costs, document filing costs and every other cost that may be attached to it.

Your best bet is to get rid of the timeshare in a less stressful and less expensive way. Getting involved with the court can get really ugly and even affect future financial decisions. There are many ways to get rid of your timeshare without getting in trouble with the law, and TS Elimination is one of your most credible options.

TS Elimination helps timeshare owners get out of their timeshare with easier and more cost-effective solutions. Contact TS Elimination LLC on 888-559-5660 or www.tselimination.com to get out of your timeshare today.

The best feeling you can have is the feel of home in different parts of the world. Knowing you can travel to another country or continent and still have the luxury you want or even more than you visualized, becoming part of a community, being identified and accepted as a part of another culture even if you really are not can be really exciting. It seems to be the best vacation plan one can make. How do you make these plans and conveniently execute them?

The biggest vacation question in our time is the question of timeshare vs. a hotel. The idea of timeshares can be really tempting, knowing you can switch your timeshare for another location may appear to be the deal of the century. Timeshares seem to give you the opportunity to travel the world and explore. But is it as easy as these timeshare firms make it seem?

Vacation ownership is intriguing. Anyone who is spoken to about it would love to hop on it immediately, but the truth remains that it is not as rosy as it sounds. People who own timeshares want to get out of it and would gladly pick a hotel over a timeshare any day.

What does timeshare offer for vacation?

The average vacation owner would offer a unit at a resort or an attractive location for what seems to be a reasonable price. These apartments come with a room, a sitting room, dining area, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. If you wish for more rooms, it can be arranged. Also, the level of luxury you wish to enjoy can be provided for you. To most families on a budget, this is a very attractive offer. Knowing they can cook most of their meals in the resort and save the extra money to do other activities is appealing. But do we really want to cook our meals during a vacation?

You must also put into consideration the fact that for every timeshare exchange, there is an additional fee attached to it apart from the original mandatory maintenance fee. A situation where a family cannot afford the additional cost means that they would be stuck with the same vacation location for years. Is this really worth it? Or, if the exchange is not available, then you could be stuck with limited options.

What do hotels have to offer?

Hotels have been underestimated since the outburst of vacation ownership. It is important to always remember that whatever your budget is, there is a hotel for you. Hotels do not have as many hidden charges as timeshares. You are free to travel to any part of the world without having to worry about the availability of a timeshare to exchange with. Hotels do not offer kitchen services because a large majority of vacationers do not intend to cook during their vacations. Another important thing to consider when picking between a timeshare and a hotel is their availability at the last minute. When you have an emergency situation or a last-minute booking, hotels are always open and can easily be booked. You cannot book a timeshare at the dying minute. It is not a last minute thing (Although, many resorts now rent out their unused inventory. You can find great deals at PinnacleGetaways.com Many people can find timeshares for less than their annual maintenance fees)

Deciding between the vacation ownership and a hotel is tricky. Everything that goes into a vacation ownership must be put into consideration. Timeshares are not as straightforward as hotels are. There are also not as many restrictions and rules in hotels as there are in timeshares.

All these must be put into consideration while picking between a timeshare and a hotel. If you already have a timeshare, and you’re looking to exit your timeshare contract, then, contact TS Elimination on www.tselimination.com to get started.

In our world today there is the constant, non-stop chatter about timeshares. Many people are approached by timeshare sales representatives who propose a wonderful, perpetual, vacation program. These salespeople state how good it would be to visit your dream vacation every year and when boredom sets in, you can simply switch to a timeshare resort elsewhere. All of this they say without telling you the price.

Is the price not important to you?

Let us do a little break down of timeshares. You purchase a property which you cannot exactly call your own for an average price of $19,000 (which is a lot of hard earned money!) for a week every year. You then pay the developer a maintenance fee of $800-$1000 every year (the average price) for the same property which would be used only one week out of the whole year. How does this even make any sense? You literally pay twice for the timeshare every year. The sad part about this is whether or not the timeshare is used you have to pay for it. Where is the sense in that?

Timeshares are ridiculously expensive. Real-estate lawyers or property lawyers would not advise you to get a timeshare as it is a total rip-off. You spend so much and yet you don’t really get the value for all the money that you put into the purchase. Remember, you only purchased it for a limited period of time so the place is not really yours, to begin with. Worse, they make you pass it on to your children so it becomes a liability to them as well. Why make your vacation become a liability to you? Vacations ought to be fun and relaxing, it’s supposed to help you get away from all the money worries and not take you right to the heart of it.

If you still think timeshares are worth it, that’s not a problem. We just hope you also think about why so many people get scammed while trying to get rid of their timeshare, or why someone would sell a timeshare which was originally worth $120,000 for as little as $1.00! Still does not make sense? It’s simple. Timeshare owners are desperate to leave. It’s pretty certain they were once as confident as you are right now. These shareowners thought that timeshares were really worth it, and when they got into the money pit called timeshares, they wanted to run out of it faster than they got in. If timeshare owners who are already in the mix are extremely desperate to get out, then, that should say a lot to any prospective buyer. Why would I want to get into something that thousands of other people are trying their very best to run out of?

Only a tiny percentage of timeshare owners actually maximize the use of their timeshares. This is probably because they have good background knowledge of a timeshare and know exactly how it works or they are just great negotiators. The honest truth is this: if you think you can afford a timeshare, you probably can’t. Even if you know you can afford it comfortably for the next 10 years, that assumes your current finances will not change in the future, it is still not worth it. If you can’t tell the future, then you simply should not purchase a timeshare.

Got a timeshare situation you want to exist asap? Contact TS Elimination on www.tselimination.com today.

Vacation ownership, or timeshare, as it is popularly known, is marketed as the opportunity to live in different parts of the world with the best tourist attractions and experiences. As many people who have purchased timeshares have discovered, what they were told at the time of purchase, was not necessarily the whole truth.

Timeshares started when families came together to share a vacation space to cut down costs. The idea was to maximize the use of these properties during the holidays and build family traditions. Over time, it has evolved to become one of the largest niches under the real estate business.

As simple and easy as timeshare seems, it can be complicated. There are different types of timeshares, and different forms that timeshare purchases can take. The major forms of owning a timeshare is the deeded and non-deeded timeshare. The actual difference between these two is that one gives full ownership of a timeshare while the other does not.

Deeded timeshare
This is also known as the traditional timeshare or the traditional form of timeshare ownership. This is because when timeshare came into existence, properties were bought and owned as actual real estate properties. The idea of splitting the bill of the property and taking away the stress of managing vacation properties all came as modifications to timeshare as it evolved. Deeded ownership is legally owning the usage rights of a timeshare property. This means all the risks, costs and setbacks that come with owning an actual property become the timeshare owners’ collective responsibility. The deeded form of owning a timeshare makes owners’ feel that they own something of value (which is not the case in reality). The deeded ownership simply means you can lease, share, sell, will and exchange your allotted time (Although, the resorts have been adding restrictions on what would be typical ownership rights, through their power as the management company). Owning a deeded property does not imply that you have the timeshare at your full disposal, it simply means you own the property in a real property legal structure for the time period agreed upon (maybe a week, two weeks, a month, etc.) by the owner and the agency. This form of timeshare involves a lot more legal agreement and documentation than any other form of timeshares.

Non-deeded timeshare

It is commonly known as the right-to-use timeshare. This is not the total opposite of the deeded timeshare. In this form of timeshare, you own the timeshare for an agreed period (e.g. 20 years, 25 years, a decade, etc.). Here the contract is not a lifetime one. It is limited compared to the deeded contract. The contract also expires or may be renewed (if permitted in the contract). In some cases, it is less expensive than the deeded timeshare. However, like the deeded timeshare, the timeshare owner does not exactly have a say on his property (i.e. what he may and may not do with it). The owner may not lease or sell his timeshare, depending on the contract restrictions.

Ownership of this timeshare is more like a club membership where you own the timeshare for a specific period in the year. You have no legal document of actual ownership. Non-Deeded timeshares are a timeshare company or deeded owner giving you the license to use their property for a period of time.

In the United States, most of the timeshare contracts are deeded. The resort developers highest priority is to continue collecting maintenance fees in perpetuity. This provides a legal requirement for the deed to flow with the estate at the time of the owner’s death. One can see how this would be more beneficial to the resort. They do not need to re-market the timeshare, nor be responsible for finding a new owner. All they need to do is look to collect fees from the next generation.

Also in countries such as Mexico where owning actual real estate properties can be quite tedious and legally stressful, the idea of a right-to-use timeshare still gives one the feel of an owned property at the vacation space of their choice.

Before purchasing a timeshare, one must ensure total understanding of the various types of timeshare and the legal standing in the country or region of their choice.

TS Elimination provides timeshare transfer services for timeshare owners who want to exit their contracts. Contact the TS Elimination team today on www.tselimination.com

This is apparently the most challenging question in the business of timeshare.

Timeshare is also known as “vacation ownership”. It is ownership of a particular property for a specific time range. This is the most basic definition of timeshare. The knowledge of timeshares just became popular but timeshares have existed since the early 1960s. While the legal structure of timeshare ownership in the United States provides for “ownership,” what is actually owned is time usage. Timeshare Purchase Agreements are complicated and, many times, one-sided. The contracts give Timeshare Developers and the Resort Management Company much of the power in the relationship. Prospective shareowners should exercise caution before buying a timeshare.

A little history about timeshare.

Timeshares began in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. This system of vacation became popular after the Second World War. During this time different families purchased a property and shared it among themselves for different seasons of the year. It was just a way for every family to get a feel of the place at the season of their choice.

Over the years, this simple home sharing venture has grown to become one of real estate’s biggest business strategies in different parts of the world.

Timeshares were first introduced into the United States in the year 1973 by the Caribbean International Corporation (CIC). It offered 25-year vacation licence rather than an outright ownership. CIC assured maintenance of specific accommodation which was provided in the specified season and time interval agreed upon. The contract between CIC and their client attracted the sum of $15 per night which was to be paid according to the terms of the contract. The contract also contained a $25 switching fee, which was charged if the client decided for any reason to switch resorts location.

In the past, the fee paid was reasonable and fair compared to the amount that would have been spent if the clients had chosen to stay in a hotel with standards provided by CIC timeshare services. In 1999, due to inflation of the dollar, the cost-per-night of the timeshare increased to $52. Clients were allowed to gift or rent out their timeshare accommodation. Irrespective of how occupied the timeshare is during the period stipulated to a client or otherwise, the client is expected to pay the sum of $15 per night as agreed. This “per-night” payment is what is known as the maintenance fee today. With the benefit of hindsight and experience, the average timeshare owners’ maintenance fees have increased dramatically, making timeshare ownership more of a burden, than a benefit.

Over time, the concept of timeshares caught the eye of many entrepreneurs businessmen. The idea of selling a room 52 times to 52 different owners at the average price of $7,000 – $25,000 per week was absolutely mind blowing. Sooner or later, it was expected that the real estate developers would step in, and that is exactly what happened. The Florida Real Estate Developers stepped in to create legislation which would define timeshare ownership in Florida and make them fee simple ownership transactions (which attracted additional fees. It’s no secret that timeshare developers love additional fees). The home owners associations were also initiated. The fee simple ownership transaction paved the way for timeshare location exchange companies to be created. Companies such as Interval International and RCI where spawned so timeshare owners could exchange their week with other timeshare owners in any given area.

To date, cancellation and rescission of timeshare contracts by timeshare owners are still the industry’s biggest problems.

Reference sites: www.wikipedia.org, www.forbes.com