Sell Your Timeshare Without Upfront Fees

In some cases yes, but it depends on the resort. Most resorts, especially the smaller, independent resorts, will not buy back your timeshare. The larger branded timeshare programs tend to have so-called buyback programs that they don’t publicize but may offer to sellers on a case by case basis depending on if they need the inventory to resell through their sales team. Best to check directly with your resort to see if you can sell it back to them.

Absolutely timeshares can be sold. Our licensed agents sell timeshares nearly every day to consumers looking to save money on the resale market over purchasing at higher prices at the resort. A few years ago a report by the American Resort Development Association estimated that 32 percent of timeshares were sold on the resale market. That is a significant amount of timeshares considering the industry sells an estimated $10 billion worth of timeshare annually.  

One advantage a timeshare brokerage such as ours offers sellers is a no upfront fee model to sell timeshares. We only take payment in the form of a commission after a sale is closed, similar to the way a home is sold through a real estate agent. This is a preferred method of selling timeshare resales since there are consumer protections in place by the states in which brokers operate – being regulated by state real estate commissions.

There are primarily two types of buyers who will buy your timeshare as a resale – existing owners and consumers who have just visited your resort.

An estimated 50 percent of all timeshares sold at resorts are sold to existing owners, who are viewed as pleased with the product and looking for more. Many times existing owners understand the system and know that they can save money by buying on the resale market. They’ve been through the sales pitch and know that onsite sales teams have higher marketing and sales commissions they need to cover – money they can save by purchasing at lower sales costs on the resale market.

These owners tend to be searching for specific weeks or a certain number of points, so they’ll contact a broker such as ours and see if our agents have a client on file looking to sell. Because we don’t charge upfront fees to sell a timeshare, sellers can list with us and be on file when these buyers contact us.

The other type of buyer is the one who may have just rented a unit at a resort and been given the sales pitch by the onsite sales team. Consumers know that just about anything is available for sale online, including timeshares. They’ll take the resort price and do a Google search, sometimes laying poolside while still at the resort, and compare prices. Because they have experienced and enjoyed the resort, they are in a great frame of mind to buy and review resale prices at substantial discounts compared to the resort price they were just quoted. They’ll contact us online and the negotiation begins.  

There are a few ways you can sell your timeshare on your own. You can try selling by advertising on a timeshare-specific website. These sites engage in online search engine tactics designed to bring buyers to their websites. However, you will need to pay an advertising fee in advance like you would with any type of product you’re looking to sell. Plus, you will have to do all of the negotiating yourself, handle all of the sale paperwork, and work with a closing company.

You can also use the services of a licensed timeshare brokerage company such as Timeshare Broker Associates. Our agents are licensed real estate agents and we operate on a commission-only basis, meaning there are no upfront fees and we only get paid after the sale. We would handle all of the negotiating, bring you vetted offers and work through the process until a deal is completed. We then gain signatures to process the purchase and sales agreement, place deposits in escrow and work with the closing company until the sale is closed and the timeshare is transferred to the new owner.

Another way you can sell on your own is to contact your resort directly to see if they have a resale program in place. Most do not and the ones that do can charge commissions up to 40 percent to sell your timeshare.

This depends on what you own. There are so many variables when it comes to timeshare such as the size of the unit, the week or season, the resort location, even the unit location at the resort that you really need to speak to a professional to gauge how much you can sell your timeshare for.

Licensed agents such as ours are the only ones who can legally price properties on the timeshare resale market in states such as Florida, so it is worth a call just to find out.

This can lead to significant problems with your credit as the resort reserves the right to foreclose on your timeshare and send your account to a collection agency to collect any outstanding fees. Such activity would be reported to the credit bureaus and your credit could take a significant hit as a result.

Because of circumstances that may be out of your control such as the loss of a job or a death in your family, you may be tempted to just stop paying your fees or your mortgage on your timeshare. The best thing you can do is to contact your resort and find the person or department to speak to about possibly deferring payments.

No, you don’t need a lawyer to sell your timeshare but in some states, you may need a lawyer to review and signoff on the paperwork in order to complete the deal. For instance, in South Carolina, you would need a lawyer to review the paperwork and approve the deal before it can be closed. This cost would be part of the closing costs that are normally paid by the buyer.

Selling a timeshare is usually done either directly by the owner, where the owner promotes the timeshare and negotiates the sale, or through a licensed timeshare resale broker. This is another reason why using a broker is a good idea since they will know when a lawyer is needed to complete the sale.

Certainly, you can make money selling your timeshare, depending on what timeshare you own, the location, unit size, affiliated brand, season, and other areas that come into play. Because there are such a variety of timeshares on the market, some will obviously sell for more than others.

The real issue is what is meant by making money. If you are asking whether you can sell a timeshare for cash, the answer in many cases is yes but the amount will vary depending on some of the items already mentioned. If you are asking whether you can sell your timeshare for a profit above the original sale price, the answer is no in the overwhelming number of cases.

Timeshare is a use product, not real estate in the traditional sense like a home. Timeshares don’t appreciate in value and should not be considered a financial investment. The real advantages are in the lifestyle and health benefits of taking a vacation each year with your family.

So is it possible to make money selling your timeshare? Yes, but don’t expect to make a profit.

No, we only charge a commission, paid by either buyer or seller at the time of sale. Commissions may vary depending on a number of factors, including the resort, location of timeshare. The percent is typically higher than residential real estate due to the nature of the product.

Developer's right to buy back the interval. Developer replaces the buyer but terms of the contract remain the same. ROFR fluctuates from developer to developer depending on a number of conditions, including contract terms and market conditions. Not all resorts have an ROFR process. Your agent will be able to confirm if your resort has this process or not.

Because the resale market is a buyer's market, it can take time to locate a buyer. There are many sellers competing for fewer buyers, and this is what drives down the price of a used timeshare. Timeshare regulation has also given buyers the right to rescind a contract for any reason before 10 days from the contract date. This is sometimes refered to as "timeshare cancellation" or "timeshare exit" by those looking to get rid of a timeshare. Even if there is a contract in place, the buyer may find a better deal within 10 days and decide to rescind.

If you have paid off your timeshare and are looking to get out, one way is to sell it and make some money back from your initial purchase. Otherwise you can try contacting your resort or developer and see if they would be willing to take back your timeshare. In this case you would be giving it back to them with nothing in return except being relieved of your ownership obligations.

Another option you may have seen involves the so-called timeshare exit companies that claim to be able to get you out of your timeshare for high upfront fees upwards of $4,000. Be careful of these companies as they have run into numerous legal troubles in the courts as well as investigations by state attorney generals regarding alleged unscrupulous behavior.

Easily the best way to sell your timeshare is through the services of a licensed timeshare broker like TBA. Agents are the professionals of the timeshare resale marketplace with the industry knowledge necessary to price a timeshare accurately and sell your timeshare without upfront fees. Good brokers can successfully market timeshares online as well as work a network of brokers throughout the country to find buyers. Agents also conduct the negotiation, handle the paperwork, escrow the deposit from the buyer and facilitate the process with the closing company, with payment after the sale is completed.

This depends on a number of factors such as the status and location of the resort, week and season owned, and even the type of unit owned. Having a timeshare affiliated with a major brand such as Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations or Westin Vacation Club definitely helps, and points in programs like Club Wyndham can also move quick depending on the number of points owned and the asking price. Remember that the better the price, the quicker it can sell and there are a number of buyers looking for good deals but willing to pay for the right timeshare deal.