Owning a timeshare comes with many perks—primarily access to a swanky resort in a place that you love. Instead of purchasing an entire property outright, timeshares allow you to own a certain amount of time per year in one condo or apartment (typically a week or more). The rest of the year, others own the timeshare and use it as they’d like. Some use their timeshare exclusively for themselves, while others rent out their timeshare on popular home rental sites like Airbnb or VRBO.
Timeshare Resort in Mexico (Photo: Kirt Edblom via Flickr/ CC BY-SA 2.0)
But timeshares aren’t for everyone—hence the large number of incredibly cheap timeshare resales on the market. If you like the thrill of discovering new locales, you may get bored revisiting the same place year after year. In addition, timeshare maintenance fees typically increase annually, and you can also get hit with special assessments by local governments. And let’s face it: sometimes life simply gets in the way. Marriage, divorce, the birth of grandchildren, or health issues are just some of the reasons why people many not want to keep their timeshare.
However, if you have a favorite place that you never tire of, such as a beach, ski town or theme park (like Disney), timeshares can be a good thing. You can purchase a timeshare from an individual owner, timeshare developer or outright from a resort. If you decide to sell, you can do so by yourself or via several timeshare selling platforms, whose fees and services vary. Buying from an individual owner versus a property developer or resort often leads to a better price, as you can avoid some fees.
We researched the best companies from which to buy and sell timeshares based on fees, reputation and services. Whether you’re looking to buy a new timeshare or sell your timeshare outright, here are a few organizations that will allow you to do so with ease.
Sell my Timeshare Now
Founded in 2003, SellMyTimeshareNow was created to help owners sell their unused timeshares. Seeing a gap in the market, the company invested heavily in digital marketing and technology (such as immediate online booking for potential renters), which attracted a new generation of buyers used to finding deals online without having to sit through a resort sales presentation. SellMyTimeshareNow has more than 75,000 timeshare rentals and resales in their database and boasts partnerships with brands such as Marriott, Hilton, Disney and Wyndham. With more than 4,000 resort choices in 1,300 destinations, it’s one of the most popular timeshare services out there.
Timeshare Users Group
Founded in 1993, this family-run organization focuses on providing unbiased, customer-focused information for those interested in various aspects of timeshare living. In addition to timeshares for sale, rent and exchange, Timeshare Users Group’s easy to navigate website offers timeshare for sale, rent or exchange. Much like Amazon or eBay, users list their timeshares themselves and people offer bids. You’ll find numeric ratings, reviews, and discussion boards—there’s even a “Bargain Basement” section with timeshares under $500. There’s also a map on the home page that shows locations of timeshares in every continent except Antarctica. Talk about options!
Timeshares Only
Timeshares Only has been helping buyers, sellers and renters of timeshare resale for more than 25 years. As a trusted member of The American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the company is backed by top developers and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Their customer service motto proclaims, “We work with you until it’s sold,” and the company also offers an exclusive maintenance fee relief program called TO GO that helps owners put money back in their pockets while waiting for the right buyer. Customers that sign up for this program can receive cash for their ownership interval, as well as discounts on airfare or vacations.
