Timeshares for vacation properties are marketed by real estate brokers and by fractional vacation home ownership companies that specialize in this market exclusively. To find bargains, you need good research skills and some business acumen as well. Investigating your target timeshare location, resisting high-pressure sales pitches and knowing your budget are three keys to getting a timeshare at a bargain price.
Assess your current and future vacation housing needs. A timeshare in a popular resort area or near tourist attractions may not be as useful to you as kids leave home or as your travel radius decreases, due to age and poor health.
Prepare a list of desired amenities that you would like included in the purchase. Some timeshares offer flexible booking, while others limit members' visit to specific weeks of the year.
Review advertisements for timeshare sales in major national newspaper classifieds. The travel section of your local newspaper often carries timeshare sales advertisements, as well. Contact the companies directly to discover an unadvertised bargain.
Visit the websites of reputable national realty companies that handle timeshare, such as GMAC. Browse through the available listing and take note of price differentials by size, location, season and amenities.
Check the exchange options and cost of membership and fees for the exchange service. Careful selection of a timeshare location combined with a low cost exchange option can significantly reduce your overall cost for timeshare ownership.
Visit websites like Time Share Beat and Consumer Affairs for the latest alerts on timeshare scams and rip-offs. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably isn't the bargain that you're trying to find.
Ask about discounts for larger down payments and arrange to finance fewer payments over the life of your timeshare ownership.
