Every individual waits for that time of the year, a much deserved vacation and time away from the hectic activities of day to day life. Do you typically wonder where to go? Where to stay? Etc. Smart people plan their vacations long before they actually go out for one. And even smarter people buy timeshare property for vacations to have a peace of mind and a place where they love to enjoy and cherish their most beautiful memories. Everyone wishes to have a timeshare property at their favorite vacation place. Here we discuss some of the important things that you have to remember while buying a timeshare.
1) You need to understand the different types of timeshare properties before you buy one. Basically, there are two types of timeshare plans. The first type is a deeded plan, where you buy an actual piece of real estate and own it along with other owners, but you are only allowed to use it according to the timeshare agreement. A fixed week, fixed unit deeded timeshare permits you to own a specific timeshare property at a specified time each year. A floating time agreement gives you flexibility regarding the dates you can use your timeshare, but many owners prefer that option so you may need to make your reservations on a first come, first served basis. A non-deeded or right to use timeshare is a lease arrangement. Just like deeded timeshares, these plans are categorized into fixed unit and floating time arrangements. After the lease expires, however, you no longer have any rights to the property.
2) Before you buy, research the location. Decide whether you can go there every year. It also would not hurt if you looked into the cost of alternative accommodations available in the location. After all, why should you buy a timeshare when another option is less expensive? However, you should also think about your comfort. The alternative option might not give you the same amount of comfort as the timeshare. Your decision might depend on which factor you think is more important, cost or comfort.
3) Always find out your timeshare rights before buying. Your rights may be violated in some cases. In most of the cases the timeshare properties are governed by legal documents known as Covenants, Codes, and Restrictions. It establishes rights for real estate property owners and governs how the timeshare should be managed.
4) Decide if you want to buy a timeshare for investment purposes or for your vacations. Think again if your only purpose in buying is investment, because reselling timeshare properties is not one of the best ways to make money in real estate. Typically, a timeshares resale value is not that great, and the process of reselling is difficult because of competition from the original seller. Timeshare property is, however, an investment you can make in a Lifetime of Vacation Enjoyment (LOVE).
5) While you may think that the cost of buying a timeshare is simply the cost of buying only the real property. You may be wrong. You should always calculate the total cost of timeshare which includes mortgage payments, maintenance fees, taxes, travel cost, closing cost, broker commissions, financing charges etc. Compare the cost of similar alternative accommodations with the total cost of owning a timeshare now. Remember that hotel accommodation rates increase at a rate of 2-3% a year.
6) Read each and every document carefully before signing any agreement. Never ever believe a promises made by a salesman. Request everything in writing. Also find out about the reputation of the seller and whether he is a licensed timeshare seller. Lastly, never accept properties with unfinished facilities, if you do so take a written commitment from the seller that they would be finished within a specific time frame.
If you are interested in timeshares and want to learn more about owning a Timeshare Property, or if you want to network and associate with other timeshare owners, visit We Own Timeshares.com. We Own Timeshares.com is a new social network full of Timeshare Information. It is free and easy to join this timeshare social network. Create your own profile in minutes, share experiences and reviews of different timeshare locations and start asking questions in the forum.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
What You Need To Know Before Buying A Timeshare
There are a lot of people who find themselves the victims of fraud when buying a timeshare, usually for the very simple reason that they don't know what their legal rights are in this situation or how to protect themselves from scammers. Like any other situation which requires signing a legally binding contract, it's vital to know your rights and what recourse you have under the law. There are plenty of scams going around in the timeshare industry and you've no doubt heard about some of these yourself. There are fraudulent operators who will try to sell properties which are nothing like promised or in some cases, not even an actual property. Before you make any decisions about purchasing a timeshare, here's a few things to think about.
Your rights vary depending on what kind of timeshare you purchase - there are timeshares which involve a deed to the property as well as those which do not, often known as right to use or license to use timeshares. When you purchase a deeded timeshare, you'll have a deed to your timeshare property which gives you the rights of any other title to a piece of real estate they can even be passed down to your heirs. By contrast, a license to use timeshare is essentially a long term rental of the property in question with a predetermined expiration date.
Due to scams and some questionable sales practices used by timeshare companies, the entire industry has acquired an unsavory reputation. One common occurrence in the industry is a promise of a free trip or another gift which the customer sees as being worthwhile. Upon arrival, the potential buyer is then forced to sit through a lengthy sales pitch full of high pressure sales tactics, only to receive a gift which is not at all what they had been led to believe.
The law dictates that timeshare companies must disclose the length of the presentation ahead of time, that the company must give prospective buyers truthful information on the condition of the timeshare property and that they may not misrepresent either the resale or market value of the timeshare.
Buyers are also protected by provisions in the law which mandate that any oral promises made to a buyer must be included in the sales contract and that any fees associated with the timeshare purchase or ownership be disclosed both orally and in writing. Depending on the state, buyers may also be able to avail themselves of a period in which they may cancel the contract, typically for up to two weeks after signing the contract.
It's important to know your legal rights before purchasing a timeshare, you also need to ask yourself a few other questions such as whether or not you really need to purchase a timeshare or whether you've seen the property for yourself. You should also inquire about the timeshare company with the Better Business Bureau, speak with current owners of the timeshare for sale. Before you make your decision, you need to be fully informed and have decided if you plan to rent the property or if you'd rather have a deeded timeshare, whether or not you're interested in reselling the timeshare later and whether the property is in a location where you actually want to vacation in frequently.
If you are thinking about timeshare ownership and want to learn more Timeshare Information, you should check out We Own Timeshares. Meet and connect with timeshare owners on this Timeshare Ownership social network. It is free to join and you can create your own profile in minutes. Share information and reviews of different timeshare locations and begin asking questions in the forum. Visit today.
Your rights vary depending on what kind of timeshare you purchase - there are timeshares which involve a deed to the property as well as those which do not, often known as right to use or license to use timeshares. When you purchase a deeded timeshare, you'll have a deed to your timeshare property which gives you the rights of any other title to a piece of real estate they can even be passed down to your heirs. By contrast, a license to use timeshare is essentially a long term rental of the property in question with a predetermined expiration date.
Due to scams and some questionable sales practices used by timeshare companies, the entire industry has acquired an unsavory reputation. One common occurrence in the industry is a promise of a free trip or another gift which the customer sees as being worthwhile. Upon arrival, the potential buyer is then forced to sit through a lengthy sales pitch full of high pressure sales tactics, only to receive a gift which is not at all what they had been led to believe.
The law dictates that timeshare companies must disclose the length of the presentation ahead of time, that the company must give prospective buyers truthful information on the condition of the timeshare property and that they may not misrepresent either the resale or market value of the timeshare.
Buyers are also protected by provisions in the law which mandate that any oral promises made to a buyer must be included in the sales contract and that any fees associated with the timeshare purchase or ownership be disclosed both orally and in writing. Depending on the state, buyers may also be able to avail themselves of a period in which they may cancel the contract, typically for up to two weeks after signing the contract.
It's important to know your legal rights before purchasing a timeshare, you also need to ask yourself a few other questions such as whether or not you really need to purchase a timeshare or whether you've seen the property for yourself. You should also inquire about the timeshare company with the Better Business Bureau, speak with current owners of the timeshare for sale. Before you make your decision, you need to be fully informed and have decided if you plan to rent the property or if you'd rather have a deeded timeshare, whether or not you're interested in reselling the timeshare later and whether the property is in a location where you actually want to vacation in frequently.
If you are thinking about timeshare ownership and want to learn more Timeshare Information, you should check out We Own Timeshares. Meet and connect with timeshare owners on this Timeshare Ownership social network. It is free to join and you can create your own profile in minutes. Share information and reviews of different timeshare locations and begin asking questions in the forum. Visit today.
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