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Re: Why Buy a Timeshare? (by Vicki Y.):

Timeshare is really best utilized by people that want to stay where they bought year after year. I own in a network and I pay my fee and use my points at any of their locations. that's it. no more out of pocket.

no caring about rack rate, special events, possibly hotel taxes/local hospitality fees, reviews, any of it. I book, I go. or put it in someon elses name for them to go. I don't have to worry about getting scammed, sending money to someone I don't know.

no searching the internet for hours, communicating with tons of people over weeks of comparing reviews and locations and on and on ... it just takes too long. If I want to be on the beach in wherever, I don't have to worry about resort quality, I know what to expect.

I guess I bought convenience of making trip plans short notice and well in advance. instant access to a ton of resorts with discounts on much much more. Best part, I always know how many points something will cost, as far in advance as I want. taxes, inflation, it's hard to say, it's all a crapshoot. that I don't have to care about.

this works for me, forces me to vacation. I've lost a ton of friends and family over the years and all I've ever wanted to do was see the world. My job did not provide that, so, I bought into a way to do it, and we are. Motel 6 pricing. Consistently. It's partially my stress relief, partially family reunion, friends gathering, blah blah.

My ownership gets me into more things, too, at significant discount on non-timeshare experiences, from camping to yachting. Being an owner can have advantages in paying well below rack rate in many areas if I do have to have a hotel. Dublin, for example. Rack rate would have been over 300 euro but using my points I paid more like 190e for 3 nights. DUBLIN. no tax, no surprise at check out.

That's why I own. Pick up and GO. We have no kids so are not on the "see the family every year at ____" deal.

And I'm not so sure that you are correct about the rental market. I have not studied it in-depth but have rented out my ownerships. You're right, I haven't changed my asking price. I found the sweet spot and hang there. Going higher decreases contacts, going lower increases "flight traffic" (buzz-by casual inquiry, move on).

Plus, it is all heavily dependent on place and season, resort quality, yada yada. Try to go to Boston on 4th of July. Bike week, sporting events/training camps, conventions, beach season, mountains ... Vegas. demand has also risen in some areas, not in others as the recession took its toll. A lot of seasonal markets really have a low offseason rate naturally.

Supply of rentals is way up, absolutely, but I don't think that prices have remained stable everywhere for very long. If there is analysis like that, I'd be very interested in seeing it. I am not being sarcastic!

also, not trying to convert anyone, just trying to provide perspective on the financials from ownership.