Post reply

Study and learn BEFORE you buy... (by KC):

todda36 wrote:

Thanks Ken! I appreciate the good advice. It sounds like you have to be VERY careful. If you do the research, can you find something that is worth it? I have just rented from owners through Redweek, and it seems relatively easy and hassle free.

Yes, you ABSOLUTELY can find "something that is worth it", but it will require patience, diligence and lots of homework and searching. I have personally purchased two additional weeks during the past year, at bargain prices (I owned six other weeks already, and I use them all).

There are many factors to consider;

1. Is it a place you WANT to visit? (buying just to exchange is truly just a fool's errand these days, plain and simple). Getting a "free" week in North Icehouse, Alaska is no bargain at all if you won't ever go there and it's nearly worthless as an "exchange" (but you'll still have to pay annual maintenance fees anyhow --- forever).

2. Can you drive or affordably travel to that location? (Hawaii is a beautiful place and many timeshares there are dirt cheap right now, but with today's airfares it's a huge financial burden just to even GET there). In addition, Hawaii is continually inventing all kinds of new fees and taxes on non-residents. I would NEVER buy a timeshare there, personally.

3. Are the maintenance fees (which are annual --- and which are also FOREVER) reasonable? Keep in mind that the only direction those fees will ever go is UP. If maintenance fees are as high as what you are paying to rent in the same time and place, then why buy at all? It's not like timeshares are a good financial investment --- they aren't. They never have been and they never will be. A timeshare purchase today should be ONLY for its' DIRECT USE VACATION VALUE TO YOU! If you buy for ANY other reason, disappointment will surely follow. Good luck.