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Re: Has anyone used Timeshare Realty Specialists (by Joanne Reg):
Jayjay (the first commenter) made a VERY good point that really says it all: If they couldn't sell your week then why would they want to buy an unsellable week from you?
To charge you an inflated closing fee perhaps (that is how some companies make their money. Instead of $200 or $300 for closing they charge you $500-900, usually just to create a worthless piece of paper that looks 'official' to you). Keep in mind that if they don't transfer the week properly or legally then even tho you signed paperwork of some sort you still own the week, and are still liable for past and future maintenance fees. So you are out a closing fee and still own the week. Be careful.
A good way to verify if you do let yourself get to a paperwork stage is to contact your resort and ask if they inquired about your week. If they haven't contacted the resort to verify that the title is free and clear, ie no maintenance fees are owed by you, that you do in fact own the week and unit number you claim to, and they send an estoppel letter to the resort then they really have no interest in owning it, just taking you for a ride and taking your money in some fashion.
Ask them if they want to buy it from you what they plan to do with it? Resell it? Then ask them how/where they do that (again, if they couldn't sell it for you when you owned it what makes it different that they will be able to sell it now? BIG RED FLAG.) Or rent it (and then ask yourself how rentable a week it is, especially from an outside 3rd party located 'somewhere'. ) And will the rent be enough to cover the maintenance fee? If not, why would they want the week then - to lose money each year? Usually if a week can rent for a profit the week is saleable and you have to just wait for your buyer to come along, remember this is a slower market right now. Also, if a transfer of a week to someone else is not done properly and not on the up-and-up you still own the deed to the property. Have you contacted your resort's office for resale assistance? And to ask if they will recognize a company as an owner? And to find out if there is a resort transfer fee? Quite often a sham operation will balk at payinga resort transfer fee, or assess it back to you, the seller - rather than to the new owner. At least you know if these bases are covered you stand a better chance of having the deed transfer done properly and legitimately.