Our View of Timesharing
Links and discussions focused on "Timeshare Ownership", what a timeshare interest actually is and means, how it compares with other forms of shared ownership, valuation issues, and key concerns in the industry, such as companies offering to take money from you in dishonest ways (called "Scams" and "Stealing") are presented here.In our view, Timesharing is the process of sharing use of a tangible asset among two or more parties. We believe contracts that define rights of use over small fractions of time (weeks or other intervals of time) are typically called timeshare interests. On the other hand, our view of contracts that define rights to use an asset over larger fractions of time than periods of one week or that stipulate a limit to the number users who have the right to use the defined asset are generally thought of as fractional interests.
Timeshare interests are usually rights to use rooms in a resort or hotel. Fractional ownerships can apply to all types of tangible assets.
The articles in this section will be written mostly by industry professionals, some of whom may be attorneys. All writings should not be relied upon as advice, legal or otherwise. Rather, think of them as conversations you may have with friends and fellow owners at the pool, at the dinner table or in some other casual setting.
We are not responsible for the accuracy of the content provided in this section or anywhere else on this website, for that matter. Nor can we be held responsible for decisions others may make based upon any or all information contained in this section or other sections on this website. Rather, think of the writings as food for thought on your path to learning whether the use of timeshare interests suits your needs, personality and financial capabilities.
One unfortunate sideline of Timesharing is exposure to Scams. The most frequent is called the Advance Fee Fraud. In this case, the seller is told by individuals who steel the indentity of legitimately licensed individuals and company names that they must send money before the transaction can proceed. You must listen to this recording of a California licensed real estate agent talking to a person who has stolen his identity to collect a commission on money received from unsuspecting sellers. Brett Jennings is the real name of the California agent.
Read the full account of this scam here.
Remember, these people do not feel they are doing anything wrong. Do not send money. Do not send any documents by the FAX. Do send documents by certified receipt requested if you do not believe us.Conduct your own research. Use the YouGetSignal.com tools to find the owner of an email address, who owns a phone number, who owns a domain name and other cool stuff.
We hope you enjoy our view of Timesharing and will contribute as you can.
- Scams and Possible Scams: - This section describes how others determined whether offers or solicitations are possible scams. Aimfair subscribers and others have contributed everything from comments to actual contracts that you can review. Remember: If it is too good to be true, then it is likely not true.
Timesharing
This section is devoted to displaying links to articles we have found that describe what timeshares are, how they are different from other forms of sharing ownership interests in assets and how the process works. Included are articles about Destination Clubs, Residence Clubs, Fractional Interests and other methods of gaining use of facilities without buying them outright.Please do not hesitate to send us questions or comments if you feel the urge. Our email address is [email protected].
Articles are listed by the date published and are listed below:
Headlines of News about Shared Ownership appear below:
| 2022-06-06 |
Despite a seemingly desperate urge to scratch the wanderer itch, inflation is dampening many Americans' desire to revenge travel after two-plus years of COVID restrictions. Prices have gone through the roof on flights, car rentals, gas, and more. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), hotel prices alone have increased about 39%, hitting a record high price. Yet experts predict that Summer 2022 will be the busiest travel season ever. Timeshare owners, though, can sit back and relax, knowing they won't be affected by inflation, because they paid for a lifetime of vacations up-front. It's also much easier for timeshare owners to make a reservation in contrast to making a reservation at hotels. A hotel stay is, on average, about $137-$172 per night, as reported by AAA. So for an entire week's vacation, a family of four will spend about $1,200 just on a hotel reservation. And the price in most vacation spots has increased thanks to inflation. Timeshare owners that purchased vacation ownership in 2011 at $18,400 have almost broken even by now. Besides the initial up-front cost, owners only pay annual maintenance fees, which are $1,120 per year on average, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is another example of a timeshare brand that has soared in price for non-members. Walt Disney World Resort vacationers are currently looking at spending $700 per night at a branded Disney hotel on the property. Meanwhile, owners that purchased DVC points at the original DVC property in 1991 originally paid $48-$51 per point. That's around $7,650 for 150 points, which covers two weeks in a Deluxe Studio at Disney's Old Key West now. A DVC owner has more than broken even on their points' purchase and is basically paying the same rate of a Disney hotel now that they paid back in 1991. Inflation has affected other travel expenses, not only hotels. According to recent research by digital advertising platform Cardlytics, consumer spending with a year-over-year increase of 99% among airlines, 110% in amusement parks, 345% cruise lines, and 83% among travel aggregators and agencies. However, timeshare owners have been able to at least save money without needing to book a hotel. Recent research found that 66% of the time, someone who booked a hotel room 15 days before their stay, instead of four months in advance, saved money. However, it is a gamble to wait until nearly the last minute to book a hotel reservation due to inflation. Certain clubs and resorts offer last-minute getaways that timeshare owners can easily book at steeper discounts. What is a Timeshare? Timeshares are an alternative to purchasing a second vacation home. They allow the security of having a second destination to visit without the large purchase of a house that most families will only stay for a small part of the year and need to maintain on their own. Timeshares started as fixed week timeshares. Today, the industry has revolutionized to include floating weeks, fractional ownership, points-based, biennial, etc. Units at timeshare resorts have more space than a traditional hotel, with fully-equipped kitchens and private bedrooms for maximum comfort. Timeshare owners are not only paying less than the average traveler, but they also have extra amenities. These can include a washer/dryer, housekeeping, concierge, on-site staff, pools, spas, fitness centers, and events and activities. ARDA estimates that the average size of a timeshare unit is 1030 square feet, which is larger than an average apartment. 61% of those units are also two bedrooms. With extraordinary amenities and spacious units, it's proven that timeshares cost tens of thousands of dollars less on vacations over a lifetime than hotels or vacation home rentals. There are over 1500 timeshare resorts in the United States, with over 270,000 units. Top hospitality companies such as Marriott, Hilton, Wyndham, and even Disney have timeshare resorts in all corners of the world, making it easy for their owners to travel to almost any destination, especially with an exchange membership. In addition, vacation exchange platforms such as RCI or Interval International allow timeshare owners to trade their weeks or points for thousands of other resort and hotel offerings. With savings over a lifetime of vacations, flexibility, and hundreds of vacation options, it's no surprise that 87% of all owners rate their timeshare experience as excellent, very good, or good. Owning a timeshare secures owners a place to stay on vacation year after year with no change in cost. There's no worry about the rise in hotel room prices, offering security against inflation in the future. | |
| 2022-06-04 |
Timeshares are increasing in popularity. Marketing reports are predicting substantial growth in the sale of Timeshare interests over the next three to four years. At Vidanta, we own "Right to Use Contracts", which the author explains are leases of real estate for a fixed number of years during which the developer retains ownership of the property. Many Vidanta timeshare owners maintain they own "Fractional Interests" through their right to use contract. As the author explains, that is not possible, since all right to use contracts are essentially leases with no ownership rights to the underlying real estate. This is a short read, and it provides an understandable explanation of timeshares, what to look for and what you need to think about before making a large financial commitment. Enjoy! The takeaway is timeshare ownership evolves from an emotional attachment to the resort being split into timeshare interests. Timeshares involve small usage rights relative to outright ownership. Costs, responsibilities and other factors must be taken into consideration when determining whether to purchase a Timeshare. Look at the decision through the cold light of day. | |
| 2022-03-25 |
Buyer’s remorse is common after purchasing a timeshare contract. This Market Watch article points out differences between contracts and provides insight to being careful at the time of purchase..~~)) | |
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