Buying a Timeshare

Buying a timeshare means paying a developer for the right to use a vacation property, often the same week or a set of points every year, plus an annual maintenance fee for as long as you own it. It can suit a household that vacations the same way each year, but it is rarely a financial investment, and resale prices are usually far below what the developer charges.

Is buying a timeshare a good idea?

The honest answer is that it depends on how you travel and what you expect. Buying a timeshare can make sense if you return to the same destination every year, you value predictable accommodation, and you treat the purchase as prepaid vacations rather than an asset that will grow in value. It is a poor fit if you want flexibility, you expect to resell at a profit, or the annual fees would strain your budget. For the full side-by-side math, see whether timeshares are worth it.

How does the developer price compare with resale?

The price gap is the single most important fact for a new buyer. The average developer purchase price was $23,160 average timeshare purchase price in 2024. On the secondary market, the same kind of ownership often sells for a resale price that is usually a small fraction of what the original buyer paid, and sometimes only a few dollars. A large part of the developer price covers sales and marketing rather than the property itself, which is why resale prices fall so far once that cost is stripped away. Before you buy from a developer, it is worth checking what timeshares actually sell for and how owners sell them.

Which benefits do not transfer when you buy resale?

Developers often reserve certain perks for buyers who purchase directly from them, such as elite membership tiers, the ability to convert a week into points, or access to particular booking windows and affiliate programs. These benefits may not carry over when you buy the same unit on the resale market. None of this makes resale a bad choice, but you should ask both the developer and the resale seller, in writing, exactly which rights and benefits come with the specific timeshare you are considering.

What belongs on your due-diligence checklist?

Treat buying a timeshare like any real-estate decision. Before you sign, work through a short checklist:

• Read the full contract and the public offering statement. Do not rely on what a salesperson says out loud.
• Add up every cost, not just the price. Include the annual maintenance fees, which tend to rise each year, and ask about the history of special assessments.
• Know the total long-term cost. Our guide to what a timeshare costs walks through the full fee stack over time.
• Plan your exit before you enter. Resale can be slow and leaving can be hard, so read how to get out of a timeshare before you commit.
• Check real resale listings. They show what the ownership is truly worth on the open market.

What is the rescission window if you change your mind?

If you do sign and then have second thoughts, most states give a new buyer a state-set rescission period, commonly about 5 to 10 days, during which a new buyer can cancel the contract in writing for a refund. The deadline is short and the steps matter, so see our timeshare rescission period guide for the state-by-state deadlines and how to send a cancellation notice that counts.

What should you watch for at a sales presentation?

Timeshare sales presentations are designed to encourage a decision on the day, often with a free gift and a limited-time price. You are never required to buy at the table, and a genuine offer will still be available after you have had time to think it over. Our guide to the timeshare presentation explains the common tactics and how to say no, and our timeshare scams guide covers the upfront-fee traps to avoid.

Sources

ARDA, State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry (2025 ed., 2024 data), for average purchase price and resale context. U.S. Federal Trade Commission, consumer guidance on timeshares and related scams (consumer.ftc.gov), reviewed June 2026. State timeshare statutes for cancellation rights, summarized on our rescission page. Last reviewed June 2026.