Disadvantages to Resale Timeshares

The traditional way to buy a timeshare unit is direct from the developer. Whether you take a promotional tour or you research the unit online and purchase it, you pay the developer's price and get the developer's promotions. You can also buy your timeshare unit from an existing owner who no longer wants his unit. While resale units are usually available at a discount, some also have significant disadvantages.

When you buy a timeshare through the traditional direct-from-developer route, you can usually get some promotional extras. Whether you get a deeply discounted vacation, tickets to expensive shows while you're on your vacation, or cash or a gift card, the value of the incentives can add up. When you buy from another owner, you probably won't get any of those incentives.

Many developers offer financing with their timeshare programs. This makes it easy for you to buy from them, and makes it easy for them to sell their inventory. While financing does exist for resale timeshares, the options are more limited and can be more expensive. As such, if you want to buy a timeshare on the resale market, you may need to pay cash.

Sometimes, you can get a great discount when you buy a resale timeshare. However, at other times, after you've negotiated a good deal, the developer may buy it out from under you. Some developers, like Disney, Marriott and Hilton, put a clause in their timeshare contracts that gives them a "right of first refusal." This clause lets them buy back units that are going to sell at a very low price, helping to protect the value of existing owners' properties. While you can still get a discount by buying one of these properties, it may not be as deep as you expect.

While the timeshare unit and rights to the property that you buy on the resale market should be the same as what you buy from a developer, the extra amenities can be different. To incentivize buying units on a direct basis, some developers limit your rights when you buy a resale unit. While the rules vary by developer, you might not be able to trade your unit for other units owned by the same company. As another example, some hotel programs won't let you trade a resale unit for points in the hotel's frequent-stay reward plan. If you're planning to use these features, a resale unit might not be the right choice for you.

Some timeshare contracts are written for a set number of years. For example, the timeshare may expire 50 years from when it is sold. Since a resale timeshare is already part of the way through its contract life, you may find yourself buying a unit that won't last as long as you anticipate. On the other hand, you may also be able to find a particularly good deal on a unit that is nearing the end of its contract life.