Here's a new online platform for timeshare or fractional properties that works somewhat like a MLS - Timeshare Information Exchange (TIE). Many organizations have attempted to pull something like this together, but with little success. This be good for both the small local Realtor office near a timeshare resort for their listings and for the large brokers who may be turning away dozens of buyers a day because they do not have the inventory.

I took the program for a test run and it is very simple. For example, there are drop down menus with every location and every resort. Simple search forms and straightforward help instructions make it easy and hassle free. I could see a timeshare resort Homeowners Association using it to sell their extra units that owners have abandoned. I could also see the advantage of a large development having the ability to add in hundreds of unit/weeks at a time.  Here's a link to the front page: www.timeshare-information-exchange.com and here's a press release about the new service.

Wherever you may find yourself in the timeshare business, this may give you a simple solution to a tough problem.

San Luis Bay Inn, Timeshare in Avila Beach California

You may be asking the question, "Why would I want to know how the resorts attract buyers, I want to sell my timeshare!" This question is important because you will be in competition with the resort when you decide to sell your timeshare. So, you need to know.

For example, over the last several months you may have seen one of the major resort developers running television ads to attract discounted vacation travelers to their resort.  They offer significantly reduced rack rates in exchange for your time for a "90 minute presentation".  Unless you bought your timeshare on the resales market from an owner, you are definitely familiar with the sales presentation. The tour, the food, the gift, the pitch, the guilt, and the last ditch handoff to the sales manager who offers you a "one day only" drop in the price if you buy right now. All these things combined plus sales commissions, overrides, and overhead add up to about 50% of the sales price.  The television ads, phone rooms, meals, rooms, gifts, and so on are all very expensive.  So they roll all that advertising expense into their sales prices. That's what you, as a buyer, paid for.

When you get ready to sell your timeshare, you won't be able to offer the same pitch, pressure, or lures to attract a buyer. You will not be able to put a sign in the window, lockbox on the door, sign in the yard, or hold an open house.  The short answer to this dilemma is to check out the seller's options described at www.rpmls.com. A comprehensive list of timeshare selling solutions is available there. Take the time to read the timeshare resales study found on that website as well. Lots of good info: resales data, charts, average prices and more.

Audio version of the story plus a Westgate Timeshare Resorts slide show

Many of us have had the experience of buying a used car: Shopping the ads, going to used car lots, checking the interenet ads.  But once you arrive on the used car lot, logic often goes out the window, and emotions take over. That's what the car salesman is hoping for. Not to say anything bad about the profession of auto sales, but, they are hoping you will overlook the negative aspects of their product and drive one of their cars home that day. 

It is wise indeed to do your "due diligence" and check out all aspects of this purchase and make a buying decision based on the right information.  In the process, you will, in fact, save a lot of your hard earned money.

Buying a timeshare on the secondary market has some of the same issues:

• Are all the maintenance fees and taxes up to date?
• Are all the "extras" (points, rounds of golf, spa usage, tennis lessons, etc) transferable?
• Is there a big assessment looming in the future for the owners?
• Does the resort or resort management company have a history of exponentially rasing fees, avoiding owners' complaints, or neglecting the maintenance of the facility?
• Will you, in fact, get the next year's usuage?

These questions, and others, will need to be answered before you can say you have done your homework and then move ahead with confidence. You will get what you want at a price that will make you happy: you got a great deal on a timeshare you will use and enjoy. Resale beats Retail!

For example, consider buying a timeshare in Oahu Hawaii, Sedona Arizona, Branson, Key West, Virginia, New York, or Las Vegas at a serious discount!

If you want to move ahead with confidence, check out these deals at www.rpmls.com.

Traditionally, a local MLS will have regional properties that are available for sale.  As of June of 2007, members of the Houston Association of Realtors have been able to add international properties for sale in a section known as "Area 82".  Presently, you can find properties for sale at www.har.com/international that are located in Argentina, Mexico, UAE, Costa Rica, Brazil, Dominican Republic, France, Bahamas, India, and many more. In a recent article from the Houston Association of Realtors, Wayne Stroman CIPS, past chairman of the HAR International Advisory Group, was thanked for his efforts in getting Area 82 integrated into one of the largest, if not the largest, MLS in the nation.

The international section of HAR's website offers a tremendous number of tools to assist real estate professionals in their work. You can search in Chinese, German, Spanish, Italian, or Vietnamese. Additional training and certifications are also made available to those who want to expand their abilities to international buyers and sellers. Here's a sample for those who select the Spanish language option:

Select a Language: Chinese | French | German | Italian | Vietnamese | Spanish

Given the huge number of monthly visits to www.har.com (1.6 billion hits in June) international properties will receive a huge amount of exposure to buyers.

Definitely a "win-win" situation!

Arizona Central's news website picked up an Associated Press story today entitled "Is it worth it to buy a timeshare?" (source) 

Throughout the story there are illustrations of how the cost of buying a timeshare factors out over time.  Their conclusion is that if your vacations involve staying in a budget motel for extended periods, timeshare may not be for you.  But if you are looking for five star luxury, golf, tennis, entertainment, full sized accommodations, and beautiful scenery at a serious discount, buying a timeshare would be a smart choice.  Especially if you buy a timeshare on the secondary market from an owner.  You will save thousands off the developers price and have most, if not all, the same privileges.

The safest way to go about buying a timeshare would be to use a broker who specializes in timeshare resales.  For example take a look at www.rpmls.com:  Hundreds of properties at the best resorts - and all for a serious discount.

Resale beats retail!

Chances are, when you first bought your timeshare, you never considered the licensing and regulatory issues surrounding your purchase.  At that time, emotions were probably high, there was a lot of excitement and hoopla.  Now that the "honeymoon" is over and you want to sell, these questions start to rise: Who will handle the sale?  How do I locate someone trustworthy to advertise and negotiate for me?  What about escrow?  A title company, recording of deeds, title insurance, attorneys, next rights to use?  Now throw in the logistics of overcoming the issues of state to state regulation.  For example, in Stroman Realty, Inc's latest study, they show that 41% of their timeshare sales over a five year period involved four states and 48% involved 3 states.  The buyer, seller, property, broker, and closing company could all be in different states.  So, whose forms do you use?  What is the jurisdiction if there are legal issues?

Good question.  In Texas Realtor's May 2008 issue, they address a similar question:  Can I list a Colorado property for sale?  That was a fairly simple question, but the answer was not as simple.

The simplest answer is to use a Timeshare Resales Broker.  They will be adhering to the laws of the state in which they conduct business, practicing a code of ethics, and participating in mandatory continuing education.  They will likely have the experience needed to wade through the pile of questions that will come along.

Stroman Realty, Inc is such a broker.  Having nearly 3 decades of experience in timeshare resales including every state in which there is a timeshare and many foreign countries, they have the experience to get the job done.

Take a look at the details of their timeshare resales study.  There you will find average sales prices for states like Florida, California, and Hawaii. You will also find out about all the options available to a timeshare owner when they are preparing to sell.