Timeshare Resale: How Buying a Resale Timeshare Works

A timeshare resale is a timeshare bought from a current owner instead of from the resort developer. Prices are generally much lower than developer prices for similar ownerships, which is why many buyers start with resale. Before you make an offer, though, you’ll want to check which brand perks transfer, whether the developer reviews the sale, and how the closing will be handled. Here’s how buying a timeshare resale works and what you can do to protect yourself along the way.

What Is a Timeshare Resale?

A timeshare resale is an existing ownership sold by its current owner, sometimes called buying “by owner” or on the secondary market. Owners sell for all kinds of reasons: their travel plans change, they’ve moved on from the brand, or they inherited a timeshare they won’t use. Whether you buy a deeded week, a points package, or a right-to-use contract, that existing ownership transfers into your name.

Most deeded timeshares are real property interests, so the transfer is recorded much like other real estate. What you’re really buying, though, is the right to use resort accommodations each year, plus the annual maintenance fees that come with it. Want the background first? Read what is a timeshare and how does it work. Wondering whether to buy new or resale? See new vs. resale: the timeshare secondary market.

Why Buy a Timeshare Resale?

Buyers choose resale for a few reasons:

• A lower purchase price. You’ll generally pay much less for a resale than you would for a similar ownership from the developer. Owners set their own asking prices, and many are ready to move on.
• The same villas and resorts. A resale week or points package gets you the same accommodations and amenities as a new one, including at resorts the developer has already sold out.
• A way to add on. Current owners often buy resale to add points, a bigger unit, or a second week at a resort they already love.
• No sales presentation. You browse at your own pace and make an offer when you’re ready.

One thing doesn’t change: annual maintenance fees are the same whether you buy new or resale. Factor them into your budget, and see what a timeshare costs.

Weeks, Points, or Fractional: What You Can Buy Resale

Almost every type of ownership is available on the resale market:

Type	What you get	Good fit if you
Fixed week	The same week at the same resort each year	Love one place and one time of year
Floating week	A week within a season, booked each year	Want one resort but flexible dates
Points	An annual points allotment to spend across a brand’s resorts	Want different destinations and trip lengths
Fractional	Several weeks a year at one property	Spend a lot of time in one place

Can you buy timeshare points resale? Yes. Many points programs, including Marriott, Hilton Grand Vacations, and Disney Vacation Club, can be bought from owners. Check the points allotment, the home resort, and the use year, and ask whether the brand limits how resale points can be used. More in types of timeshares and how timeshare points work.

What May Not Transfer to a Resale Buyer

This is the most important thing to check before you make an offer. Some brands treat resale buyers differently from owners who bought directly. Depending on the brand, a resale ownership may:

• Not include elite or loyalty-tier benefits
• Have limited access to the brand’s internal exchange or other resorts in its network
• Be restricted to a home resort or a specific booking window
• Not include certain member discounts or partner perks

Rules vary by brand and can change, so ask the seller, check the brand’s current resale policy, and get the details in writing. External exchange companies like RCI and Interval International are often still available to resale owners. For one example, see Wyndham timeshare resale restrictions.

How to Buy a Timeshare Resale, Step by Step

1. Narrow down what you want. Pick the brand, destination, unit size, and type (week or points) that fit how you travel.
2. Check the costs and the rules. Ask for the annual maintenance fee and any special assessments, confirm they’re current, and check what transfers to a resale buyer for that brand.
3. Browse and compare ads. Search timeshare resales by brand, destination, and season, and compare similar ownerships.
4. Make an offer. Make an offer online or call 1-855-291-5006. The seller can accept, make a counteroffer, or decline.
5. Wait for the developer’s review. Many developers have a right of first refusal (ROFR): before the sale closes, they can choose to buy the timeshare on the same terms you offered. If they pass, the sale moves ahead.
6. Close through a licensed closing company. We can refer you to our Recommended Resale Brokerage, Fidelity Real Estate, to handle the contracts, escrow, and deed transfer. Funds stay in escrow until the ownership transfers into your name.
7. Get set up with the resort. Once the transfer is recorded, the resort adds you as the owner, and you can start booking.

Want more detail on buying from us? See how buying a timeshare resale works and deed changes, title services, and the closing process.

Financing a Resale Purchase

You may be able to pay for your timeshare over time. Third-party lenders, including our partner Vacation Club Loans, offer financing for many brands and resorts, including resale purchases. Compare rates and terms before you commit, and get pre-qualified before you make an offer so you know your budget.

Is a Timeshare Resale a Scam? How to Buy Safely

No. Buying a timeshare resale is a normal, legal way to buy, and many buyers do it every year. Scams happen when buyers skip the safeguards. Before you send any money:

• Use escrow. Never wire money directly to a seller. Funds should go to a licensed closing or title company and stay in escrow until the ownership transfers.
• Verify the ownership. Confirm the resort, unit, and usage, that maintenance fees are current, and that no special assessments are due.
• Check who you’re working with. For resale companies, check ARDA’s Coalition for Responsible Exit directory at ResponsibleExit.com, look up the company’s BBB profile, and read reviews you can verify.
• Watch for red flags: pressure to decide today, prices that seem far too low, or a seller who won’t use a closing company.

You can learn more in our guides to common timeshare resale scams and how to choose a timeshare resale company.

Common Timeshare Resale Myths

• “A resale is a good investment.” No timeshare is an investment. It’s a vacation purchase, and resale prices are generally well below what original owners paid. Buy for the vacations.
• “Resale buyers get nothing.” You get the same villas and resorts. Some brands limit certain perks (section 5), so check before you buy.
• “Buying resale is a scam.” Buying from an owner is legitimate when you use escrow and a licensed closing company (section 8).
• “You can’t finance a resale.” Third-party lenders finance many resale purchases (section 7).
• “The developer will block the sale.” A developer with a right of first refusal may buy it on the same terms, but in that case it’s a decision on that one sale, not a ban on resales. If it happens, you can look for another ownership.

Not Sure Yet? Rent First

Not sure a timeshare fits how you travel? Rent one from an owner first. You’ll stay in the same kind of villa and use the same resort amenities, with no purchase and no annual fees. It’s also a good way to test a specific resort before you buy there. Browse timeshare rentals by owner.

Already Own a Timeshare?

Thinking about selling instead? The process is different from buying: you advertise your ownership, set your asking price, and choose which offer to accept. Learn how to sell a timeshare, step by step.

Timeshare Resale FAQs

Find Your Timeshare Resale

Owners advertise their timeshares on our marketplace, and you can browse by brand, destination, and season. We’ve helped owners and buyers for 30+ years, and we’re a Featured Reseller for ARDA’s Coalition for Responsible Exit. Browse timeshare resales, or learn how buying a timeshare resale works. Questions? Call 1-855-291-5006 or email [email protected].

Related guides: New vs. resale: the timeshare secondary market · What to know before buying a timeshare · How much is a timeshare? · Are timeshares worth it? · Common timeshare resale scams