“Your Timeshare Has Resale Value”: Why This Claim Almost Never Holds Up

One of the most common statements timeshare owners remember from their sales presentation is some version of this:

• “You can always sell it later.”
• “There’s a strong resale market.”
• “People are always looking for this.”

For many buyers, this claim is what makes the purchase feel safe. Even if they are unsure about long-term use, they believe they are buying something with residual value. Years later, when owners follow a legitimate exit strategy, they discover a very different reality.

In reality, this claim almost never holds true.

How the Resale Claim Is Typically Presented

In most cases, resale value is not promised outright in writing. Instead, it is implied through comparison and suggestion.

Owners often report hearing things like:

• “It’s real estate, just like any other”
• “People list these all the time”
• “If you ever don’t want it, you can sell it”
• “Demand keeps going up”

These statements are usually made verbally, during a fast-paced presentation, and reinforced emotionally rather than with data. Buyers are rarely shown completed resale transactions, net proceeds after fees, or long-term resale performance.

What Owners Discover When They Try to Sell

When owners eventually attempt to resell their timeshare, the pattern is strikingly consistent.

They discover:

• There are far more sellers than buyers.
• Listings sit unsold for months or years.
• Asking prices are often near zero; some owners even try to give their timeshare away for free.
• Many resale companies charge fees without delivering any results.

Even desirable locations and well-known brands are affected. The issue is not the destination—it is the structure of the product.

Why the Timeshare Resale Market Barely Functions

Unlike traditional real estate, timeshares carry ongoing financial obligations that transfer with ownership. From a buyer’s perspective, this is not an asset—it is a long-term liability.

Most resale buyers would be taking on:

• Annual maintenance fees that increase over time.
• Special assessments.
• Limited control over usage and availability.
• Restrictions on transfer and renting.
• No guaranteed exit in the future.

As a result, the supply of owners trying to exit far exceeds the number of people willing to take their place. Many discover that rising maintenance fees make the property nearly impossible to give away, let alone sell.

[!IMPORTANT] Listings Are Not Sales. One of the most misleading aspects of the resale conversation is the difference between listings and completed transactions.

Listings vs. Reality

Owners often find hundreds of online listings that appear to show an active resale market. What they are rarely shown are:

• Actual closing prices.
• How long listings remained active.
• Whether a transfer was completed at all.
• Fees paid by the seller.

In many cases, listings exist primarily because owners are paying to list, not because buyers are purchasing.

The Financial and Emotional Impact

The belief that a timeshare can be sold later fundamentally changes how buyers evaluate risk. If buyers understood from the beginning that resale is unlikely, many would reconsider the purchase entirely or avoid long-term financing.

By the time owners realize resale is not realistic, years have often passed. Maintenance fees have increased, and retirement or health changes have occurred. The sense of being misled is common, but it is important to remember: the resale belief did not come from nowhere. It was planted and encouraged.

What Owners Should Know Now

If you own a timeshare and were told it could be sold later, you are not alone.

Here are the key truths:

• Most timeshares do not have meaningful resale value.
• Location alone does not create demand.
• Listings do not equal completed sales.
• Maintenance fees suppress buyer interest.
• Waiting rarely improves resale prospects.

Understanding this reality is often the first step toward pursuing a permanent exit rather than continuing to wait for a market that never materializes.

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A Clear Path Forward

At NW Advisors Group, we work with owners who purchased or upgraded under the belief that resale was a viable option. We review each ownership individually and explain realistic paths forward based on the actual structure of the contract.

NW Advisors Group has been helping timeshare owners for over 15 years and is A+ rated and accredited with the Better Business Bureau.