Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Plan Your Next Timeshare Vacation

By Tom Schick


As a travel lover you may have considered investigating a time share for your vacations. There are so many different ways to go. Is it better to buy or rent? Which is best for your family? This is one area where it really pays to investigate before you make a decision so that you find the best time share arrangement for your lifestyle. Before you know it you'll be having a ball on your time share vacation.

Renting a time share means that you rent a vacation property for a specifically allotted time. If you require more flexibility as to where and when you travel, this is a great option for you. You won't have to deal with ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the property, but you won't own an asset that you can sell either. On the down side, you'll have a hard time booking during holidays and spring break. Also, competition for popular vacation destinations is really stiff. On the other hand, the amenities and roomy accommodations make this a great option for a family. You'll have no trouble finding time share listing sites to check out availability of time share rentals. You should be able to find the perfect situation for your vacation.

When you purchase a time share you own a specific property in common with other vacationers. You are assigned specific times to use the property. This is a great option if you know you want to vacation in a specific location every year. With a condo you'll have a kitchen, which saves money by eating in. But there can be maintenance fees and condo owner's dues after you've made your purchase. It can also be difficult to get a loan to purchase one. Really think hard before you enter into a long term loan to purchase a time share. It only makes sense if you spend less over time than you would have traveling to the same destination. You can rent out your share and even sell it once you no longer need it. However, the resale value of a time share is substantially lower than the retail purchase price.

No matter which type of time share you choose it is crucially important to nail down all the costs involved and other details. If you purchase a previously owned time share, make sure all the benefits transfer with the property. Cagy developers have begun restricting use of amenities, such as pools and saunas, for resale buyers. You should never feel pressured to make an on-the-spot decision; it is a good idea to sleep on it first. Never forget that this is a real estate transaction. Think through your travel requirements and interest before spending any money. Do you have a legitimate reason for visiting the same place every year or will you eventually get sick of it? Before you write that check and sign that contract, do your research.

Time shares are popular for a reason and a great way to travel. As with most things in life, there are pluses and minuses for buying versus renting. Great deals are out there, but make sure the numbers pencil out and there are no surprises in the fine print. Lots of vacationers are very satisfied with their time share experience. But the message boards are full of people who have been scammed or just plain aren't satisfied. With an honest evaluation of all your options you can avoid that fate. Pretty soon your family will be all set to enjoy a time share vacation.




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