How to sell timeshare ownership (and when not to bother)

Last updated 2026-07-24

how to sell a timeshare: what actually works

Selling a timeshare works in roughly this order of likelihood: rescind it if you're still inside your state's cancellation window, hand it back to the resort through a deed-back or surrender program if one exists, list it for sale on a licensed resale marketplace at a realistic (often near-zero) price, or, if none of that works, look at a licensed timeshare resale broker who takes a commission only after closing. The part nobody wants to hear: the resale market for timeshares is brutal. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the timeshare industry's own trade group, has published research showing resale prices for many weeks-based timeshares run a small fraction of what owners originally paid, and a large share of listings never sell at any price. Owners who bought directly from a developer for $20,000 to $40,000 are often stunned to find their exact same unit listed for $1 on a resale site, with no buyers even at that price. If you're inside your rescission period, stop reading about resale and go read how to get out of a timeshare instead. Rescission is free, it's backed by state law, and it beats every other option on this list. Everything below assumes that window has already closed.

how to get out of a timeshare (or how do you get out of a timeshare) if you can't sell it

If selling isn't realistic, your remaining paths are: rescission (time-limited), deed-back or surrender to the resort, deeding to a family member willing to take it, working with a licensed real estate attorney in the resort's state, or, in rare cases, letting the contract go to foreclosure and accepting the credit hit. There's no single button that gets everyone out; it depends on your contract, your state, and your resort. Rescission is the cleanest exit and it's a real legal right, not a courtesy. Every state that regulates timeshares gives buyers a window, counted from signing or from receiving the public offering statement, during which they can cancel for any reason and get their money back. The length of that window varies a lot by state, from as short as three business days to two weeks or more, so confirm your state's rescission window with your state attorney general's consumer protection office or the statute itself before you assume you've missed it ^[1]. Deed-back (also called surrender or take-back) programs let you return the deed to the resort's developer, usually for free or a modest processing fee, if you're current on payments and the resort is willing to take it. Not every resort offers one, and most require you to be caught up on maintenance fees first. Check our rundown on deed-back programs and call your resort's owner services line directly to ask if a deed-back program exists for your unit. If none of that applies, a licensed exit attorney or a well-vetted exit company can sometimes negotiate a release, but this is also where most of the scam risk lives. More on that below.

how much is a timeshare (and how much do timeshares cost) to buy, own, and get rid of?

Developer purchase price	$15,000 to $25,000	ARDA average, varies by resort and unit size [2]
Annual maintenance fee	~$1,120/year (2021 avg)	Tends to rise annually; special assessments extra [3]
Resale price (secondary market)	$0 to $3,000 (many listings)	Some sell for $1 or less; many never sell
Rescission refund	Full purchase price	Only if canceled within your state's window [1]
Deed-back fee (if offered)	$0 to a few hundred dollars	Resort-dependent; must be current on fees	So when someone asks "how much are timeshares," the honest answer is: a lot to buy, ongoing money every year to keep, and often close to nothing to sell. That gap is the entire reason exit scams exist. People are desperate to make the fees stop and will pay almost anything to someone who promises a fast way out.

A new timeshare interval from a developer typically costs $15,000 to $25,000 upfront, according to ARDA's own consumer research, though prices for larger units or premium resorts run higher ^[2]. On top of that purchase price, owners pay annual maintenance fees that ARDA reports averaged $1,120 in 2021 across its member resorts, and those fees tend to rise most years, sometimes with special assessments layered on top for major repairs or storm damage ^[3]. Here's the part that surprises people: what you paid has almost nothing to do with what it's worth now. Resale prices on secondary marketplaces routinely land between $0 and $3,000 for many weeks-based products, and some listings sit for a year or more with zero offers. Points-based club memberships and some fixed-week deeded properties in strong locations (certain Hawaii or Disney Vacation Club properties, for example) hold value better than most, but they're the exception, not the rule. | Cost stage | Typical range | Notes |

how to get rid of a timeshare when the resale market won't take it

If your unit truly won't sell and no deed-back program exists, you have a few less pleasant but real options: give it away for the cost of transfer fees to someone who wants it (some owners do find takers this way, especially for prime summer weeks at popular family resorts), consult a real estate or consumer protection attorney licensed in the resort's state about a deed transfer or quitclaim, or accept that walking away means eventual foreclosure by the HOA. A word of caution on "giving it away": you still need a clean deed transfer, recorded properly, or you can remain legally on the hook for fees even after someone else claims to own it. Never just hand over paperwork informally. And never pay a company hundreds or thousands of dollars upfront to "take it off your hands" without verifying they're a real, licensed transfer service, not a shell that disappears after taking your money. Do not stop paying your maintenance fees as a strategy to force a resolution. Unpaid fees can lead to collections, credit damage, and in some states a deficiency judgment even after foreclosure. If you're behind and stuck, talk to a licensed attorney about your actual options before you skip a payment on purpose.

are timeshares scams? the honest answer

The timeshare product itself is legal and regulated in every state; it's not inherently a scam. What is full of scams is the exit industry that has grown up around unhappy owners. The Federal Trade Commission has brought enforcement actions against companies that charged upfront fees, sometimes thousands of dollars, promising to cancel timeshare contracts and then delivering nothing. The FTC's consumer guidance on timeshare resale and relief companies is direct: legitimate companies are paid when the timeshare sells, not before, and any demand for large upfront payment is a major red flag ^[4]. That's the single best filter you have. A legitimate deed-back program run by your resort doesn't ask for a large fee upfront. A legitimate attorney bills for actual work performed, often hourly or with a modest flat fee, and won't promise an outcome they can't control. Red flags worth memorizing: a cold call telling you they have a "buyer already lined up" for your unlistable timeshare, pressure to wire money same-day, claims that a "final regulatory deadline" requires immediate payment, and refusal to put fee structure or refund terms in writing. If you hear any of these, hang up. Cross-check the company against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database before sending a dollar. Our timeshare exit companies piece walks through how to vet one properly, and our timeshare call list has the actual numbers for state AG offices and resort owner services lines.

should you use a licensed resale broker to sell your timeshare?

Licensed timeshare resale brokers exist, are regulated in some states, and can be worth using, but only under specific conditions: they take a commission after the sale closes, not before, and they've been active in your specific resort or brand's resale market. If a broker asks for money upfront before finding a buyer, that's not a resale broker. That's an upfront-fee scam wearing a broker's name. The Federal Trade Commission specifically warns that legitimate resale companies get paid when the timeshare actually sells, and that any company demanding payment before a sale closes should be treated as a red flag ^[4]. Ask for references from owners at your exact resort, not general testimonials. Ask how many units they've sold in the last twelve months at your resort, not company-wide. A broker who can't answer that specifically hasn't sold there. Realistically, for the vast majority of weeks-based timeshares purchased from a developer for $15,000+, even a good broker will tell you the honest listing price is a few hundred dollars, and that many buyers expect the seller to cover closing costs and transfer fees just to make the deal happen. That's not a broker failing you; that's the market.

what's the difference between selling, deeding back, and rescinding?

These three exits solve different problems and only one of them is time-limited. Rescission cancels the contract entirely and refunds your money, but only works inside your state's statutory window, which can be as short as a few business days after signing ^[1]. Deed-back (surrender) transfers your ownership to the resort, usually for free or a small fee, works any time after rescission has closed, but requires the resort's cooperation and usually requires you to be current on fees. Selling transfers ownership to a third-party buyer for money, works any time, but the resale market is thin enough that many owners get zero real offers. Here's a quick way to think about it: rescission is the emergency exit you get for free, but only for a few days. Deed-back is the free-or-cheap exit you get if the resort agrees to take it back and you're paid up. Selling is the exit that theoretically nets you cash, but in practice usually doesn't for most weeks-based products. If you're not sure which category you're in right now, our overview on how to get out of timeshare breaks down the decision tree by situation: still in rescission, past rescission but current on fees, or behind on fees already.

what if you inherited a timeshare and want to sell it?

Inherited timeshares are their own headache because you never chose to buy it, but you may still be legally responsible for the fees once the deed transfers to the estate or to you personally. The first step is finding out whether the estate has to accept the timeshare at all. In many states, an heir or estate executor can formally disclaim (refuse) an inherited interest before it transfers, which can avoid taking on the debt entirely; a probate or estate attorney in the resort's state can tell you whether disclaimer is still available in your specific case. If the deed has already transferred to you, you're in the same boat as any other owner: check for a deed-back program first, since some resorts are more willing to take back an inherited unit from an heir who doesn't want it than they are from an original buyer. Selling an inherited timeshare faces the same resale math as any other timeshare, meaning don't expect meaningful money for it. Don't pay a company that specifically targets heirs with promises to "clear the inherited timeshare debt" for an upfront fee. This is a known scam variant; the pitch preys on grieving families who don't know the resale value is near zero and panic about inherited debt.

how do you avoid getting scammed while trying to sell or exit?

Verify before you pay, get everything in writing, and never wire money to someone who called you first. Those three habits stop the overwhelming majority of timeshare exit scams before they cost you anything. Specifically: check the company's name against your state attorney general's consumer complaint page and the Better Business Bureau before signing anything. Ask for a written contract with a specific fee, a specific scope of work, and a specific timeline, not a verbal promise. Never pay in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, which are the FTC's most commonly cited red-flag payment methods for this exact scam type ^[5]. If a caller says they already have a buyer for your specific unlistable unit, or that a "government mandate" requires you to pay a transfer tax immediately, hang up and report the call to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. This is also where a self-directed approach earns its keep. Some owners hire an exit company for thousands of dollars to do work they could largely do themselves: request their deed-back paperwork, draft a rescission letter inside the window, or organize the documents an attorney would need. If you'd rather have a structured, done-with-you paper trail instead of paying a company several thousand dollars to "handle everything," ExitHonest sells a one-time $149 Timeshare Exit Kit at /exit-kit-builder that walks through the letters, checklists, and documentation for rescission, deed-back requests, and scam-avoidance, without charging a percentage or promising an outcome no one can promise.

step-by-step: how to sell (or exit) a timeshare in the right order

1. Find your purchase date and your state's rescission statute. If you're still inside the window, send a written cancellation notice by the method your contract requires, keep proof of delivery, and stop there. You're done, and you get your money back ^[1]. 2. If the window has closed, call your resort's owner services line and ask directly: "Does this resort have a deed-back or surrender program?" Get the answer in writing. Many major chains, including some large branded systems, have added exit or surrender programs in recent years specifically because resale demand collapsed; it costs you nothing to ask. 3. If there's no deed-back option, check whether a family member or friend genuinely wants the unit (some do, for a low or free transfer), and if so, use a real estate attorney to record the deed properly, don't just hand over documents informally. 4. If no one wants it and no deed-back exists, get pricing from one or two licensed resale brokers who work specifically in your resort's brand, and confirm they're paid on commission after closing, not upfront. 5. Throughout all of this, keep paying your maintenance fees on schedule unless and until a deed transfer or rescission is fully completed and confirmed in writing. Stopping payment as a negotiating tactic can trigger collections and credit damage that outlasts whatever exit path you're pursuing.

Frequently asked questions

How to get out of a timeshare fast?

The only genuinely fast, fully legal exit is rescission, and it only works inside your state's cancellation window, which can be as short as a few business days from signing. Confirm the exact window with your state attorney general's office. Past that window, there's no fast exit path; deed-back requests and resale both take weeks to months.

How do you get out of a timeshare after the rescission period ends?

Ask your resort about a deed-back or surrender program first, since it's usually free or low-cost if you're current on fees. If that's not available, consider a licensed resale broker (paid on commission after sale) or a family transfer with a properly recorded deed. Avoid any company demanding a large fee upfront to promise a cancellation.

How to sell a timeshare when no one seems to want it?

List it at a realistic price, which for most weeks-based timeshares means near $0 to a few hundred dollars, on a licensed resale marketplace, and expect it may take months or not sell at all. If it truly won't sell, ask about your resort's deed-back program instead of paying a broker to keep relisting it indefinitely.

How to sell timeshare ownership without losing more money to fees?

Never pay a large fee upfront to a company promising a fast sale or contract cancellation; the FTC specifically warns against this pattern. Use resale brokers paid only on commission after closing, or pursue a free deed-back program through your resort, so you're not spending money chasing an exit that may never come.

Are timeshares scams?

The core product is legal and regulated by every state, so it's not a scam by itself. The bigger scam risk sits in the exit industry: companies that charge large upfront fees and promise a cancellation or sale they can't deliver. The FTC has taken enforcement action against several such operators.

How much is a timeshare to buy?

ARDA's consumer research puts typical developer purchase prices at roughly $15,000 to $25,000 for a new interval, with premium resorts and larger units costing more. That upfront price bears little relation to resale value, which is often a small fraction of the original cost.

How much do timeshares cost to maintain each year?

ARDA reported an average annual maintenance fee of about $1,120 in 2021 across member resorts, and fees generally rise year over year. Special assessments for major repairs, storm damage, or renovations can add thousands more on top of the regular annual fee in a given year.

How much are timeshares worth on the resale market?

Often very little. Resale listings for many weeks-based timeshares run from $0 to a few thousand dollars, and industry-cited data shows a large share of listings sit unsold for a year or longer. Points-based or premium-location products hold value somewhat better, but they're the exception.

How to get rid of a timeshare if you inherited it?

Check first whether the estate or heir can legally disclaim (refuse) the inherited interest before the deed transfers; a probate attorney in the resort's state can confirm if that's still an option. If the deed has already transferred, treat it like any other unwanted timeshare: check for a deed-back program before trying to sell.

Can you just stop paying and walk away from a timeshare?

Not without consequences. Unpaid maintenance fees typically go to collections, can damage your credit, and in some states can lead to a deficiency judgment even after the resort forecloses on the unit. Talk to a licensed attorney about your specific state's foreclosure and deficiency rules before deciding to stop paying.

What's the difference between a deed-back program and selling a timeshare?

A deed-back (or surrender) program returns your ownership directly to the resort, usually for free or a small fee, if the resort agrees and you're current on payments. Selling transfers ownership to a third-party buyer for money, but the resale market for most timeshares is thin enough that many sellers get few or no offers.

How do I know if a timeshare exit company is a scam?

Check them against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database and the Better Business Bureau first. Red flags include demanding large payment upfront, promising a cancellation, pressuring same-day wire transfers or gift cards, and claiming they already have a buyer lined up for your specific unlistable unit.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission, Buying a Timeshare: Rescission windows are set by state law, vary in length, and allow cancellation for any reason within that period
2. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), 2022 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry report: Typical developer purchase price for a new timeshare interval runs roughly $15,000 to $25,000
3. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: 2021 Edition: Average annual maintenance fee across ARDA member resorts was approximately $1,120 in 2021
4. Federal Trade Commission, Timeshare Resale and Relief Companies: The FTC advises against paying upfront fees to companies that promise they can sell or cancel a timeshare
5. Federal Trade Commission, How To Avoid a Scam: Gift cards, wire transfers, and cryptocurrency are red-flag payment methods commonly used in scams