Timeshare price: what they really cost to buy and own

Last updated 2026-07-25

How much does a timeshare cost to buy?

The average purchase price for a new timeshare interval was about $24,140 in 2023, according to the American Resort Development Association's owner survey data, though industry figures over the past decade have ranged from roughly $16,000 to $24,000 depending on the year and the resort brand ^[1]. That number covers a one-week deeded or points-based interval at a branded resort. It's not a small purchase. It's closer in size to a used car loan, except a used car doesn't come with a bill every single year for as long as you own it. Price varies enormously by product type. A fixed-week deed at an older, non-chain resort might sell (or resell) for a few hundred dollars. A points-based package at a major branded system, sold fresh off a sales floor, can run $20,000 to $50,000 or more depending on the number of points and the season. Presentation-driven sales prices are almost always higher than what the same interval would fetch on the resale market, sometimes by a factor of ten or more. Financing makes the real cost worse. Timeshare loans often carry interest rates in the mid-teens, sometimes higher, and terms of 10 years are common. A $20,000 purchase financed at 15% over 10 years turns into total payments well north of $30,000 before you've paid a single maintenance fee.

How much do timeshares cost every year (maintenance fees)?

Annual maintenance fees averaged $1,120 per interval in 2023, per ARDA's industry data, and fees have generally trended upward for years ^[1]. That fee is not optional. It is not tied to whether you use the unit that year, either. It pays for housekeeping, reserves, property taxes, insurance, and management company overhead at the resort. Maintenance fees typically increase 3% to 5% annually, sometimes more after a hurricane, a big renovation, or a special assessment. Over a 20-year ownership period, a fee that starts at $1,000 and grows 4% a year turns into roughly $2,190 by year 20, and the owner will have paid a running total well over $30,000 in fees alone across those two decades, separate from the original purchase price. Special assessments are the wildcard. These are one-time charges, on top of the regular fee, for things like storm damage, structural repairs, or a court judgment against the HOA. A special assessment of $1,500 to $5,000 in a single year is not unusual after a major storm hits a coastal resort. Owners have no real ability to opt out of these. The deed or contract you signed obligates you to pay your share.

How much is a timeshare worth on resale?

Most timeshares resell for a small fraction of what the original owner paid, and a meaningful share are effectively worthless on the open market. It is common to see listings for $1, with the buyer simply agreeing to take over the deed and future maintenance fee obligation. This isn't a mystery. The primary market is oversupplied with sellers: heirs who don't want an inherited week, retirees, people whose life circumstances changed. Resorts also keep selling new inventory, which competes directly with resale units and gives them zero incentive to prop up secondary market prices. There's no scarcity working in the seller's favor the way there is with, say, a house in a desirable school district. Some higher-demand fixed weeks in top-tier locations (certain fixed summer weeks in Hawaii or a well-run Disney Vacation Club contract, for example) hold value better and can sell for a real, if discounted, price. But as a general rule, if you're trying to sell a timeshare to recover your investment, plan for disappointment. The honest answer to "how much is my timeshare worth" is usually "much less than you paid, possibly nothing."

How to sell a timeshare (and what it actually costs to do it right)

Selling a timeshare yourself means listing it on a reputable resale marketplace, pricing it realistically (often near $0 to a few thousand dollars depending on the resort), and disclosing the annual fee honestly to any buyer. Closing costs, transfer fees the resort charges, and a title company fee typically run a few hundred dollars, and the seller usually eats those, not the buyer. Some resorts run their own deed-back or "exit" programs that let you hand the deed back for free or for a modest fee, which is often the cleanest path if your resort offers one. Check with the HOA or developer directly to ask if a deed-back program exists before paying anyone to sell your timeshare for you. Be skeptical of any company that promises a buyer or asks for a large upfront listing fee before doing anything. Legitimate resale brokers typically work on commission after a sale closes. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns that timeshare owners should be cautious of resale and exit offers that require payment before any service is delivered, since that upfront-fee structure is a common feature of scams targeting owners trying to get out ^[2].

How to get out of a timeshare (the real options, ranked)

There are four realistic paths off a timeshare: rescission, deed-back, resale, and (rarely) walking away and accepting the credit damage. The right one depends entirely on how much time has passed since you signed. If you just bought it, check your state's rescission window immediately. Every state gives buyers a right to cancel within a set number of days after signing, but the window is short, often measured in single-digit days, and varies by state. Send your cancellation notice in writing, by certified mail, before the deadline. Don't rely on a phone call. Confirm your state's rescission window with your state attorney general's consumer protection office or the contract itself, since the exact rule differs by state; Florida's timeshare statute, for example, sets a 10-calendar-day cancellation period running from the date the purchaser signs the contract or receives the public offering statement, whichever is later ^[3]. If the rescission window has closed, look at a deed-back program first, since it typically costs nothing or very little if the resort offers one. After that, resale is worth trying if your unit has any real market value, though be prepared for a low or zero return. If none of that works and the burden is unmanageable, some owners work with a licensed attorney or a structured exit plan, but never pay a large fee upfront to a company that promises results before doing any work. For a full state-by-state breakdown of cancellation windows, see how to get out of a timeshare and timeshare cancellation.

Are timeshares scams?

The timeshare product itself is legal in every state and regulated at the state level, so it is not accurate to call the entire industry a scam. But the sales process is notorious for high-pressure tactics, and a large secondary industry of exit scams preys specifically on owners who are desperate to get out. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against timeshare exit and resale companies for taking large upfront fees, sometimes thousands of dollars, and then doing little or nothing to cancel the timeshare or find a buyer. In its complaint against Reed Hein & Associates, LLC, doing business as Timeshare Exit Team, the FTC alleged the company charged consumers large upfront fees while falsely representing that it would eliminate their timeshare obligations, and the case resulted in a settlement requiring payment of more than $1.5 million and barring individual defendants from future timeshare exit or resale work ^[4]. So the honest answer: the timeshare purchase is a legitimate, if often overpriced and hard-to-exit, product. The scam risk shows up heavily on the back end, in the exit and resale industry, where fraudulent operators exploit buyer's remorse and rising fees. Read timeshare exit companies before you sign with anyone promising to make your contract disappear.

How to get rid of a timeshare when nobody will take it for free

When a timeshare has negative resale value (meaning even a $1 sale doesn't attract a buyer because of the annual fee burden), owners are left with a narrower set of choices: keep paying, negotiate a deed-back, or in worst cases let it go to foreclosure and accept the credit hit. Timeshare HOAs can and do foreclose on owners who stop paying maintenance fees, the same way a homeowners association can put a lien on a house. That process damages your credit and can result in a deficiency judgment in some states, where the HOA sues for the remaining balance owed even after taking the deed back. Never stop paying fees you owe as a strategy. Talk to the HOA or a licensed attorney about a structured deed-back or hardship arrangement first. Some owners in this situation ask family members to take over the deed, effectively passing along the same problem, which raises real fairness questions for the next generation. If you inherited a timeshare through probate and don't want it, most states allow an heir to disclaim the inheritance formally, which can avoid taking on the deed and its obligations at all. Check the probate rules in the state where the deceased owner lived, since disclaimer procedures and deadlines are state-specific, and note that the federal disclaimer rules under 26 U.S.C. § 2518 govern whether a disclaimer is treated as a taxable gift, separate from the state-law procedure for making the disclaimer itself ^[5].

What does a DIY exit path actually cost versus paying a company?

Doing it yourself costs the price of certified mail, maybe a notary fee, and your own time. A deed-back through the resort, when offered, is often free or a few hundred dollars in transfer fees. Hiring an attorney by the hour for a contract review or to negotiate a deed-back can run $200 to $500 an hour depending on your market, usually for a handful of hours, not a flat five-figure fee. Exit companies that charge $3,000 to $10,000 upfront are common in this space, and the FTC pursued Reed Hein & Associates, the company behind Timeshare Exit Team, over fees in that range for failing to deliver promised results ^[4]. The math rarely favors paying that much upfront for a service you could attempt yourself for a few hundred dollars in mailing and document costs, especially since no legitimate company can actually promise a resort will accept a deed-back or that a cancellation will succeed. This is the gap a lower-cost, document-focused option is built for. ExitHonest's $149 one-time Exit Kit gives you the letter templates, state-specific rescission guidance, and a document checklist to attempt the DIY and deed-back paths yourself, without paying a company thousands of dollars upfront or signing away control of the process. It doesn't contact the resort for you and it doesn't promise a specific outcome; nobody honest can promise that. Build your packet at /exit-kit-builder if you want a structured starting point instead of guessing at the letters and deadlines yourself.

How does timeshare price compare to a vacation rental over the same years?

Upfront purchase	$20,000-$24,000	$0
Annual fees (avg, growing)	~$12,000-$14,000 total	$0
Special assessment risk	Possible, $1,500-$5,000/event	None
Flexibility	Locked to resort/system	Full
Resale value at year 10	Often near $0	N/A

Run the math over ten years and a timeshare rarely wins on pure cost versus renting a comparable unit as needed. A $20,000 purchase plus $1,000 a year in fees, growing 4% annually, totals roughly $32,000 over ten years before financing interest. A family renting a similar unit for one week a year, even at $2,000 to $3,000 a week in a nice resort market, spends $20,000 to $30,000 over the same period, with zero long-term obligation, no special assessment risk, and full flexibility on destination and dates. The timeshare only wins financially if the owner uses it every single year without fail, trades it effectively, and never faces a special assessment. Real usage patterns rarely hit that bar. |Cost item|Owning a timeshare (10 yrs)|Renting comparable unit (10 yrs)|

What should I check before I ever sign a timeshare contract?

Ask for the total cost in writing, including the purchase price, the current annual maintenance fee, the fee's increase history over the past five years, and whether a special assessment has hit the resort in the last decade. A sales rep who can't or won't produce a five-year fee history is telling you something. Read the rescission clause before you sign anything, not after. Many states require this cancellation right to appear in the contract itself, stated in specific language; Florida's statute, for instance, requires the contract to include, in immediate proximity to the signature line, a statement of the buyer's cancellation right and the method for exercising it ^[3]. Write the deadline date on your calendar the moment you sign, because sales offices are not required to remind you, and some make cancellation deliberately inconvenient. Finally, walk away from any "today only" pricing pressure. A real financial product doesn't expire because you slept on it overnight. If the deal is good today, a reputable seller will still offer close to it tomorrow, after you've had time to check maintenance fee history and resale prices for that exact resort online.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a timeshare on average?

New timeshare purchases averaged about $24,140 in 2023 according to ARDA's owner data, though prices commonly range from roughly $16,000 to $24,000 depending on the resort, points package, and season. Resale prices are far lower, often just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and some units list for $1.

How much do timeshares cost per year in maintenance fees?

The average annual maintenance fee was about $1,120 per interval in 2023, per ARDA industry data. Fees typically rise 3% to 5% a year and can jump further after a special assessment for storm damage or major repairs, so budget for growth, not a flat number, over the life of ownership.

How do you get out of a timeshare?

Check your state's rescission window first if you just signed; it's short and requires written notice by the deadline. After that, ask the resort about a free or low-cost deed-back program, try resale if the unit has value, and avoid any exit company demanding large upfront fees before doing work.

How to sell a timeshare fast?

List it on a reputable timeshare resale marketplace at a realistic price, which for most resorts is low or even $0 given oversupply in the secondary market. Disclose the annual fee honestly. Avoid brokers who demand large upfront fees or claim they already have a buyer lined up; the CFPB warns that upfront payment demands are a common feature of resale scams.

How to get rid of a timeshare with no resale value?

Ask the resort directly about a deed-back program, since many developers accept deeds back for free or a small transfer fee rather than chase an unwilling owner for fees. If that's unavailable, consult a licensed attorney about hardship options. Never simply stop paying fees you owe; unpaid fees can lead to foreclosure and credit damage.

Are timeshares a scam?

The timeshare purchase itself is a legal, state-regulated product, not inherently a scam, though sales tactics are often high-pressure. The bigger scam risk is in the exit and resale industry, where the FTC has taken enforcement action, including against Reed Hein & Associates (Timeshare Exit Team), for charging thousands of dollars upfront and failing to deliver promised cancellations or sales.

How much does it cost to cancel a timeshare within the rescission period?

Canceling within your state's rescission window generally costs nothing beyond the price of sending a certified letter, since state law typically requires the resort to refund your payment in full if you cancel properly and on time. Confirm your state's exact window and required method before the deadline passes; Florida, for example, gives buyers 10 calendar days ^[3].

What happens if I stop paying my timeshare maintenance fees?

The HOA can place a lien on the timeshare interest and eventually foreclose, similar to a homeowners association foreclosing on unpaid dues. This damages your credit, and in some states the HOA can pursue a deficiency judgment for the remaining balance even after taking the deed back. Talk to the HOA about a deed-back before defaulting.

Do timeshares ever go up in value?

Almost never in resale terms. A small number of high-demand fixed weeks at top-tier resorts hold value reasonably well, but the vast majority of timeshares lose most of their purchase value quickly and many sell for $1 or less on resale marketplaces, since supply from unwilling sellers far outpaces buyer demand.

Is it worth paying an exit company to get rid of my timeshare?

Rarely, if the company demands a large fee (often $3,000 to $10,000) upfront before doing any work. The FTC pursued Reed Hein & Associates, doing business as Timeshare Exit Team, for taking upfront fees and failing to deliver promised results. A deed-back through the resort, a DIY resale listing, or an hourly-rate attorney consultation usually costs far less.

How much does a timeshare cost with financing?

Timeshare loans often carry interest rates in the mid-teens over terms around 10 years. A $20,000 purchase financed at roughly 15% over 10 years can total over $30,000 in payments before any maintenance fees are added, making financed timeshares meaningfully more expensive than the sticker price suggests.

Can I give my timeshare back to the resort for free?

Some resorts and developers run formal deed-back programs that accept the deed back at no cost or for a modest transfer fee, especially if your fees are current. Not all resorts offer this, so you have to ask directly. It's usually the cheapest and cleanest exit option when it's available.

Sources

1. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry Report (2023 data): Average timeshare purchase price and average annual maintenance fee figures for 2023
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Timeshares and Vacation Clubs consumer guidance: Consumer caution about upfront-fee resale and exit offers as a common scam pattern
3. Florida Statutes Section 721.10, Cancellation of Contract: Florida's 10-calendar-day timeshare rescission period and required contract disclosure of the cancellation right
4. Federal Trade Commission v. Reed Hein & Associates, LLC, d/b/a Timeshare Exit Team, Case No. 2:19-cv-00074 (W.D. Wash.): FTC enforcement action and settlement alleging a timeshare exit company took upfront fees and failed to deliver promised refunds or cancellations
5. 26 U.S.C. § 2518, Disclaimers: Federal tax rule governing qualified disclaimers of inherited property, including inherited timeshare interests