How to get rid of a Westgate timeshare (real options that work)

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is Westgate Resorts and why is getting out so hard?

Westgate Resorts is one of the largest privately held timeshare companies in the US, with resorts in Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Missouri, South Carolina, and a few other states. It's known for aggressive sales presentations at its properties and for financing structures that leave a lot of owners with loans on top of maintenance fees. The hard part isn't unique to Westgate. Timeshares as a product class are built to be easy to buy and hard to sell. There's no public resale market with real price discovery, deeds usually run in perpetuity (no natural end date), and maintenance fees rise most years, often faster than general inflation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes timeshares as a type of contract where the buyer purchases a right to use property for a set period, and warns that these contracts "can be difficult to exit" once the rescission period closes ^[1]. Westgate itself is not a scam, it's a legitimate, licensed timeshare developer. But the exit problem is real and it's structural: once you're past your rescission window and you've closed on the deed or contract, you own a real property interest (or a contract right) that Westgate has no legal obligation to take back, unless you qualify for one of their voluntary programs.

How to get out of a timeshare during the rescission window

If you just signed at a Westgate presentation, this is the fastest and cheapest way out, but the clock is short. Every state that allows timeshare sales sets a rescission period, a window during which you can cancel for any reason and get your money back, no explanation needed. Florida, where many Westgate resorts sit, gives buyers 10 calendar days to cancel a timeshare purchase under Florida Statutes section 721.10, and requires the cancellation notice be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address specified in the contract ^[2]. Other states set different windows, some as short as 3 to 5 days. Confirm your state's rescission window before you assume you're covered, because the deadline is usually counted from the date you sign, not the date you get home. To cancel during the window: put it in writing, follow the exact method your contract specifies (certified mail is the safest even if the contract allows other methods), keep a copy and the mailing receipt, and don't rely on a verbal promise from a sales rep that they'll handle it. If you're inside your window right now, do this today. Don't wait to "think about it more," because these deadlines are calendar days, not business days, in most states. For a state-by-state breakdown of exact windows and required cancellation methods, see how to get out of a timeshare.

How to get out of a timeshare after the rescission window closes

Once rescission has passed, you're a full owner and your options narrow to four real paths: a developer deed-back or exit program, a resale, a deed transfer to someone else, or (rarely) walking away and letting the resort foreclose. Westgate has run a voluntary deed-back style program in the past for owners who are current on payments and own their week or points outright (no loan balance). Program availability, fees, and eligibility change over time, so you'd need to contact Westgate directly to ask what's currently offered and whether you qualify. Don't assume a deed-back is free; some developer take-back programs charge an administrative fee even when they accept the unit. If Westgate won't take it back, you can try to sell or give it away on the resale market, transfer the deed to a willing party, or in a worst-case scenario stop paying and accept the credit and legal consequences of a deed in lieu or foreclosure. That last option is not something to choose lightly. It can trigger collections, credit damage, and in some states a deficiency judgment for unpaid fees. We're not going to tell you to just stop paying; talk to a licensed attorney in your state before you go that route, because consequences vary by contract and by state law.

How to sell a timeshare (and why it's harder than you think)

The honest answer: most timeshares, including Westgate weeks and points, resell for a small fraction of what the original owner paid, and many resell for nothing at all. There is no MLS-style national market with reliable pricing. If you want to try, use a licensed timeshare resale broker (check their state real estate license) or a peer-to-peer marketplace, and be realistic about price. Search "[Westgate resort name] resale" and look at completed listings, not asking prices, to gauge what buyers are actually paying. Many Westgate weeks list for $1 to a few thousand dollars on resale sites, sometimes with the seller still expected to cover closing costs and the first year's maintenance fee transfer. The Federal Trade Commission warns that timeshare resale itself is a common scam vector: "scammers pose as timeshare resellers and ask for money upfront to sell your timeshare, but then don't sell it" ^[3]. Never pay a large upfront fee to a company that cold-calls you claiming they have a "buyer waiting." Legitimate resale brokers typically earn a commission on closing, not a big fee before any sale happens. If a sale isn't realistic, some owners donate the timeshare to a charity or transfer the deed directly to a family member or another party willing to take on the maintenance fees. Both routes still require Westgate's cooperation on the transfer paperwork and, again, aren't guaranteed to be accepted.

How to get rid of a timeshare if you inherited it

Inheriting a Westgate timeshare doesn't obligate you to keep it, but it also doesn't disappear on its own. If you're named as the estate's personal representative, you generally have to deal with the timeshare as an estate asset, which usually means one of: formally disclaiming the inheritance before accepting any benefit from it, negotiating a deed-back with Westgate, or transferring/selling it like any other owned timeshare. A qualified disclaimer under federal tax law (Internal Revenue Code section 2518) lets an heir refuse an inheritance so it passes to the next beneficiary in line, but the disclaimer has to be made in writing within 9 months of the decedent's death and before you've accepted any benefit from the property ^[4]. If you've already paid a maintenance fee bill using estate or personal funds, that can count as acceptance and block a disclaimer, so this is a decision to make fast and with an estate attorney, not something to figure out a year later. If disclaiming isn't an option (deadline passed, or you already took some benefit), you're back to the same menu: try Westgate's deed-back program, sell, or transfer.

How much do timeshares cost, and how much is a Westgate timeshare?

Timeshare purchase price (industry average, 2023)	$24,140
Annual maintenance fee (industry average, 2023)	$1,170
Typical resale value of a used week (many resorts)	$0 to a few thousand dollars
Special assessment (when one hits)	Several hundred to several thousand dollars, one-time	Special assessments are the wildcard. These are one-time charges on top of your regular maintenance fee, usually levied after storm damage, a major renovation, or a budget shortfall, and Westgate resorts have issued them like most large resort systems have. There's no cap on these in most state statutes; the amount is set by the resort's board or management under the terms of the governing declaration.

Timeshare purchase prices and ongoing fees vary a lot by resort, unit size, and season, but there's real data on the averages. According to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trade group for the timeshare industry, the average price of a timeshare interval was $24,140 in 2023, and the average annual maintenance fee was $1,170. Westgate-specific purchase prices commonly run from the high teens into the $30,000-$40,000+ range for a deeded week or a points package, depending on resort and season, based on typical listed developer pricing at presentations; actual contract prices vary by location and unit and aren't centrally published, so treat any specific number you hear from a salesperson as negotiable, not fixed. Annual maintenance fees on Westgate properties commonly run from several hundred dollars to over $1,500 depending on unit size and resort, and like most of the industry, these fees tend to increase most years. Here's a rough industry comparison to set expectations: | Cost item | Typical range |

Are timeshares scams? What Westgate owners need to know

The timeshare product itself is legal in every US state and Westgate is a licensed, regulated developer, not an unlicensed operator. So no, owning a Westgate timeshare is not, by itself, a scam. Where the scam risk concentrates is in two places: the sales pitch, and the exit industry. On the sales side, state attorneys general have pursued timeshare companies for deceptive practices around pressure tactics and misrepresented investment value; the FTC's consumer guidance is blunt that a timeshare "is not an investment" and buyers shouldn't expect to sell it later for a profit ^[3]. On the exit side, the bigger risk to owners today comes from companies that promise, in some form or another, that they can get you out of your contract for a large upfront fee, collect the money, and then do little or nothing. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against timeshare exit and relief companies over exactly this pattern, alleging they took upfront fees and made false promises about their ability to get consumers out of contracts ^[5]. So the honest framing: Westgate as a company selling timeshares is a legitimate business you may regret dealing with. The scam layer sits mostly around it, in aggressive sales tactics and in the exit-relief industry that profits from your frustration. Treat both with the same skepticism.

How do you spot a timeshare exit scam before you pay anyone?

A few patterns show up over and over in state AG complaints and FTC actions, and they're worth memorizing before you sign anything or hand over a card number. Red flags: a company promises they will get you out of your contract, full stop, no exceptions; they ask for a large fee (often $2,000 to $10,000+) entirely upfront before doing any work; they contact you out of the blue claiming to already have a buyer or claiming Westgate is "in trouble" and you need to act now; they tell you to stop paying your maintenance fees or mortgage while they "handle it"; they pressure you to sign quickly, echoing the same urgency tactics used in the original timeshare sales pitch. The Florida Attorney General's consumer guidance on timeshare resales and exits warns owners to be wary of unsolicited offers and to verify any company's licensing and complaint history before paying anything ^[6]. Check a company's standing with your state attorney general's consumer complaint database and with the Better Business Bureau before you commit, and get any promises in writing, in the contract itself, not verbally from a salesperson. We'll say this plainly because it matters: nobody, including us, can legally promise you'll get out of a timeshare contract with certainty. Be suspicious of anyone who says they can.

What are the realistic paths to get out of a Westgate timeshare?

Lay out your actual options side by side, because most owners jump to the most expensive or riskiest one first out of frustration. 1. Rescission (if you're still in the window): fastest, free, and the strongest legal right you have. Send written cancellation by certified mail per your contract and your state's statute. 2. Developer deed-back or exit program: contact Westgate directly and ask what's currently available. Usually requires the timeshare be paid off, with fees current. May carry an administrative fee. 3. Resale or transfer: realistic only if you accept the unit may sell for very little or nothing, and you use a licensed broker, not a cold-caller. 4. Estate disclaimer (inherited only): available within 9 months of the decedent's death under IRC section 2518, before accepting any benefit ^[4]. 5. DIY documentation and negotiation: build your own paper trail, ownership documents, correspondence, and a clear ask, before you pay any third party to do this work for you. This is the gap our $149 one-time Timeshare Exit Kit is built to fill: a structured set of document templates and a process guide so you can pursue deed-back requests, records requests, and cancellation attempts yourself, instead of paying a $3,000-$8,000 exit company retainer for work you can largely do on your own. It's not a promise of any particular outcome, because nobody can honestly offer you one. 6. Do nothing (not recommended): unpaid fees typically lead to collections, credit reporting, and potentially foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which can also mean a deficiency judgment in some states. Talk to a real estate or consumer attorney before choosing this path, don't drift into it by accident.

Should you hire a timeshare exit company for your Westgate contract?

Sometimes, but with real caution and real research first. Not every exit company is a scam. Some law firms and legitimate consumer advocates do this work ethically, charging reasonable, often milestone-based fees and being upfront that no outcome is certain. Before hiring anyone, ask for their state bar number if they claim to be attorneys, ask how many Westgate-specific cases they've closed and get references you can actually call, ask for a fee structure that isn't 100% due upfront, and ask what happens (refund policy) if they don't get results. If the answers are vague or the salesperson gets pushy about signing today, walk away. Compare this against what you could do yourself first: request Westgate's current deed-back terms directly, document your ownership and payment history, and try a low-cost resale route before paying a company thousands of dollars for a general strategy. For a broader breakdown of what legitimate exit companies do differently from scam operations, see timeshare exit companies.

Maintenance fees are rising, should that change your exit strategy?

Rising maintenance fees are the single biggest driver of owners wanting out, and they're not slowing down. The ARDA-reported average annual maintenance fee crossed $1,000 industry-wide by the early 2020s and sits around $1,170 as of 2023 data, with individual resorts, including many Westgate properties, running higher for larger units. If your fee has jumped because of a special assessment, that's usually a one-time hit tied to a specific repair or event, not a permanent new baseline, though it can still run into the thousands. Ask Westgate for the specific reason behind any assessment and the vote or board authorization behind it; declarations usually require some form of notice or disclosure process for special assessments, and that paperwork is worth requesting and keeping. Rising fees alone don't create a legal right to exit; you still owe what the contract says you owe, and you still need one of the exit paths above (deed-back, resale, or contract negotiation) to actually stop owing it going forward. Don't stop paying out of frustration while you're mid-negotiation; unpaid fees can undermine a deed-back request and add collections costs on top of what you already owe.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get out of a timeshare I signed with Westgate last week?

Check your contract and your state's rescission statute immediately; most states give buyers a short window (Florida requires 10 calendar days under Florida Statutes 721.10) to cancel for any reason. Send written cancellation by certified mail exactly as your contract instructs, keep the receipt, and don't wait, because the clock runs from the signing date, not from when you get home.

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

After rescission, your realistic options are a developer deed-back program (if you own it outright), a resale through a licensed broker, a deed transfer to another party, or in rare cases letting the resort foreclose, which has real credit and legal consequences. There's no shortcut at this stage; each path depends on Westgate's cooperation or finding a willing buyer.

How much do timeshares cost on average?

ARDA reported the average timeshare purchase price was $24,140 in 2023, with average annual maintenance fees of $1,170. Actual Westgate prices vary widely by resort and unit size, and resale value is typically far lower than the original purchase price, often just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, sometimes nothing.

Are timeshares a scam?

The product itself is legal and Westgate is a licensed developer, not a scam operation. The risk concentrates in high-pressure sales tactics and in the exit-relief industry, where the FTC has sued companies for taking large upfront fees and promising results they couldn't deliver.

How do I sell my Westgate timeshare?

Use a licensed resale broker or a reputable peer-to-peer marketplace and price it based on completed sales, not asking prices; many timeshares resell for very little. Avoid any company that cold-calls claiming a buyer is waiting and asks for a large fee upfront, a pattern the FTC specifically warns about.

Can I just stop paying my Westgate maintenance fees to force an exit?

This isn't something to do without talking to an attorney first. Stopping payment typically leads to collections, credit damage, and potentially foreclosure on the timeshare interest, plus possible deficiency judgments depending on your state. It's not a recognized or reliable exit strategy.

Does Westgate have a deed-back program?

Westgate has offered voluntary deed-back or exit programs in the past for owners who are current on payments and own their interval free of any loan, but availability and terms change. Contact Westgate directly to ask what's currently offered and whether your account qualifies.

What happens if I inherit a Westgate timeshare I don't want?

You can potentially disclaim the inheritance under Internal Revenue Code section 2518 if you do it in writing within 9 months of the decedent's death and before accepting any benefit from the property. If that window has passed, you're a normal owner and face the same deed-back, resale, or transfer options as anyone else.

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

Watch for promises that sound absolute, large fees required entirely upfront, unsolicited contact claiming urgency, and instructions to stop paying your fees or mortgage. Check the company against your state attorney general's complaint database and the Better Business Bureau before paying anything.

Is it worth hiring a lawyer to get out of a Westgate timeshare?

It can be worth it for complex situations, like inherited timeshares with disclaimer deadlines, disputed contracts, or active collections, but confirm bar licensing and get a clear, non-absolute fee structure in writing first. For a straightforward deed-back attempt, many owners can try the developer's own program before paying for legal help.

How much does a timeshare exit company typically charge?

Exit companies commonly charge anywhere from roughly $2,000 to $10,000 or more, frequently demanded upfront, according to patterns described in FTC enforcement actions against timeshare relief companies. Always ask for a fee structure tied to milestones or results rather than 100% due before any work begins.

What's the difference between rescission and a deed-back?

Rescission is a short legal window, set by state statute, in which you cancel a brand-new contract for any reason and get your money back; it only applies right after signing. A deed-back is a separate, voluntary program some developers, including sometimes Westgate, offer later to take back a paid-off timeshare, usually with no refund and possibly an administrative fee.

Sources

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, timeshare guidance: Timeshares are contracts for a right to use property for a set period and can be difficult to exit
2. Florida Statutes section 721.10: Florida gives timeshare buyers 10 calendar days to cancel via certified mail
3. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: Timeshares: Timeshare resale scammers ask for upfront fees and don't sell the timeshare; timeshares are not an investment
4. 26 U.S.C. section 2518, Internal Revenue Code, disclaimers: A qualified disclaimer must be made in writing within 9 months of death and before accepting benefit
5. Federal Trade Commission, FTC v. Timeshare Exit Team, case press release: FTC has sued timeshare exit and relief companies over upfront fees and false cancellation promises
6. Florida Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Alert on timeshare resale scams: Florida AG guidance warns owners to verify licensing and complaint history before paying timeshare exit or resale companies