Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
A timeshare itself often costs $10,000 to $25,000 upfront, but the real expense is the annual maintenance fee, which averaged $1,205 in 2023 and keeps rising faster than inflation. Add special assessments, exchange fees, and closing costs, and total lifetime cost easily runs into six figures for a single week.
How much does a timeshare cost to buy?
Sticker prices vary a lot by brand, location, and whether you buy resale or straight from a developer. ARDA, the timeshare industry's own trade group, put the average purchase price at roughly $23,940 in its 2023 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry report [1]. Developer-direct deeded weeks at big-name resorts in Florida, Hawaii, or Mexico can run $20,000 to $40,000 or more for a one-bedroom, high-season unit. Points-based systems (Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Wyndham) price by the number of points you buy, and sales reps love to bundle in "bonus points" that make comparison shopping hard on purpose. Resale is a different world almost entirely. Because there's essentially no functioning resale market with real demand, weeks that sold for $20,000 new frequently list for $1 to $3,000 on sites like the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association or eBay. Some owners give them away for free just to stop paying maintenance fees. That gap between what developers charge and what the same week is worth two years later is the single biggest tell that a timeshare is not an investment. It's prepaid vacation lodging with a very illiquid resale market bolted on. If you're weighing whether buying resale instead of new is worth it, the honest answer is: only if you'd use the same unit-week anyway and you go in accepting you may never resell it either.
How much do timeshares cost per year in maintenance fees?
This is the number that actually breaks budgets. ARDA's 2023 industry report puts the average annual maintenance fee at $1,205 per interval [1]. That's up from roughly $1,000 just a few years earlier, and fees have consistently outpaced general inflation for over a decade according to ARDA's own historical fee data [1]. The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, tracked monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, rose about 3.4% for the 12 months ending in December 2023 [2]. Maintenance fees typically increase 3% to 5% a year in normal years, but special assessments (one-time charges for a new roof, storm damage, or a lawsuit settlement) can add hundreds or thousands more with little warning. Owners in Gulf Coast and Caribbean properties have reported hurricane-related special assessments of $1,500 to $3,000 on top of a normal annual fee, though exact figures vary by resort and aren't tracked in any single public database, so treat that as a directional range, not a guarantee. Multiply a mid-range $1,205 annual fee across a typical 20 to 30 year ownership horizon (with fees rising each year, not staying flat) and you're looking at $40,000 to $70,000 in fees alone, on top of the original purchase price. That math is why so many owners, especially those who inherited a deed they never wanted, start looking for an exit.
Are timeshares scams?
Not automatically, but the sales process is aggressive enough that state consumer protection offices field steady complaint volume about it. The core product, a right to use a unit for a set week or points allotment, is a legal, fully disclosed contract. Where things go wrong is usually one of two places: high-pressure sales presentations that omit or downplay resale value and fee increases, and a secondary layer of exit and resale scams that target owners after the fact. The Florida Attorney General's office has published a consumer alert specifically warning owners about timeshare resale scams, noting that scammers "often claim to have a buyer already lined up and ask for money upfront" before doing any work [3]. Common red flags: a caller claims to have a "buyer already lined up," asks for money wired or paid by gift card, or pressures you to sign something the same day. Legitimate timeshare cancellation and resale work almost never requires you to pay a large fee before any service is delivered. So the honest answer: the ownership itself is usually a bad deal financially, not a scam in the legal sense. The exit and resale industry around it, though, has a real and well-documented scam problem, and that's where owners lose the most money a second time.
How do you get out of a timeshare?
There are basically four legitimate paths, in order of how fast and cheap they are: rescission, deed-back, resale, and negotiated exit through an attorney or reputable exit firm. There is no fifth path where you simply stop paying and walk away clean; unpaid maintenance fees can go to collections and, depending on the state and contract, affect your credit. If you're still inside your rescission window (the short period right after signing when state law lets you cancel for any reason), that's always your fastest and cheapest option. Florida law, for example, gives buyers a 10-day cancellation period under section 721.10 of the Florida Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act, running from the day the contract is signed or the day you receive the last document required to be delivered, whichever is later. The statute states that the buyer "has the right to cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following the execution of the contract" or receipt of the required documents, whichever is later [4]. Every state sets its own rescission period, ranging from as short as 3 days to as long as 15 days depending on the state, so confirm your state's rescission window before assuming you're covered. Miss that window, and you move to slower options: asking the resort about a deed-back or "deed-in-lieu" program (some developers, including Marriott Vacation Club and Diamond Resorts legacy properties, run formal takeback programs for owners current on fees), listing for resale, or hiring a licensed attorney to negotiate an exit. For a full walkthrough of the process end to end, see how to get out of a timeshare and the state-by-state breakdown in timeshare cancellation.
How to sell a timeshare (and what it actually costs)
Selling is legal and sometimes works, but go in with realistic expectations about price and speed. Expect to net a small fraction of the original purchase price, often 5% to 15% of what you paid, and expect the process to take months, not days. List through a licensed reseller (check the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association member directory) rather than a company that cold-calls you promising a fast sale for an upfront fee. Costs to budget for if you sell: a closing/transfer fee (often $200 to $500, paid to the resort or a title company to process the deed change), any past-due maintenance fees the buyer will require you to clear first, and, if you use a broker, a commission taken from the sale price (commonly 20% to 35%, since sale prices are already low). Some owners choose to give the timeshare away for $1 or list it free just to transfer the fee obligation off their name, which is a legitimate strategy when the maintenance fee burden outweighs any resale value. Before you pay anyone for a "marketing package" or "buyer's fee" up front, cross-reference the company against your state attorney general's consumer protection division. Florida, home to a huge share of the industry, publishes timeshare-specific consumer alerts through its Attorney General's office warning against advance-fee resale schemes [3].
How to get rid of a timeshare when nobody will buy it
When resale value is effectively zero, which is common, your realistic options narrow to three: deed-back to the resort, a negotiated release, or continuing to pay and using it. There's no legal mechanism to force a resort to take a deed back against its will in most states, so a deed-back only works if the resort offers or agrees to one. Start by asking the resort directly whether it has a deed-back, "exit," or "surrender" program. Some developers created these programs specifically to reduce the flood of unwanted inherited or aging-owner units clogging resale markets; Marriott Vacation Club's program and similar offerings from other major brands typically require you to be current on maintenance fees and sometimes charge an administrative fee to process the surrender. If the resort has no such program, a licensed real estate attorney familiar with timeshare law in that state can sometimes negotiate a release directly with the developer, particularly for older, low-value weeks the resort would rather reclaim than chase for fees. For inherited timeshares specifically: you are generally not obligated to accept an inheritance that includes a timeshare. Disclaiming an inheritance (a formal legal process, more than ignoring mail) can keep the debt and deed from ever transferring to you, but the rules and deadlines for disclaiming an inheritance are state-specific and time-sensitive under laws like the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act, adopted in various forms by many states, so this needs a probate or estate attorney, not a general internet answer [5]. See the deed-back programs hub for details on which resort brands run formal surrender programs.
What does using a timeshare exit company actually cost?
Exit companies typically charge flat fees ranging from roughly $2,000 to $8,000 or more, often collected upfront or in installments, in exchange for handling negotiation, paperwork, or litigation against the resort on your behalf. Some structure payments in escrow, releasing funds only after a step is completed. That structure is safer than pure upfront payment, but it doesn't guarantee an outcome. This is the part of the industry where scams cluster, and state attorneys general have sued repeatedly over it. The Federal Trade Commission has also brought enforcement action in this space; in FTC v. Vacation Consulting Services, the agency alleged a timeshare exit company took upfront fees from consumers without providing the promised cancellation services, and a federal court entered a settlement order requiring the defendants to stop the practice . Verify any company's business history, check for complaints with your state attorney general and the Better Business Bureau, and be deeply skeptical of guarantees. No legitimate company can promise or guarantee it will get your specific contract cancelled, because timeshare developers, not exit companies, control cancellation. Anyone who guarantees an outcome before reviewing your contract is a red flag, full stop. Before paying anyone, ask for the total fee in writing, ask what happens if the process fails, and ask for references you can actually call. Compare options at timeshare exit companies and cross-check any company against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database.
How does a rescission-window cancellation compare in cost to other exits?
| Rescission (inside window) | $0 (cost of certified mail) | Days to weeks | Buyer's remorse right after signing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deed-back / surrender program | $0 to ~$500 admin fee | 1 to 6 months | Owners current on fees, resort offers a program | |
| Resale (licensed broker) | 20-35% commission + $200-500 closing fee | 3 months to 2+ years | Weeks with any real resale demand | |
| Give away / "we'll pay you $1" | $0 to a few hundred in closing costs | 1 to 6 months | Low or zero resale value units | |
| Exit company / attorney | $2,000 to $8,000+ | 6 months to 2+ years | Stuck ownership, no deed-back offered, willing to pay for help | |
| Do nothing, stop paying | Not recommended | N/A | Risk of collections, credit damage, possible lawsuit | If you're inside your rescission period right now, stop reading exit-company ads and send your cancellation letter today, by certified mail with return receipt, following your contract's instructions exactly. That single letter, sent on time, is worth more than anything you'd pay a company for later. |
This is the cheapest and cleanest option by a wide margin, when it's available. Rescission costs you nothing beyond time and a certified letter; every other path costs money, takes months, or both. | Exit method | Typical cost | Typical timeline | Best for |
How much does an owner spend over the life of a timeshare?
Add it up and the number is bigger than most owners expect at the point of sale. A rough model: $20,000 purchase price, plus a starting $1,205 annual maintenance fee rising 4% a year, over 20 years, comes to roughly $35,700 in fees alone (before any special assessments), for a total north of $55,000 for one week of annual lodging. That's before exchange fees if you use RCI or Interval International to trade your week (commonly $150 to $250 per exchange), and before any special assessment years. Compare that to simply renting a comparable unit for a week each year at market rate, and the math rarely favors ownership, especially once you account for the illiquidity of resale. This isn't a moral judgment on people who enjoy their timeshare and use it every year; plenty of owners get real vacation value from it. It's a math problem for the owner who bought once, used it twice, and has paid rising fees on autopilot for a decade since. ExitHonest built a $149 one-time Timeshare Exit Kit specifically for owners who want a structured, DIY starting point (contract review checklist, letter templates, state-specific rescission and deed-back research) before paying a $2,000-plus exit company. It's not a law firm and it doesn't contact the resort for you, but for owners who want to try the paperwork themselves first, it's a fraction of the cost of the alternative.
What should you never do when trying to reduce timeshare costs?
Never stop paying assessed maintenance fees you legally owe as a strategy to force an exit. Unpaid fees can go to a collections agency, and depending on your state and contract terms, can affect your credit report or lead to a lien or foreclosure-style action on the interest. If the cost has become unmanageable, talk to the resort about a deed-back or hardship program, or consult an attorney, rather than simply ignoring bills. Never pay a large upfront fee to a company that cold-called you claiming to have a buyer lined up. Florida's Attorney General, among other state regulators, has warned residents about this exact pattern in its published timeshare resale consumer alert [3]. Ask for a state license number, check the Better Business Bureau, and check your state AG's consumer complaint search before paying anyone. Never assume a company can guarantee cancellation. No legitimate business can promise that outcome, because the resort or developer, not the exit company, ultimately controls the deed.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a timeshare on average?
ARDA's 2023 industry report puts the average purchase price at roughly $23,940, with average annual maintenance fees at $1,205 per interval [1]. Actual prices range from a few thousand dollars for resale units to $40,000 or more for developer-direct weeks at premium resorts, so treat any single average as a rough guide, not your specific quote.
How much do timeshares cost in maintenance fees each year?
The 2023 industry average was $1,205 per interval according to ARDA [1], and fees commonly rise 3% to 5% a year, outpacing the roughly 3.4% general inflation rate the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported for the 12 months ending December 2023 [4]. Special assessments for repairs or storm damage can add hundreds or thousands more in a single year, on top of the regular annual fee.
Are timeshares scams?
The ownership contract itself is legal and disclosed, so it's not a scam in the legal sense, though sales tactics are often aggressive. The bigger scam risk is in the resale and exit industry that targets existing owners; the Florida Attorney General's office has published a consumer alert on this exact upfront-fee resale scam pattern [3].
How do you get out of a timeshare?
Four real paths exist: rescind during your state's cancellation window if you just bought, ask the resort about a deed-back program, sell or give it away through a licensed reseller, or hire an attorney or exit company to negotiate a release. There's no way to force an exit by simply refusing to pay; that risks collections and credit damage instead.
How do I sell my timeshare?
List through a licensed reseller such as one found via the Licensed Timeshare Resale Brokers Association, expect to net only 5% to 15% of your original purchase price, and budget for a $200 to $500 closing fee plus any broker commission. Avoid any company demanding a large fee upfront before finding a buyer; that's the single most common timeshare scam pattern regulators warn about.
How do I get rid of a timeshare nobody wants to buy?
Ask the resort directly whether it runs a deed-back or surrender program; several major brands do, usually requiring you to be current on fees. If no program exists, some owners give the unit away for $1 through a licensed transfer, or consult an attorney about a negotiated release, especially for older, low-value weeks.
What is a timeshare rescission period and how much does it cost?
Rescission is the short window after signing when state law lets you cancel for any reason at essentially no cost beyond sending a certified letter. Florida gives buyers 10 days under Florida Statutes section 721.10 [5]; every state sets its own length, so confirm yours in your contract and with your state attorney general's consumer protection page before assuming you still qualify.
How much does a timeshare exit company charge?
Typical flat fees range from about $2,000 to $8,000 or more, sometimes held in escrow and released as work is completed. No legitimate company can guarantee your specific cancellation, since the resort or developer controls the deed, so treat any guarantee as a red flag. The FTC has sued exit companies for taking fees without delivering promised results [8].
Can I just stop paying my timeshare maintenance fees?
This isn't recommended. Unpaid fees can be sent to collections and, depending on your state and contract, can hurt your credit or trigger a lien on the interest. If costs are unmanageable, contact the resort about a hardship or deed-back option, or speak with an attorney, rather than going silent on payments.
What happens if I inherit a timeshare I don't want?
You're generally not required to accept it; a formal legal process called disclaiming an inheritance, addressed in state laws such as the Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act, can prevent the deed and its debts from transferring to you, but deadlines and rules are state-specific [7]. Talk to a probate or estate attorney promptly, since disclaiming usually has a limited time window after the death.
How much does the average timeshare cost over its lifetime?
A rough model using a $20,000 purchase price and a $1,205 starting maintenance fee rising 4% annually over 20 years totals over $55,000, before special assessments or exchange fees. That's the real number to weigh against resale value, which is often just a few thousand dollars or less.
Are timeshare exit companies legitimate or scams?
Some are legitimate businesses using escrow-based payment and attorney-led negotiation; others are outright scams charging large upfront fees with no real service behind them. The FTC has taken legal action against exit companies for exactly this conduct [8]. Check any company against your state attorney general's complaint database and the Better Business Bureau before paying anything.
What's the difference between a timeshare deed-back and selling it?
A deed-back returns the ownership directly to the resort or developer, usually at no sale price but sometimes a small admin fee, and only works if the resort offers or agrees to it. Selling transfers ownership to another buyer through the resale market, which can net a small amount of money but typically takes much longer and may cost broker commissions.
Sources
- ARDA, State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry 2023: Average timeshare purchase price and average annual maintenance fee figures
- Florida Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Alert on Timeshare Resale Scams: State attorney general consumer alert warning about advance-fee timeshare resale and exit scams
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index News Release, January 2024: 2023 annual inflation rate for comparison against timeshare fee growth
- Florida Statutes, Section 721.10, Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act: Florida's statutory 10-day rescission period for timeshare purchase contracts
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Complaint Database: Public database of consumer complaints including timeshare-related debt collection and financing issues
- Uniform Law Commission, Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act (1999): Legal basis for disclaiming an inherited interest, including inherited timeshares, under state-adopted uniform law
- Federal Trade Commission v. Vacation Consulting Services, LLC (FTC settlement): FTC enforcement action against a timeshare exit company for taking upfront fees without delivering promised cancellation services