Timeshare investments can be risky

Timeshares are typically resort condominium units that multiple parties have the right to use, generally by the week, and are an alternative for people who don't want to rent and can't afford to own a vacation home or condo outright. The timeshare system also allows owners to trade weeks at a property with timeshare owners elsewhere. And while there are laws protecting buyers who purchase a timeshare from a developer, they don't help someone buying from an owner. People interested in buying a timeshare should think carefully before buying into a property, according to Lisa Ann Schreier, author of Timeshare Vacations for Dummies. The average cost of a two-bedroom timeshare is $18,000, plus about $500 a year in maintenance fees, according to Howard Nusbaum, president of the American Resort Development Association. Prospective buyers might think that purchasing from a timeshare owner could seem like a steal, but Nusbaum warns, buyer beware. read more

[Tags]timeshare, nusbaum, buying, important, owners, resort, timeshare[/Tags]