Travel writer Terry Ward has written an excellent article for the Travel Channel. She writes about the way timesharing has changed in recent years and explains a lot about why buying time-shares makes such good vacation sense.

In the article (titled, “Vacation Time-Shares, See More Places, Save More Money,”) Ward says, “Your benefit as a buyer comes not in the property’s appreciating value over time, but in the fact that every year, for a rate that’s fixed when you buy in, you are guaranteed a week or more of vacation time in pretty much your choice of destinations.”

As one of her sources, the writer quotes Kim Kavin, author of The Everything Family Guide to Timeshare, a timeshare book that is especially helpful to new and prospective timeshare buyers. Kavin says, “When you buy a time-share unit, you are essentially buying a financial hedge against vacation inflation, or the rising cost of hotel rooms.”

But Ward wisely doesn’t limit her focus to the purchase of new timeshares only. Instead, she directs much of her article to looking at timeshare resales, and for that information, she turned to Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Buying Timeshares Can be Smart; Buying Resales Timeshares Can be Brilliant

The article advises timeshare buyers that they should understand that buying timeshare can come with “hidden costs.” Ward describes such costs in this way, “Be aware that in addition to the initial outlay of cash to purchase your time-share, you’ll also be responsible for annual maintenance fees ranging from roughly $200 to $600. Other hidden costs can include one-time fees for capital improvements, exchange company fees incurred when you exchange your week for another week, and conversion fees should you choose to convert your week into points for a cruise, airline miles and the like. For time-share owners who opt to finance their purchase, mortgage interest payments can also come into play.”

At Sell My Timeshare NOW, we like to think that such costs are never hidden; that we help timeshare buyers clearly understand what they are purchasing when they buy timeshare resales, so that expenses such as maintenance fees, or possible bills for capital improvements never catch them by surprise.

The Travel Channel article offers helpful information about timeshares and timeshare resales. Follow this link to read the full article, “Vacation Time-Shares, See More Places, Save More Money.” And for answers to all your questions about how to buy, rent, or sell timeshare, call the timeshare resales and timeshare rental specialists at Sell My Timeshare NOW. 877-815-4227, or internationally +1-603-516-0200.

You don’t have to do much reading, talking, or thinking about buying timeshare before the question inevitably comes up, “Is timeshare an investment property?”

According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, the word ‘investment’ in its true sense refers strictly to matters of money. And it is a very rare thing for a timeshare to increase in value above the price you paid to purchase it – especially if you purchase it as new property.

Yet, in everyday use, we often speak of investing our time, our talents, or our emotions, into something that does not yield a financial return, but does benefit us in other ways. And in this regard, timeshares and timeshare resales definitely can be beneficial and rewarding in our lives.

What Drives Up the Cost of New Timeshares

If you have ever been to a developer’s traditional timeshare sales presentation, or have talked to others who have, then you already know how that game is played. You agree to listen to what the timeshare sales representative or representatives have to say; perhaps you tour a timeshare property and you see a video presentation about the timeshare resort. In return for your time, you are rewarded with a perk. Depending upon how long the timeshare presentation is and/or the size of the timeshare sales company with which you are dealing, your ‘reward’ can be anything from a free lunch to several days comped (or discounted) at a timeshare resort.

Imagine what a new pair of shoes would cost if every time someone went in the store and tried on a pair, that person received a gift. Think about how pricey a new home would be if every interested home buyer or looker was given free tickets to Disney just for stopping by to tour the house.

The business model used in the sale of new timeshare is certainly unique, and apparently works, because timeshare sales have increased consistently, year-in-year out. But clearly, the cost of all the free gifts that are given to the people who never buy timeshare is built into the sales price of new timeshare, and is borne by those people who do buy timeshare. It is very hard for timeshare property to appreciate when it carries with it such high front-end marketing costs.

But Buying Timeshare Can Still Be the Smartest Move You Ever Made

Okay, so you probably won’t ‘make’ money on the purchase of a timeshare you buy from a developer. But that doesn’t mean you can’t truly benefit from buying timeshare. Timeshare locks-in the cost of your vacation accommodations for as long as you own your timeshare, whether that is years, decades, or a lifetime. Certainly, in that way, buying timeshare is a valid hedge against vacation inflation.

Absolutely nothing makes vacation planning easier than owning timeshare. In today’s busy world, where husband and wife are both dealing with the demands of jobs and family, it is often the case that no one has time to hunt out a vacation deal or shop for the right hotel accommodations. Owning timeshare eliminates this problem entirely. Mark the days on your calendar, book a flight or gas up the car, and start your vacation. Timeshare ownership eliminates vacation planning hassle, and lets you and your family relax and enjoy … which is what a vacation should be all about.

I guess the bottom line is that some investments, don’t come wrapped in dollar signs, and timeshare is one of them. But don’t shortchange the idea of owning timeshare by overlooking all the value they can bring to your quality of life. Click on the video below to hear some additional thoughts about the benefits and realities of owning timeshare.

By the way, if you are ever attending a timeshare sales presentation, and someone tries to tell you what a good investment timeshares are, you should exit, immediately. That’s a major red flag that you are dealing with someone who will tell you anything (even a lie) in order to sell timeshare.