At the end of October, a new state law, S-1321, The New Jersey Real Estate Timeshare Act, will come into effect, placing rigorous demands on companies that sell new timeshares. The intent is to “ensure that the sale process is transparent and buyers are better protected,” according to the October 11, 2006 edition of www.northjersey.com.

New Jersey’s new law will place regulatory authority for timeshares appropriately in the hands of the New Jersey Real Estate Commission, rather than splitting it with the Department of Community Affairs. The new law will require timeshare companies to adhere to tougher escrow controls. It also mandates that developers prepare and publish a public offering statement providing detailed information about the responsibilities and rights of timeshare ownership.

The new law, which was signed by Governor Jon Corzine on August 2, will cover all timeshares sold by a company located within the state of New Jersey, whether or not the property itself is a New Jersey timeshare.

This is an excellent step forward for those buying timeshares directly from resorts or developers. But remember, there are more cost-effective, easier ways…

At SellMyTimeshareNOW.com, we have built transparency into our daily business. When it comes to the selling or reselling of timeshares, there is only one acceptable way to run a business: put all your cards on the table and invite consumers to scrutinize your methods. We do it every day at SellMyTimeshareNOW.com. Check out our website, talk with our sales reps, and see for yourself how we do business.

You’ve Heard of Emmy and Oscar, But Do You Know About “Stevie”?

American Business Awards has recognized Marriott Vacation Club (Marriott timeshare) as the Best Sales Organization for 2006. Marriott Vacation Club International has 10,000 plus employees and 57 resorts around the globe. This is the second time the Orlando-based timeshare company has received the honor, which is marked by the award of the “Stevie” statue.

In case you are not on a first name basis with Steve, earning a Stevie means gaining industry recognition along with a silver or bronze statuette designed by the same people who created the movie industry’s Oscar and the advertising industry’s Clio.

There were more than 1500 nominations in over 40 categories among this year’s nominees. Congratulations Marriott!

Celebrity Resorts Timeshares in Palm Coast has one cat too many.

How many cats are too many? At the Celebrity Resorts Timeshares in Palm Coast, Florida, just north of Daytona Beach, 38 cats are definitely too many—even if that is 70 fewer cats than there were a year ago.

A colony of wild cats has apparently decided that they want to try timesharing in the resort community and who can blame them? The timeshare resort sits on the edge of the Intracoastal Waterway, with an 80-slip marina and outstanding golf and tennis nearby. Understandably, the management at the resort would like the feral cats to leave, eliminating the possibility that one of the animals might scratch or bite a guest.

Local animal activists regularly feed the cats on the resort’s private property. Over the past year, the volunteers have managed to catch many of the animals and transport them to a local clinic to be spayed or neutered and to administer rabies shots. Even better, the group has found homes for some 70 felines, cutting the size of the colony by more than half. Yet many of the cats are simply too wild to catch.

The management at Celebrity Resorts wants the activist group to stop feeding the cats and relocate them, otherwise they will have no choice but to contact the Flagler Humane Society to remove the animals.

Florida’s temperate climate makes it a haven for feral cat colonies and some experts estimate there could be as many as 10 million wild cats across the state.

And bring a calculator.

Attending a timeshare presentation is a great way to check out a resort you’re interested in, whether you buy directly from the resort or buy from a reseller.

Many buyers of timeshare resales go to timeshare presentations on a fact-finding mission. In addition to touring the resort property and getting answers to timeshare questions, sitting through a timeshare presentation often means free or discounted vacation time at the resort—a real chance to try before you buy.

But if there is any possibility that you might make a decision to buy while attending such a timeshare pitch, here’s the best piece of advice you’ll ever receive: take your calculator. Most people need to see numbers in front of them, not just hear them, in order to understand the terms of the deal. Just as importantly, timeshare sales people are human—they make mathematical mistakes, just like everyone else does.

Always have a calculator handy so that you can check the math of the salesperson quoting your deal. It’s also a good idea to use that calculator to compare how much you can save if you buy your timeshare as a resale, instead of purchasing it as a new development property.