{"id":24409,"date":"2026-04-25T07:26:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T07:26:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24409"},"modified":"2026-04-25T07:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T07:26:30","slug":"how-to-get-rid-of-a-timeshare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/incredipros.com\/?p=24409","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Rid of a Timeshare"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You signed up for a timeshare. The pitch made it seem like the deal of a lifetime. But now you\u2019re feeling trapped. You\u2019re realizing that lump payment plus<\/em> the growing annual maintenance fees plus<\/em> the cost of traveling to your little slice of paradise isn\u2019t really very paradise-like after all. What now?\n <\/p>\n

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Well, if you\u2019re wondering how to get rid of a timeshare, know this: It can be tricky, but it isn\u2019t impossible. Check out these four great options (and three to avoid).\n <\/p>\n

1. Use the Rescission Period<\/h2>\n

If you recently purchased that timeshare, you might be able to get out using the rescission period. What\u2019s that? The rescission period is a window of time when you can cancel your timeshare ownership. A\u00a0short<\/em>\u00a0window of time.\n <\/p>\n

Each state decides how long its rescission period is. It ranges from three days (the Federal Trade Commission\u2019s minimum requirement) in states like Kansas and Ohio to 15 days in Alaska.1<\/sup> Yep, they\u2019ve got the northern lights and<\/em> the longest rescission period!\n <\/p>\n

Rescission Laws<\/h3>\n

Rescission laws are based on where your timeshare is located\u2014not\u00a0<\/em>where you live\u2014so make sure you look up the laws in the correct state. And if you bought a timeshare outside the U.S., you\u2019ll need to research that country\u2019s laws.\n <\/p>\n

The rescission period may start on the day you buy the timeshare\u2014but it may be based on other factors, like when you receive the public offering statement. (That\u2019s a list of general information about the timeshare, also called a \u201ctimeshare disclosure\u201d or a \u201cdisclosure statement.\u201d)\n <\/p>\n

And of course, find out when that rescission period\u00a0ends<\/em>\u00a0too.\u00a0<\/em>Some states disqualify you if you have the public offering statement for too long before you purchase the timeshare. Other states are willing to give you extra time if you meet certain requirements.\n <\/p>\n

Okay, you\u2019ve got some work to do: Review your timeshare documents and compare your rescission period to the timeshare laws in the state or country of your timeshare to know if you still qualify. And remember, the rescission period is brief. So be quicker than Usain Bolt.\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Timeshare Cancellation Letters<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re still in the rescission period, great! Now all you need to do is cancel that pesky timeshare purchase.\n <\/p>\n

To do this, you\u2019ll need to\u00a0write a timeshare cancellation letter\u00a0that tells the resort it\u2019s over and mail it to their cancellation address. But since these resorts are sneaky and underhanded, a lot of them hide that address in tiny fine print or leave it out altogether. (They\u2019ll do\u00a0anything<\/em>\u00a0to avoid cancellations that cost them money.)\n <\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t find the address, ask the resort for it. Don\u2019t take no for an answer\u2014you\u2019re legally entitled to this information! Some states actually won\u2019t start your rescission period until you receive the cancellation address and instructions. Make sure you know all the nitty-gritty deadline details.\n <\/p>\n

When you mail the letter, use a service like USPS certified mail. Then the resort has to sign for it and prove they actually got it. (Otherwise, they might pretend they never got notice. So. Shady.) Keep extra copies handy too so you can send as many as it takes!\n <\/p>\n

One more thing: Some resorts try to charge \u201ccancellation penalties\u201d and other fees. But there are actually laws about whether sellers can do this. They usually can\u2019t, so watch them like a hawk staring down its lunch. Not only are they breaking the law\u2014they\u2019re trying to\u00a0rob<\/em>\u00a0you. Don\u2019t let them!\n <\/p>\n

2. Ask the Resort to Take It Back<\/h2>\n

If you missed the rescission period, there are still ways to get out of your timeshare. Some are surprisingly simple, like a timeshare deed-back. This is a legal, low-cost way to give the property back to the resort.\n <\/p>\n

Look through your timeshare\u2019s paperwork to see if this is an option for you.\n <\/p>\n

Just be careful! Sometimes when you call, the resort sees it as an opportunity to upgrade your timeshare. You do\u00a0not<\/em>\u00a0want to walk away with an additional contract chaining you down. You\u2019re trying to break free!\n <\/p>\n

3. Sell Your Timeshare<\/h2>\n

Okay, so you missed the rescission period\u00a0and<\/em>\u00a0the resort won\u2019t take back your timeshare. Now what?\n <\/p>\n

Sell it to someone else!\n <\/p>\n

Prepare to Sell<\/h3>\n

The first step is seeing if you\u00a0can<\/em>\u00a0sell your timeshare. If you still have a loan on it, your timeshare will be listed as \u201cencumbered.\u201d Unfortunately, there\u2019s\u00a0really\u00a0no going forward with a sale until the loan\u2019s paid off.\n <\/p>\n

If your timeshare is eligible to sell, find out what it\u2019s worth. Look online for timeshare resale sites or general listing sites like eBay and Craigslist. Try to find the final sale prices for timeshares similar to yours (not just the amount they\u2019re listed for).\n <\/p>\n

Unless it\u2019s in a hot location (think Disney World), your timeshare may not be worth a lot. That\u2019s okay! In that case, your goal isn\u2019t to recoup expenses you\u2019ve already paid\u2014it\u2019s to avoid future costs. This thing is going to drain your money for\u00a0years\u00a0<\/em>if you stick with it. Right now, the average\u00a0timeshare maintenance fee\u00a0is $1,120 a year, but that number grows annually.2<\/sup> It went up 2% from 2017 to 2018 and then 12% from 2018 to 2021.3,4<\/sup>\n <\/p>\n

And all this is for a piece of property you don\u2019t actually own. It isn\u2019t your pie. You just get a slice . . . that goes down in value yet gets more expensive as time goes on. \u00a0Cut your losses and get out now!\n <\/p>\n

List Your Timeshare<\/h3>\n

You can list your timeshare for sale online\u2014but choose a website with no up-front fees so you don\u2019t get hoodwinked by companies charging an arm and a leg to post on their \u201cexclusive\u201d website.\n <\/p>\n

You can also talk to whoever has the same timeshare property the week before or after yours. They may want to purchase your contract so they can extend their vacation options.\n <\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know them personally, you may be able to get an owners\u2019 directory from the resort. Or contact the county courthouse where the timeshare is located and request a copy of the deed. No need to feel creepy\u2014it\u2019s a public record. \u00a0\n <\/p>\n

4. Use an Attorney<\/h2>\n

Like we said earlier, getting out of your timeshare isn\u2019t easy. You might want to call in a professional to help\u2014especially if you\u2019ve taken timeshare \u201cupgrade\u201d offers (even if all you did was change your vacation week). Those upgrades are normally considered new contracts, which means you\u2019ve got more than one<\/em> contract you need to get out of to be 100% free from your timeshare.\n <\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot to do on your own, so you may need an attorney to help you work your way out of it all.\n <\/p>\n

Find one who specializes in contract law and has successfully gotten people out of their timeshares. You don\u2019t want someone who will bumble their way through this.\n <\/p>\n

Costs to Get Out of a Timeshare<\/h2>\n

As you can tell, you\u2019re looking at some costs along the journey to get rid of your timeshare. Here are a few of the things you might have to budget for or be thinking about with your finances:\n <\/p>\n