Great Family Timeshare Destinations: Florida

As a parent, you've been there yourself. You know how it is when your family is young and you're struggling to climb the corporate ladder. There's never enough time to do all the things you need to do, much less all those things you'd like to do. Family time is a jumble of hurried schedules, activities and chores. It's hard to find time to just sit back, relax and enjoy being with your spouse and your children. So this year, give your grown children and their families what you couldn't afford back then. Give them the gift of time together. Give them a timeshare vacation property.

This week we've been talking about great timeshare vacation destinations, particularly fun places to vacation with a family. So take a look at our earlier blogs to get those creative juices flowing. You'll find a complete and easy-to-navigate listing of timeshares available for sale on Timeshare Giant; just click the link or post title. Happy shopping!

The entire state of Florida is a timeshare vacation paradise. Young adults might enjoy a timeshare in funky Key West or perennial party town Daytona Beach. The gorgeous beaches of Marco Island might provide the perfect romantic getaway for new marrieds. Empty nesters might relish the tropical luxury of Fort Meyers. But for families, you'll want to be within an easy drive of every child's dream vacation: Disney World. Fortunately, Orlando is home to an amazing selection of 36 timeshares and neighboring Kissimmee offers 52 more outstanding timeshare options, each and every one just a short drive to the magic kingdom!

Summer Bay Resort in Kissimmee (see photos) is a relaxing oasis located in the center of Central Florida's exciting attractions. While it's just minutes from Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, world class golf courses and much more, Summer Bay Resort has so much to offer your family may never want to leave. On the resort's beautifully landscaped grounds, you'll find several heated pools, including a fun-filled kiddie pool and a luxurious hot tub; a beach with water sports activities; miniature golf; volleyball, basketball, shuffleboard and tennis courts; a well-equipped exercise room; a dynamite playground; a fishing lake; a fun games room; family and children's activities and much more. It's the perfect place for a fun vacation for the whole family.

Why Buy a Timeshare? Millions of Families Can't be Wrong!

If you don't own a timeshare yet, what's holding you back? Timeshare ownership satisfaction rates are better than 80%. More than 4 million U.S. families enjoy timeshare vacations. In the past decade, timeshare popularity has grown steadily -- 16% (annualized) since 1995. Timeshare sales hit an astounding $10 billion in 2006. Last year, more than 30% of new timeshare sales were to existing timeshare owners, according to statistics compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers. (Yep, the same cheery black-suited guys who guard the Oscar envelopes. You know, the guys with the black briefcases handcuffed to their wrists lest someone try to sneak an early peek at the winners.)

What do all these folks know that you don't know? For one thing, they know a good thing when they see it. Timeshares provide accommodations, services and amenities specifically designed to meet the needs of the discerning leisure traveler. First class accommodations, superior staff attention, luxurious resort amenities, well-cared-for and well-managed facilities, and great financial value are some of the reasons owners cite for purchasing timeshares. The timeshare experience is so tremendously satisfactory that nearly one-third of timeshare owners purchase a second or third timeshare unit or week.

Owning a timeshare positively impacts your life in myriad ways. What can owning a timeshare do for your? Here's what current timeshare owners have to say about the benefits of timeshare ownership:

• They enjoy their vacations more.


• They look forward to their vacations now.


• They have visited more vacation destinations.


• They have enjoyed a wider range of vacation experiences.


• They have stayed in higher quality resorts.


• They have spent more days per year vacationing away from home.

What attracts most owners to timeshare ownership?

• 99% enjoy the excellent quality accommodations at timeshares.


• 98% find timeshares offer good value for their money.


• 96% like their home resort, unit accommodations and amenities.


• 95% like the opportunity to exchange their timeshare for a vacation at another resort.


• 95% trust the reliability and dependability of their timeshare management company.

If you haven't invested in a timeshare yet, what's holding you back? Investing in a timeshare is an investment in your leisure time. It's a way of rewarding yourself for working hard the rest of the year. It's an investment in your health and welfare. It's an investment in your family, a guarantee of quality time spent together. Now is the time to invest in a timeshare. Do if for yourself. Do it for your spouse. Do it for your family. It's time to start making some memories together.

There are timeshares available for purchase in every corner of the U.S. -- and well beyond. You can find luxurious timeshares all across the world. You'll find a complete listing of timeshares for sale on Timeshare Giant; just click on the post title.

Timeshare Industry Booming! Figures Speak for Themselves

Nearly 4.5 million Americans own timeshares, up from 4.1 million just two years ago. Increasingly, Americans are recognizing the advantage of investing in leisure time. Today, almost 4% of U.S. householders own a timeshare, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) International Foundation.

In 2006, timeshare sales reached $10 billion in the U.S. California, Florida and South Carolina, the top timeshare states, accounted for $4 billion of those sales, almost half. The Mountain and
Pacific areas are primed to give them a run for their money. In 2006, these two regions attracted $1.5 bilion in new sales and are slated to gain nearly 20,000 new units in coming years (see bar chart below).

Here's ARDA's breakdown of timeshare sales in 2006:

Timeshare sales in the U.S. are booming, according to ARDA. Additional timeshare units are planned for development across the country with an emphasis on the mountain states, Florida and the Pacific area. Combined, these three prime areas will account for more than half of the 58,000 new timeshare units to be constructed.

Here's ARDA's breakdown on planned timeshare development in the near future:

Source of both charts: State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2007, prepared by Ernst & Young for AIF. Survey sent to more than 1,600 timeshare resorts in the United States, results based on 625 responses (a 39% response rate).

If you're ready to invest in your leisure time, visit the Timeshare Giant website (just click the post title) to check out timeshares available for sale or rent in every state in the nation.

What You Should Know Before You Sell Your Timeshare

Selling a timeshare is not much different than selling a house or condominium: You place it for sale, and after you have located your buyer, hire the services of a Timeshare Title company to assist you in the legal paperwork involved.

Do I need to hire a real estate agent to sell my timeshare?
No, you can easily sell a timeshare yourself on TimeshareGiant.com. Although hiring a legitimate licensed real estate broker can greatly benefit the marketing and sale of your timeshare, it is not a requirement. On Timeshare Giant we provide timeshare sellers with a variety of timeshare advertising packages at extremely attractive prices. With the most expensive and high-profile ad package, the cost is only pennies per day, and gives the seller complete control over the marketing and sale of the timeshare. On Timeshare Giant you pay no commissions and no upfront fees.

How do I set the selling price for my timeshare?
When you originally purchased your timeshare, you paid what we call 'full retail'. Unfortunately, when the time comes to re-sell your timeshare, you will not be able to recover your initial purchase price. The timeshare resale market is a very competitive arena. Buyers are shoppers. In today's marketplace, buyers have a lot of choices, and the name of the game is price. They want value. To be competitive with other folks who are selling timeshares at your resort, be willing to price your timeshare for 30-60% less than what you paid.

Do I need an appraisal to sell my timeshare?
No, you do not need an appraisal to sell your timeshare and, most likely, you didn’t receive one when you purchased your timeshare.

Do I need an attorney to sell my timeshare?
Although some states, such as Lousiana, do require real estate owners to enlist the services of an attorney in the sale of any real estate transaction, most states do not require you to hire an attorney to sell your timeshare. After the task of locating a buyer is accomplished, most sellers simply use the services of a licensed and bonded title/escrow service to perform necessary legal services, prepare legal documents, and collect/disburse the funds from the sale. Documents are reviewed by the title/escrow service’s attorneys so you do not need to hire your own. Timeshare Giant recommends Timeshare Title Inc. for their prompt and accurate timeshare closing services. Their prices for their escrow services are also very reasonable. Click here for more information on timeshare closing services. Remember, if you post an ad on Timeshare Giant, it is not a requirement to use our recommended timeshare escrow service, Timeshare Title Inc., after you've located your buyer. We've included an easy link to Timeshare Title's services throughout the TimeshareGiant.com website for your convenience.

Can I sell my timeshare if I’m still financing it?
Certainly you can sell your timeshare if it is still being financed. You simply pay off the timeshare loan with the sale proceeds before the deed changes hands. The Title/Escrow company you employ will assist you in disbursing your loan payoff funds.

What happens to banked weeks when I sell my timeshare?
At the time you have located a buyer for your timeshare, if you have already banked weeks with an exchange company, your deposited week(s) are no longer considered part of the timeshare property. Remember, your membership with your exchange company is separate from the ownership of your timeshare. At the time you decide to sell your timeshare, it is important not to deposit any more weeks from the timeshare you are selling, into your exchange company. Leave all future weeks available for your buyer's use. In my experience, I've found it more difficult to sell a timeshare if the current year's week, or any future weeks, are not made available to the buyer. It's difficult for a buyer to justify buying your timeshare if they are unable to use the timeshare during their first year of ownership (or future years). The cleanest, most simple way to sell your timeshare is to make all weeks, current and future, available to the buyer.

Can I transfer banked weeks from previous years to my buyer to 'Sweeten the Pie'?
Absolutely! Many sellers use their banked weeks from previous years as a bargaining tool, or to simply make the timeshare more irresistable to a buyer. Buyers in today's timeshare resale marketplace are looking for real value, and if you're offering banked weeks from previous years for no additional cost, buyers love it! To transfer your banked weeks to your buyer, contact your exchange company and learn their procedure and rules in connection with transferring your banked weeks to your buyer at the time your escrow closes.

How does the right of first refusal affect my timeshare sale?
Some resorts have a right of first refusal (ROFR) clause in their Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). This means that once you and the buyer come to an agreement on the sale of your timeshare, the resort where your timeshare is located reserves the right to step into your buyer's position and purchase the property under the same agreed terms and conditions. If this seems overwhelming or confusing to you, don't worry! The Title & Escrow company you employ to assist you in finalizing your sale is very knowedgeable in this process, and will be able to easily help you through it, if not completely take care of the process for you!

How long does it take to close on a timeshare sale, once my buyer is located?
The average timeshare sale process can take as little as 2 weeks, and as long as 1o weeks to complete. Variances depend on the resort, and local laws and procedures. In my experience, I am a big believer in using the services of a timeshare title and escrow company, such as Timeshare Title Inc., to assist in safely and legally affecting the transfer from you to your buyer. Remember: Most timeshares are Real Estate transactions, and you want to deliver clean title to your buyer to avoid any future possible legal repercussions.

For a checklist of information buyers will want to know about your timeshare, sellers can click here for Timeshare Giant's helpful Timeshare Seller's Checklist.

Timeshares Let You "Try Out" Retirement Sites

When you're young, retirement seems light years away. By the time you're middle age, you feel like it can't come soon enough. "It's never to early to start planning for retirement," my financial planner keeps telling me. But she's always armed with a dreary stack of figures and portfolio options. Necessary, but ho hum boring. The part of retirement planning that excites me is the where.

Beach or mountain? City or country? Small town or metropolis? North or south? There are so many options and good things to recommend each choice. I finally hit upon the perfect solution. I'm trying them all out -- one timeshare at a time!

I made a list of all the places I might like to retire to and each year I rent or exchange a week at a timeshare in one of those locations. By staying at a timeshare, I'm guaranteed endless variety, superior accommodations, and access to fabulous amenities. The bonus is that making arrangements and planning my trip is quick, easy and hassle-free. I figure by the time I reach retirement age, I'll have narrowed down the field considerably.

The October 1, 2007 issue of U.S. News & World Report gave me some new places to add to my list of golden years hot spots. The article on America's Best Places to Retire lists 10 great cities across the country that have the amenities and services retirees are looking for, including cost of living, climate, low crime rate, healthcare access, educational opportunities, and recreational, entertainment and cultural venues.

San Francisco, one of my favorite cities, made the top 10 list. It's easy to leave your heart there. Cable cars, twisty streets, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate -- San Fran is just teeming with exciting places to see and things to do. On Timeshare Giant you'll find nine timeshares for sale or rent that cater to every taste.

A stay at the chic four-star, Gold Crown boutique Club Donatello (above, right) puts you right in the heart of Union Square. Like a cozy bed and breakfast atmosphere? Live the genteel life of yesteryear at the Jackson Court City Shares (above left) brownstone mansion in prestigious Pacific Heights. You can experience the elegant life of robber barons and gold tycoons at the Nob Hill Inn which has catered to the rich and famous since the mid 1800s. If you prefer peace and quiet, you'll want to stay at Shell Vacations Club (right) on the quiet edge of legendary Fisherman's Wharf. Click the post title to preview all of the outstanding San Francisco timeshare properties available for purchase or rent on Timeshare Giant.

What Is a Fractional Timeshare?

Fractional timeshare ownership guarantees you the use of a timeshare property or resort during several weeks of the year -- that is, for a fraction of the year. Typically, fractional interests range from a minimum of 2 to 13 or more weeks per year, far more than the one week per year common in most timeshare plans.

Many owners choose to purchase a fractional timeshare as opposed to a second or vacation home. With fractional ownership, you need only pay for the time you actually plan to be in residence, a considerable savings over purchasing a second home, which generally goes unused for a considerable portion of the year. Whether you're in residence or not, you pay to maintain, heat, insure and provide utility services for a second home. With a second home, you also pay for mortgage and taxes for a full year. With a fractional interest in a timeshare, you share all those expenses with other owners, prorated to reflect the actual fraction of the year the timeshare is available for your exclusive use.

Fractional ownership originated in the U.S. in 1994 with groups of family members or close friends pooling their resources to buy vacation properties. The average fractional owners are married empty-nesters in their mid-50s with an average household income of $500,000. Generally, ownership is divided into fourths, eighths or 13ths with each owner enjoying an equal number of weeks at the property. With fewer restrictions than most timeshares, fractionals can be rented out, shared with family and friends, sold or left to your heir in your will. Like timeshares, fractionals can be exchanged, allowing owners to vacation in other locales.

Fractional ownership offers vacationers some distinct advantages, including the opportunity to vacation longer and more often and the opportunity to vacation in multiple seasons. Many fractional owners enjoy the seasonal delights of both summer and winter at their timeshare.

How to Rent Your Timeshare

Timeshare Giant makes renting your timeshare easy. Just follow these simple steps and you’ll have your timeshare rented in no time -- and at no cost on Timeshare Giant:

• Rules. Check with your resort or exchange company about rental rules. Generally, there are no restrictions on renting resort timeshares, but exchange companies may prohibit rentals.
• Rates. To determine a fair rental rate, ask your resort for a rental rate sheet for all seasons. Check the rental section on Timeshare Giant to see what other owners are charging for timeshares in your location. You can also check the vacation rental section of the newspaper where your timeshare is located. (You can access most newspaper classifieds online.)
• Competition. Take a look at the getaway and bonus week inventories at timeshare exchanges II and RCI. If inventory is high for the location and weeks you want to rent, you may want to drop your price a bit to make it more competitive.
• Advertise. Write up a dazzling (but accurate) description of your property. Include any special benefits of the resort or area. Just click the post title to get to the Rent Your Timeshare section of our website to find out how easy it is to advertise your rental timeshare on Timeshare Giant. There is absolutely no charge or obligation for our free, 6-month basic listing. Premium and gallery listings which provide additional exposure are also available for very reasonable rates.
• Contract. Protect yourself by having the renter sign a rental agreement.
• Money. You'll want to make sure you get 100% of the rent up front. Too many renters change their mind even after paying a deposit. You'll also want to get a 10% security deposit, returnable 14 days after checkout. A security deposit gives renters an added incentive to treat your timeshare kindly. Use PayPal (highly recommended and well worth the 4% processing fee for the convenience and security it offers you -- and you get your money right away, no waiting on the mail or banks) or make sure all checks have cleared well before the renter takes possession.
• Check in. Two weeks before the rental, check with the resort to make sure there are no problems with the reservation and that any special needs (non-smoking room, etc.) will be accommodated.
• Check out. The day after the renter leaves, check with the resort to make sure there were no problems or damage. Don't return the renter's security check until you get the resort gives you the all clear.

We're Up and Running! Come Visit Timeshare Giant's New Website

Timeshare Giant's new website is up and running and ready to serve your vacation needs. A global timeshare travel resource, Timeshare Giant links timeshare owners with timeshare buyers and renters. Click the link or post title to take a look at all the exciting features available to help you plan your next vacation.

These are just some of the things you'll find on Timeshare Giant's new website:

• Home page. Keep up-to-date on the latest industry news. Find out about special promotional getaways to the world's swankest resorts. Enjoy the convenience of one-stop shopping with our travel service. Book airline flights, hotels, cars and cruises in just minutes. Peruse our fabulous travel store where you'll find helpful books about timeshare, excellent travel guides, and many other items carefully selected to make your vacation more enjoyable.


• Buy or rent a timeshare. Search for timeshares available for sale or rent by resort name, location or listing ID number. Browse for timeshares by clicking on the world map or select from a list of countries or a list of states for U.S. listings. You can even search by venue: mountain, beach, yacht, motorhome, theme park, golf, metropolitan, pet friendly, etc.


• Sell or rent out your timeshare. No commissions, no upfront fees, with Timeshare Giant you have complete control over the sale or rental of your timeshare. Timeshare Giant gives you a 6-month basic ad listing absolutely free at no cost or obligation. For those who desire more exposure, additional services are available at very reasonable rates. Using our simple automated online system, your listing can be crafted and posted in a matter of minutes.


• My account. Set up an account to track your timeshare activity. It takes only seconds and requires minimal information.


• Helpful toolbox. At the bottom of each page you'll find a helpful toolbox containing a 4-year timeshare calendar, seller's checklist, owner's rental checklist, quick and easy loan calculator, prompt and accurate escrow services and a glossary.

Visit Timeshare Giant's new website today and start planning your next dream vacation. We look forward to serving you.