Transfer Smart News: Cape Cod Timeshare Owners Accuse a Local Developer of a Scam

For those owners who are trying to get out of their timeshares, one of their main reasons of doing so is due to the costs involved in it. However, some scammers use this as a scare tactic to prey on the unsuspecting victims. Recently, the members of a timeshare resort on Cape Cod are accusing a local developer of muscling in on their treasured vacation spot and bringing in slick out-of-state marketers to con them out of their property deeds.

The developer is Cliff Hagberg who took over the Sandcastle Resort in Provincetown two years ago when everyone agrees the timeshare had gone to seed. According to Hagberg, he's done right by the roughly 4,000 timeshare owners at the resort and he's overseen more than $1 million in repairs to the resort, which included new decks, landscaping and a poolside snack bar. He furher stated that they've literally gone room by room throughout the entire resort and have a detailed list of what each room needs. Moreover, he said that the idea is not to turn the Sandcastle into a Marriott, the idea is to make it the best Sandcastle that it can be. As far as I can tell, there's only good news at the Sandcastle.

Meanwhile, timeshare owners accuse Hagberg and his out-of-state partners of seizing control of the resort and then pressuring people to swap their deeds for membership in another timeshare. As one owners said, if they refused that deal, they were told they would be stuck paying the high cost of renovating the Sandcastle.

There are 49 timeshare owners at the Sandcastle who have filed complaints with the Attorney General's office. They claim Hagberg and representatives of a Texas company called Outfield Marketing of using scare tactics on the owners, convincing many of them that the only way to avoid a financial nightmare with such vacation property was to give up their deeds and pay more than three thousand dollars to join a national timeshare company called Festiva Resorts.

Transfer Smart News: Feds Charge 3 Men in Illinois for Timeshare Fraud

There is a growing scam nowadays telling blatant lies on the phone to those owners who are desperate to get out of their timeshare contracts. Recently, some national heat is coming down about such fraud on three Palm Beach County pitchers. The federal grand jurors in East St. Louis, Illinois, indicted Darnell Disroe, 38, and Michael Lentine, 32, of Boynton Beach and Michael Starace, 42, of Lantana. Meanwhile, Boynton Beach police and US postal inspectors cooperated in an investigation that found more than 600 victims were bilked for more than $1.3 million in 46 states and Canada.

According to an unsealed indictment, Real Timeshare Marketing asked timeshare condo owners to pay thousands of dollars for costs associated with phony pending sales. Despite collecting $1.3 million in fees between Dec. 1 and April 28, the company was not instrumental in selling a single timeshare interest, as the federal officials said.

Similar cases also have become the top complaint to a state fraud hot line, surpassing mortgage scams, and involving more than 10,000 complaints against scores of companies. Palm Beach County has been a hotbed for the business with 10 of 17 companies subpoenaed by the Florida Attorney General's Office in March based in the county. Fines, settlements and pending civil charges at the state and local level have also addressed some of the complaints.

Currently, the federal authorities are pursuing charges of mail fraud and other offenses that carry up to 25 years in prison or fines up to $250,000 per count. Among others, an Illinois customer paid $1,886 after an agent for Real Timeshare Marketing promised someone wanted to buy the customer's timeshare interest for more than $20,000. But the sale of such vacation property never happened, as authorities said. The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Illinois has recently announced the charges.

Transfer Smart News: Timeshare Fraud Case Filed Against a Father-and-Son Duo

Although there are several scams in the timeshare industry along with the increasing number of owners who are trying to get out of their timeshares every year, many vacationers are still into such vacation properties. Recently in Miami, a father-and-son duo was accused of timeshare fraud. They allegedly bankrolled their lavish lifestyles with $170 million in investors' money, and when investors began to question their activities, they responded with threats and intimidation, as the dozens of lawsuits filed in Federal Court stated.

According to the lawsuit, Frederick Elliott and his son, Derek Elliott, sold timeshares in luxury vacation properties in the Dominican Republic, promising investors a steady and predictable double-digit returns on allegedly safe investments. As the lawsuit stated, Frederick and Derek misused plaintiffs' hard-earned money to finance fanciful Hollywood productions, produce self promotional videos, purchase a half-a-million-dollar yacht, and pay off personal gambling debts in Las Vegas, among other things.

There are about 170 investors who have sued the Elliotts and their complex web of offshore companies and shell corporations that they have created to escape liability. As the lawsuits stated, they treated these entities as one collective 'piggy bank,' taking funds from one company indiscriminately to pay the obligations of another.

The Elliotts base their operations in Miami. According to the investors, they do this because Miami offered a sophisticated banking system with access to international financial markets, and willing bilingual professionals to assist them in their illegal pursuits. Most of their victims were found through presentations on cruise ships where they were invited to speak.

The Elliotts allegedly sold timeshares in some resort properties that weren't finished like a hotel in Juan Dolia, and then rented them out through travel agencies such as Expedia and Travelocity. Timeshare owners were supposed to get a cut of the rent of such vacation property. But in typical Ponzi fashion, the Elliotts used money from new investors to pay the original timeshare purchasers. Among other things, investors accuse the Elliotts and their companies of racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, civil conspiracy and breach of contract.

A Smart Look at the History of Florida Timeshares

Although there is a negative perception regarding the timeshare industry as well as there are several owners who are trying to get out of their timeshare contracts every year, Florida still houses several timeshare resorts and considered one of the main contributors in its tourism industry. Decades ago, the Florida government decided to capitalize on their lovely location and climate conditions, and provided several business incentives for the tourism industry to develop.

Meanwhile, the timeshare concept originated in the early 60's and although many people who are visiting the sunshine state desired a vacation property, there are only a few who could afford it. The 60's brought in the decade of peace and love and the popularity of owning your hotel room as opposed to renting it as a one off.

By the 70's, some of the larger management companies evolved such as RCI and Consolidated TS Inc. and Florida was a natural fit for those companies due to its popularity, climate, attractions and ease of access. Since then, there are several smaller industries which have grown around the larger tourism industry, to service and support it. These include the hotel industry, the entertainment industry, the nightlife, the various sports facilities, and so on. All these combine to create an environment which is very attractive to anyone traveling on vacation inside the state.

Due to all the reasons cited above, Florida is one of the most reputed vacation destinations in the US and will continue to be so for a long time. Furthermore, the flexible nature of Florida timeshares means that the timeshare packages can be customized to suit any kind of vacationer.

Transfer Smart News: Timeshare Relief Launches New Website

For those owners who want to get out of their timeshare contracts, timeshare transfer companies may be the best solution to do so. One of such companies well-known today is the Timeshare Relief. This company alleviates clients of their burdensome timeshare contracts and recently reveals their new website (www.timesharerelief.com), making it easier for customers to navigate.

The new website has several added features including, most notably, a video tour of the corporate headquarters on the home page. It was designed to be more intuitive and user-friendly. One notable addition to the new site is its video tour of the corporate headquarters located in Torrance, California. It has been entirely redesigned to provide a faster, more user-friendly layout. The website’s navigation has been streamlined through the organization of specific areas of interest, giving it a sleeker, cleaner look.

But prior to the update, the site had a significant amount of information per page and less total pages. Also, the new site has a focused amount of specific, congruent information per page and more pages on the site. Moreover, it aims to give every specific section its own area, clearing up any confusion which makes the site navigation more intuitive, improving the overall functionality of the website.

On the other hand, Timeshare Relief is not a timeshare resale company. It guarantees their clients an exit solution to get rid of their timeshares as long as the timeshare is paid off and maintenance fees are current. It has already helped more than 45,000 timeshare owners transfer more than 52,000 timeshare contracts.

Transfer Smart News: Timeshare Resale Companies Get Sued and Subpoenaed in Florida

As more and more owners are trying to get out of their timeshare contracts every year, the incidences of scams are also increasing in this industry. But the authorities are determined to combat such issue. Just like in Florida, three companies were sued last Tuesday while four others were issued subpoenas. All of these companies are accused of luring customers into paying upfront fees for advertising of their timeshares. The sellers were then told companies already had buyers lined up to buy their timeshares. But when the properties didn't sell in the amount of time the company promised they would, customers could not get refunds.

The suits and subpoenas issued are the latest in a series of attacks on the industry by the Florida Attorney General's Office. Over the past year, there were a total of 10 timeshare resellers which have been sued and 60 are under investigation. In the US, Florida is considered the concentration of timeshare properties. According to the American Resort Development Association or ARDA, about a quarter of the country's timeshare resorts are in this state.

The lawsuits were filed against Timeshares Direct, International Marketing and Finance Group, and Gold Crown Property Management. Meanwhile, the subpoenas were issued to Eclipse Property Solutions of St. Petersburg, Super Timeshare Resales of Tampa, International Resort Properties of New Port Richey and Ace Timeshare of Pinellas Park for information about sales and business practices, copies of contracts, licenses, marketing materials, telephone transcripts, the identity of affiliate businesses and other documents.

Currently, the attorney general's office is working with the Federal Trade Commission, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and local law enforcement to combat fraud regarding vacation properties such as timeshares. So far, customers have been repaid about $1.8 million.

Transfer Smart News: Florida AG Files Lawsuit against Timeshare Companies

While the number of owners eager to get out of their timeshares is increasing every year, timeshare resale industry is also flourishing. However, the resale industry has been the favorite haven of the fraudsters and scammers nowadays, and thus, giving it a negative perception among the consumers. Recently, the Florida’s attorney general has filed lawsuits against three timeshare companies. This includes one in Palm Beach County which is allegedly engaged in deceptive and unfair practices. It is alleged that the companies used misleading sales pitches to get consumers to pay upfront fees for their advertising services.

One lawsuit which was filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court is against International Marketing and Finance Group. It said that the timeshare reseller engaged in deceptive business practices by, among other things, misrepresenting the availability of refunds for upfront fees paid by consumers and, in some instances, unlawfully charging consumers’ credit cards prior to the receipt of signed contracts.

The two other suits on the other hand were filed against Timeshares By Owner and against Gold Crown Property Management and its owners, Roy Xiques and Jason Kres. The suit against Timeshares By Owner alleges that such company is in violation of a 2001 settlement agreement in which it was prohibited from using misleading sales tactics.

Meanwhile, the suit against Gold Crown and its owners was filed in Pinellas County Circuit Court. It seeks refunds and stops the company from making false promises that a buyer is ready and available to purchase a client’s vacation property. It also seeks to prohibit the company from claiming that clients can easily obtain a refund even if a buyer is not found. Since 2007, the Florida AG’s office has received more than 180 complaints alleging that the company was not honoring the conditions of the settlement.

Knowing Smartly Why it is Hard to Sell A Timeshare

With the current economic climate, most individuals are looking for ways to lessen their expenses. For those regular vacationers who own a vacation property, this might mean getting out of a timeshare contract. Most owners find that this might be the best solution to stop paying those maintenance and other fees.

Anyone who owns a timeshare these will notice that their fees have gone up or they have been charged a special assessment of some kind. So, they decided to sell their timeshare. But it is not easy to sell timeshare properties and many timeshare owners can testify that it is a difficult process.

Well, there are several reasons why it is hard to sell a timeshare these days. One that's going to be the most relevant has something to do with the state of the economy. As the economy is making everything harder, timeshares are thus becoming harder to own. If they're harder to own, it's going to be even harder to sell it.

Today, more Americans have realized that paying in advance for a vacation does not make sense. For them, paying for an asset that only drains one’s pocketbook does not make sense. Thus, for those who are looking to sell a timeshare, be mindful of the economy and the mindset and bank account of the average consumer.

Moreover, it is important to understand that there is an incredibly tough timeshare resale market. Many timeshare owners were unable to sell their timeshare. As they've been through the hassle of trying to list their timeshare on resale sites, they did not have any luck. They just could not sell such vacation property for anything.

Transfer Smart News: Disney Vacation Club Revives Effort for the Aulani Project

With the number of owners trying to get out of their timeshares nowadays along with the negative perception of consumers regarding the vacationing option, timeshare companies must extend their marketing efforts to regain the thrusts of end-users. Like the Disney Vacation Club, the Disney Co.'s timeshare arm which recently added an Aulani-specific plug to a television commercial that has been airing in the Orlando market promoting the timeshare club. It has also scheduled a special sales preview aimed at Walt Disney World annual passholders soon that will include giveaways, a dance party and Disney character appearances.

Meanwhile, Aulani is a critically important project for Disney. This 841-room hotel and timeshare is the first test of the company's strategy to build stand-alone resorts and niche attractions in markets beyond its massive theme-park resorts.
On the other hand, the company is also hoping the Hawaiian resort will help expand Disney Vacation Club's membership base, which currently is heavily concentrated on the US East Coast.

Aulani will be Disney's second timeshare offering in the west of the Mississippi, following the opening last year of 50 units at Disney's Grand California Resort & Spa at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. It also becomes one of five properties that the Disney is currently peddling interests in, joining the California villas as well as Bay Lake Tower, Animal Kingdom Villas and Treehouse Villas, all of which are at Disney World. The three tourism properties in Central Florida are up for auction. These include including a 123-acre development in Kissimmee and a 77-acre property in Orlando's International Drive tourist corridor.

Transfer Smart News: Timeshare Company Becomes Official Reseller The Crane Resort

With the current economic climate, consumers have a need to unload some of their unnecessary expenses. For the holidaymakers, this could mean getting out of a timeshare contract and one of the ways to do this is through the aid of resale companies. One such company is the Sell My Timeshare Now which has become an Authorized Reseller for The Crane Resort in Barbados. As a result, this will expand timeshare resales opportunities for owners at The Crane Resort and it will extend Sell My Timeshare Now’s network in the Caribbean.

As Kim Goddard, sales director at The Crane Resort commented, they are excited to enhance their resale program by partnering with Vacation Property Solutions, the Resort Services Division of SellMyTimeshareNOW.com and Timeshare Broker Services, the company’s brokerage organization, to best represent the weeks that The Crane owners may desire to sell.

Meanwhile, the Barbados resort boasts breathtaking beachfront setting and it is often described as the Caribbean’s first resort. Built in 1887, the facility has now been fully updated but it still retains the elements of its original style which made give it elegance and sophistication.

On the other hand, Jay Bade, a registered resort professional and Vice President of Business Development for Sell My Timeshare Now stated that although The Crane Resort has a successful resale program in place, affiliating with Sell My Timeshare NOW increases visibility for The Crane Resort resales. Sell My Timeshare NOW is also thrilled to be recognized as an authorized reseller for The Crane Resort’s active resales program and to represent current owners at the resort when they want to sell vacation ownership and fractional weeks.

Transfer Smart News: Investigators Raid Timeshare Call Center in Ormond Beach

For those owners who are eager to get out of their timeshares working it out with a resale company maybe a great option. But eager as they are, this also gave rise to numerous scams in the timeshare industry. Just like the recent case where the state investigators raided a timeshare call center in Volusia County on South Atlantic Avenue in Ormond Beach. According to the investigators, Buy Owner Resort Marketing in Ormond Beach promised to help customers sell their timeshares and then took their money.

State agents raided the suspected call center and seized boxes of records and computers. After dozens of people claimed they were being scammed by the timeshare company, it is under investigation. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shut down the said company in March for being an unlicensed telemarketing company. The state then reopened its investigation and then served a warrant when it learned the company was still operating.

Victims all over the country filed complaints with the State Attorney General's Office against the said company. As they stated, the company promised to sell or rent out their timeshare properties, but never delivered. Victims also said that they paid thousands of dollars in upfront fees, appraisals and even closing costs.

It was also found out that the Better Business Bureau gave the company an F rating and said there are at least 20 unanswered complaints. Officials on the other hand, are unaware of any vacation property ever being rented or sold. The company is once again shut down and the investigation is still ongoing. So far, there have been no arrests.

Some Dos and Don’ts of Timeshare Ownership That a Smart Consumer Must Know

Owning a timeshare can be very tempting especially if you are presented with those pictures of great locations and complete amenities. However, try to think also that there are several owners today who are trying to get out of their timeshare contracts and as eager as they are, they can’t do it right away as it is not that easy to be freed from timeshare liabilities. Thus, if you are planning to own one, try to analyze your decision carefully and be informed about the dos and don’ts of timeshare ownership.

First, deciding to buy a timeshare must not be based on any high-pressured sales pitch. Don't be pressured into a deal there and then. That deal might be of extremely poor value when you consider the long term costs, and the outrageous rates of interest and horrendous penalty clauses. Walk away if you are told that the deal is only on the table for that day.

Take note also that if you consider financing a timeshare, it will be much more affordable if you organize it yourself. As with everything else to do with loans and mortgages, the market today is highly competitive and there are always deals to be found in other finance markets. You can also get some expert advice on this.

Moreover, owning a timeshare is a long-term drain on your bank balance. Be prepared for the maintenance fees and/or other membership costs among others. If you can't find the money outright, then reconsider your decision as you will never know what will come along in the economic climate today that will affect your finances. Remember that owning a timeshare is not an investment in monetary terms, only in vacation terms.

Smart Hints to Sell Your Timeshare Fast

When one decides to get out of his timeshare, selling it is probably the next move. But choosing to sell a timeshare is not only a difficult decision but also a difficult task. However, with proper precautions and correct research, you may be able to successfully sell your timeshare even in difficult markets.

One great option that most owners tend to try is to list the timeshare in a classified advertisement such as local newspaper or an internet classified website. These websites include eBay, Craigslist, INetGiant, WildfireClassifieds, or NikTrades. The advantage of selling your timeshare on your own is that you do not have to pay commissions and fees. In contrast with working it out with a third party vacation property resale companies, you have to pay an upfront and non-refundable fees regardless of whether the unit sells or for how much.

Another option when you want to sell your timeshare is to hire an agent or broker who can advertise and market your vacation property properly. However, just make sure that it is a reputable company that specializes in selling timeshares as scams are very prevalent in the timeshare industry today. This agent or broker should get the proper exposure for your timeshare. Never agree to anything over the phone who offers to sell your timeshare before you have had time to do some research on the company you are dealing with.

However, before you decide to sell your timeshare, it would be wise to find out how much it is worth on the market today. You can easily do this through an appraisal. This appraisal also helps you find out what the resorts are selling similar vacation properties like yours and to help you with adequately pricing your timeshare. When selling your timeshare, you have a number of options available. But with adequate research, you may have a chance at success.

Transfer Smart News: Vacation Ownership Group Dedicates to Assist Potential Timeshare Owners

For some timeshare owners, buying such properties is a decision that they have regretted. These owners later realized that timeshares are not for them. There is no doubt that there are a number of disadvantages and complaints regarding such properties. But unfortunately, once the owner decides to get out of his timeshare contract, he can’t do it right away or it takes a longer time to do so. However, there are companies today that assisting potential timeshare and vacation ownership consumers avoid the consequences of buying and selling high-priced timeshare packages being offered in today's unpredictable market. One of these companies is the Vacation Ownership Group.

As V O Group President and CEO Adam Lacerda said, owners and users of timeshare properties are being inundated with offers to buy or sell in resort and vacation destinations around the world. He added that moving through the complex and many times misleading process is complicated and can easily leave people with a product they did not want, or they may have spent more than they could afford. This, along with high-pressured sales tactics, is a common problem in the timeshare market today, and one the V O Group is trained and ready to help you solve.

On the company's website, consumers around the world can contact them and answers to a variety of questions such as the fair market value of the unit, realistic vacation strategies, adding points at wholesale prices, and additional information on any given timeshare issue the customer might have.

Lacerda added that they offer several products designed for the vacation ownership consumer, and the V O Group is currently developing additional services including interactive online classes and webcasts designed to educate the public about the possible pitfalls of purchasing a timeshare. Moreover, he stressed out that they are changing the face of timeshare and vacation ownership.

Transfer Smart News: ARDA Recommends Rent a Timeshare for a Vacation

As the summer vacation season is fast approaching, many families are looking for budget-friendly travel ideas everywhere. With this, The American Resort Development Association or ARDA has a solution for the budget-conscious, weary traveler. That is, rent a timeshare villa for your next vacation.

According to Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO, many vacationers don’t yet realize that they can rent a week or two at a fabulous resort and stay in spacious accommodations with one or more bedrooms and bathrooms, a kitchen and a living room – all the comforts of home. He added that while it may be the destination that gets them there, it’s the guarantee of high-quality accommodations that keeps them returning year after year.

Meanwhile, the PriceWaterhouseCoopers research on the state of the timeshare industry in 2009 indicates that nearly half of timeshare purchasers rented first. Among six million-plus timeshare owners, timeshares continue to enjoy an 85% satisfaction rate. As Nusbaum said, timeshare owners place value on having the space to truly rejuvenate – a benefit that comes with a timeshare vacation. And, because of the pre-paid nature of the product, many owners continue to travel despite historic lows in traditional hotel occupancy. For 2009 alone, the timeshare industry reported an occupancy rating of almost 80%.

Today, although there are a number of owners trying to get out of their timeshares, many consumers still avail of such vacationing option through timeshare rentals. As a matter of fact, there are already rental engines created for consumers to take advantage of the convenience of vacationing timeshare-style.

Transfer Smart News: Web Venture Makes Timeshare Rentals Easier

For many timeshare owners, dates assigned to them are not always convenient, and swapping their units is not easy to do. Aside from the increasing maintenance fees, these might also be the reason why some owners want to get out of their timeshare contracts. This was also the problem of Mike Blackwell, a former timeshare owner, who along with his two friends came up with a solution and, in the process, launched a business to help others with the same problem.

The venture is called Resort Rentals By Owner or RRBO.com, an online marketplace for vacation rentals of timeshares. It was founded by three former CompuServe and AOL executives: Blackwell, who ran AOL Search; Bob Kington, one-time executive producer of CompuServe online service; and Mike Doel, former chief technology officer for CompuServe.

Blackwell, being one of the millions of timeshare owners in the United States, immediately saw the possibilities of an online marketplace where timeshare owners could quickly and easily offer their resort condos for rent in a very hotel-like way. The founders of Resort Rentals cited the example of popular person-to-person commerce sites such as StubHub.com in launching their business. But instead of trafficking in concert tickets, they offer resort timeshare rentals.

The vacation rental website acts as the intermediary in handling the bookings as users go to the website, find the timeshare resorts they like and rent them immediately. According to Blackwell, the owner doesn’t pay to list the rental to them, they just keep 15%. Despite its still-low profile, the company is getting eight to 10 calls a day as Kington said. He added that they’re being conservative with marketing dollars spent right now until they prove market acceptance and get more capital, which will allow them to ramp marketing to levels that are 10 times what they’re spending today.

Transfer Smart News: Owner Gives Advice When Selling a Timeshare

For most owners, when they think of getting out of their timeshare contracts, the best solution would be to sell it. But several people already testified that selling a timeshare is not an easy task and there’s also a big possibility to get scammed. Take the case of Don Bishop who tried to sell his Mexican timeshare. This Tacoma resident paid a company to get his condo on a listing service and soon after, salespeople are calling with some stinky deals.

According to him, the deal is wilting. As he stated, the whole picture from beginning to end came on to him as a big scam. The salespeople offered him a buyer with $2,500 on the table. They ask him to guarantee that he is going to go through with that by taking his credit card and give them $1,900. For the experts, such sales pitch is considered a serious red flag.

Meanwhile, Douglas Wheeler, an attorney who specializes in timeshare sales and agreements said that the people that are really aggressively beating the bushes right now are typically scammers. His advice if you are looking to dump your timeshare is to list and advertise it yourself. In that way, you can steer clear of extra fees. He added that you're going to spend a few hundred dollars at least to have somebody list it for you and all they may do is put it up on a website. Moreover, he also recommends donating or gifting the timeshare, but don't get desperate. You may have restrictions in your timeshare on what you can do with it and how you have to sell it.

As for Don, he got his money back. But he tells others not to make the same mistake because these scammers are relentless. However, if you are trying to save money, you can try renting out your vacation property. But don't have the resort set it up, you do it.

Smartly Knowing the Evolving Legal Approaches on Timeshares

As timeshares have become popular when it comes to vacationing, a number of models for handling the legal relationship with such properties have emerged. This is important especially for the owners to avoid future conflicts regarding their timeshare units. When an owner also wants to get out of his timeshare by selling it, he must know the legal agreements with such property in order to have a successful deal. The three most common types of conveyance are the deeded interests, right to use, and leasehold agreements.

With a deeded interest method of conveyance, the purchaser receives a title for the real property that is being purchased from the timeshare developer. The unit owner, in effect, buys the right to use that unit in perpetuity. Like any bought object, it is the owner’s rights to use it in perpetuity. He can sell it on and pocket the proceeds and leave it to others as part of the estate, when the owner dies. In effect, the resort developer just sells the ownership of various time periods for each unit.

Under the right-to-use type of conveyance, it is not associated with deeding of the underlying real property to the purchaser. Instead, the individual is given contractual rights to use the timeshare facilities for a specified period of time. Usually, this would involve the interval purchased, say one week, but for time periods limited in the agreement, say 25 years.

Lastly, a leasehold agreement is similar to a right-to-use contract in that the purchaser holds a leasehold interest or other interest of less than a full ownership interest. This means that the purchaser has the right to inhabit such vacation property for a specified period of time, and at the termination of the lease, the property reverts to the timeshare developer. Usually, the time period concerned is shorter than with a right-to-use agreement.

Transfer Smart News: Timeshare Company’s Expansion Shows Hopeful Signs

Despite the number of owners today who are trying to get out of their timeshare contracts, some resorts are on their way to expansion. According to the Chamber director, this is a hopeful signs to others. One of these resorts is the Spinnaker Resorts with its contractor which recently celebrated the "topping off" of the new south tower. When complete early next year, the seven-story facility will add 53 more units, bringing the total to 168 units at the timeshare resort at 51 S. Atlantic Ave.

In industry jargon, "topping off" means the last beam getting put in place in the concrete frame and construction starts on the top. According to Charlie Door, a senior vice president for Hardin Construction, they are right on schedule and adding the $11.1 million project is now about 50% complete.

The said project originally was slated to begin in 2006 but it suffered a series of delays. This includes the changes in design, as well as concerns from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Besides the new building, the South Carolina-based Spinnaker is also spending between $5 million and $6 million to renovate the existing tower.

Meanwhile, Mary Rhodes, the executive director of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce, said that the city leaders are happy to see the company went ahead with the project even in the current economic environment. She stated that the construction has kept about 100 people employed on a consistent basis.

On the other hand, the pre-sales of such vacation property will open at the end of July and the beginning of August. Once the project reopens, timeshare owners will notice several major improvements in the resort. That will include the addition of a spa and a larger kiddie pool. At the same time, the sight of construction may inspire others to follow through on growth plans they may have tabled.

Transfer Smart News: BBB warns Timeshare Owners of the Increasing Scams

These are tough times and plenty of people today are struggling just to make their home mortgage payments. It is also not surprising that many owners nowadays are hoping to cutback on their expenses by getting out of their timeshare contracts. But there’s a recent warning about a scam targeting thousands of timeshare owners across the country.

Take for example the case of Patricia Valdez and Art Heist, timeshare owners facing similar ordeals, and they both say the craziness all started with a phone call and a promise to sell their properties. As heist said, they'd say well, we hear you got a timeshare for sale, we have a buyer for you. Then, they were both asked to do the same thing - give the company the money upfront.

As they were excited about dumping their vacation properties, and the extra expense that came along with them, both Valdez and Heist paid the fees. But after that, they never heard from the companies again and their timeshares were never sold. As they tried to call there, they would not answer the phone. According to Heist, they just took my money and claimed they would sell my timeshare and they haven't done anything.

Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau says that they were targets of one of the top scams operating in the country. The agency has been flooded with complaints from thousands of timeshare owners across the country with the same statement. They get a phone call from a company with a hard to resist offer promising to get rid of their timeshares immediately or there’s an interested buyer and claiming they can close in 30 days.

Timeshare Resales as a Smart Way to Own a Vacation Property

These days, the era of timeshare resales has dawned and has started a timeshare renaissance. As there are many owners who are trying to get out of their timeshares and made their units available in the resale market, eager holidaymakers on the other hand have a new, improved and a better way to own such vacation property.

Timeshare resales are old timeshares but not necessarily badly kept ones. For some owners, they have simply outgrown vacationing yearly and want to make a profit off of their old investment. That’s why they made their timeshare for sale.

Timeshare resales cost quite a bit less than buying brand new timeshares. This is simply because a large portion of the cost is intended for advertisement free gifts, etc. that might come with the viewing of the timeshare. On the other hand, timeshare resales don't require quite as much advertisement. After all, they're so cheap that will interest many vacationers. Typically, they end up being half or more of the price than a brand new timeshare. In addition, there's no long presentation to sit through and you don't have to deal with timeshare salesmen or women just to buy it.

There are many ways to acquire a resale timeshare. By spending some amount of time online you will thousands of available units. There are some websites that facilitates listing vacation properties such as timeshares on their online database and enabling potential buyers to view the property. You may have to try and find the deal online. However, just beware of scams when dealing with resellers. Make an effort to know more about the unit that you are interested to buy.

Transfer Smart News: Torrance’s TV Program Features Timeshare Relief

"We went out on vacation in Las Vegas and were told that by investing in this timeshare, we'd be able to own property that we could sell for a profit." That’s the statement of Mr. MacMillan which begins the segment featuring the Timeshare Relief, Inc. on Torrance CitiCABLE 3. The television program has selected Timeshare Relief, Inc. for a feature entitled "Torrance Company Offers Relief from Time Share Contracts." The segment discussed the company's humble beginnings and current success.

CitiCABLE 3 features the latest news, events, and business-related notices relevant to the Torrance area. Meanwhile, Timeshare Relief, Inc., an Inc. 500 company and twice over recipient of the Best in Torrance Award, offers a reliable timeshare exit solution for owners looking to be rid of timeshare contracts and maintenance fees entirely. It was launched in 2004 by founders Cindy Martin MacMillan and David MacMillan when they struggled to find ways to exit their own timeshare contract due to the heavy financial burdens that came along with it. Upon success, they began the Timeshare Relief, Inc. in order to help others in similar situations.

One of the timeshare owners who sought out the services of the company was Nancy Gruttemeyer. While sick of her increasing payments, Gruttenmeyer sought to rid herself of her timeshare permanently. According to her, what started out as $250 in maintenance fees kept creeping up and creeping up. Soon, she found Timeshare Relief and happily unloaded her life-long contract. Currently, she still continues to enjoy the timeshare experience by renting a Vermont timeshare, a Hawaii timeshare and a Disney timeshare without the trouble of maintenance fees.

With over 50,000 other clients like Gruttemeyer in the US, Canada and UK, Timeshare Relief believe their prospects are looking bright as the report concludes that the company's work has continued to grow, even in this slowing economy. Timeshare Relief is not a timeshare resale company. However, it guarantees their clients a clean exit solution to get out of their timeshare contracts. It has already helped over 50,000 timeshare owners transfer more than 52,000 timeshare contracts.