Traditional real estate investors don’t typically look at timeshares as a good investment, but people still buy them. You can’t go to a resort area today without running into a free breakfast for listening to a brief pitch about some hotel or development. That said, Kiplinger Magazine just put out a guide for What You Need to Know About Timeshares.

1. Time shares are still a lousy investment.
2. Selling agents may be of little help.
3. Financing is a last resort.
4. Trading spaces can be a headache.
5. A slice of a condo can be better than no condo at all.

Basically, if you read the full article you’ll find information like:

“There’s a glut of unwanted time shares. Sell today and you can expect to get back only 30% to 50% of what you paid” OR “consumers have filed many complaints with the Better Business Bureau about companies that charge up-front fees and then fail to sell the properties”

I say - Save your money. Invest in some real property and get a true equity stake worth something. Book your vacations ahead of time, and avoid the free buffet breakfast at all costs.

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Tags: buffet, Real Estate Investing, resort, share, time, timeshare