Now that brand-name companies such as Marriott and Disney are in the market, time shares may be worth another look. The basic idea: you purchase a week or two each year at resort, where you’ll have all the comforts of a vacation home without having to worry about keeping up a property.
Time-share owners usually must pay common charges such as association dues and condo fees, which may increase sharply over time. Therefore, you should read the contract carefully before buying.
According to some studies, if you use your time share for 10 years or more you’ll spend less with a time share than you would spend renting similar accommodations each year. To reduce the breakeven point you can buy time shares at a discount on the resale market. Just enter “time shares” at an Internet search engine such as www.google.com for sites that carry online listings.
