Thank you all for all your help. I see I have a lot to learn and research to see if buying a timeshare is worth it or not. I feel we will need 154000 points which will cost us 800+ in maintenance fees each year. I guess that would save me money as it would cost more than that for some week stay at the beach for most resorts, but do not if it is worth being bound to the fees from now on. How easy is it to get rid of the timeshare if I decide later that we will not use it enough?
Also, how easy is it to make reservations and rent it? Is there money to be made after paying maintenance fees? Can you make enough to pay your fees plus have points left to use for free?
It's more than being bound to the MFs that can get you. There are also special assessments (SA), which can be quite costly. I had a Wyndham ownership where the SA cost over $1,000 paid over three years. Tough to make that back with rentals.
Renting on a small scale, like you are talking can be a lot of work and effort, and you are still at risk of getting stuck and not breaking even. If you're talking about buying a 154k pt ownership, you won't have much especially if you are planning to go to nicer resorts during peak vacation season (beach in the summer, as an example).
In my opinion, buying a timeshare with any thought of renting to make money or to pay your MF's is a bad idea . . . especially for a first time owner. Ron and others here have been at it for a while. Many are "mega owners" and with the number of points they have, they are able to make a business out of it.
I own a very small points package (77k) at Myrtle Beach, it was given to me by my sister for free. I have used the points for 4-5 night stays at places we want to go when we want to be there. I have also been able to book 5-7 night stays for friends for the cost of the MFs + guest certificate (if any). I barely break even when I do that and have no points left over to go take another vacation. Perhaps with 154k you could but I would not count on it as a real ownership/business model.