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Buy or deed back

zilam98

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 13, 2016
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has anyone here experienced a successful buy-back or deed-back with the HOA or property owner? i need to be educated on the processes involved with such, and whatever fees i might incur, that way i can be more prepared this time around than the first time when a "friend" lured me into such useless, money-draining timeshare.

i would really appreciate all your help here. the maintenance fees are killing me. it keeps me from using whatever money i have to save for retirement
 
There are many options you have depending which TS you own. Most Westin Hilton and Marriott TS are worth some money and can be sold. There are others that also have value.

Then there are a few companies which will take back your TS (DRI currently will take back your TS for a small $250 fee)

So without knowing what TS you own we can't give you much advice.

One thing If you owe money on the TS it will make getting rid of it difficult

Good Luck and welcome
 
has anyone here experienced a successful buy-back or deed-back with the HOA or property owner? i need to be educated on the processes involved with such, and whatever fees i might incur, that way i can be more prepared this time around than the first time when a "friend" lured me into such useless, money-draining timeshare.

i would really appreciate all your help here. the maintenance fees are killing me. it keeps me from using whatever money i have to save for retirement

There is no "one size fits all" answer available, and we don't know whether you own within a "chain" (e.g., Wyndham, Hilton, etc.) or at an independent facility, but your best first step is probably to contact the HOA of your resort directly, preferably in writing, to formally ask if they will accept a "deedback" (buy back is not usually a realistic option). Whether the HOA will agree to a "deedback" is always an uncertainty, and what fees might apply if they do agree varies quite a bit. Except for within the "chains", it's really a "resort by resort" and a "case by case" situation and decision. Do not just blindly accept responses or info from unauthorized desk clerks at the resort, who really have no authority to even address the matter at all in the first place. You must reach the HOA (your HOA President name and address might well be found and retrieved from the newsletter which your facility may send out periodically, as many do).

If you own within a "chain", some "chains" have established deedback programs (Wyndham's "Ovation" program, for example). If you own at an independent facility however, all bets are off, as HOA positions on accepting "deedbacks" vary quite widely. Most don't accept deedbacks, quite frankly, but you have to ask the right people (HOA President is best) to get a straight and accurate reply on the matter. Good luck.
 
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There are many options you have depending which TS you own. Most Westin Hilton and Marriott TS are worth some money and can be sold. There are others that also have value.

Then there are a few companies which will take back your TS (DRI currently will take back your TS for a small $250 fee)

So without knowing what TS you own we can't give you much advice.

One thing If you owe money on the TS it will make getting rid of it difficult

Good Luck and welcome


this is the only timeshare i have:
http://whitebluffresort.com/
 
Do you still owe money on the purchase or are you at the point where your only expense is the ongoing MF's?
 
Do you still owe money on the purchase or are you at the point where your only expense is the ongoing MF's?

i still owe money on it, but i'd rather pay it off than continuing to pay for the maintenance fees
 
In order to give it away or sell it if it has resale value it would have to be paid in full.
 
Info on the resort is pretty thin on the website. First, you won't be able to sell or give it away while there is a mortgage.

Then, once that is taken care of, you'll need to get a letter to the HOA, stating that you want to give it back. If they are still in sales, it might be possible for them to re-sell your week. Usually, resorts charge a couple of year's MF, if they accept them at all, then they will also have you pay for the title transfer back into their name. As you can see, it's not exactly an easy out.

Read the sticky at the top of the Buying, Selling, Renting forum on How to sell your Timeshare. Its likely that by advertising it in a local craigslist for free, that you could give it away, and if you're really lucky the new owner might pay closing.

Good Luck!

Jim
 
this is the only timeshare i have:
http://whitebluffresort.com/

From the looks of the above link my guess is that you own a lot with the right to golf, lake access and the ability to rent rooms at the Inn. According to the above link they are still in sales mode. If this is correct, I would call the Sales Department at (888) 324-5308 and feel them out to see if (1) they will sell your lot for you; or (2) if they will buy it back; or (3) if they will take it back for nothing. Of course to accomplish any of these you will have to first pay off the note.

You have nothing to lose by calling.

George
 
From the looks of the above link my guess is that you own a lot with the right to golf, lake access and the ability to rent rooms at the Inn. According to the above link they are still in sales mode. If this is correct, I would call the Sales Department at (888) 324-5308 and feel them out to see if (1) they will sell your lot for you; or (2) if they will buy it back; or (3) if they will take it back for nothing. Of course to accomplish any of these you will have to first pay off the note.

You have nothing to lose by calling.

George


so say i take out a loan from the bank to pay off the TS, what is the usual standard procedure then? obviously i'd have to call them on such, but what would be the typical procedures to anticipate with a deed back/buy back?
 
so say i take out a loan from the bank to pay off the TS, what is the usual standard procedure then? obviously i'd have to call them on such, but what would be the typical procedures to anticipate with a deed back/buy back?

Most banks will not give you a loan to pay off a timeshare, because they have no collateral value. If you own a home, a home equity loan would be a better option, and the interest would be tax deductible.

How much do you owe? Are you paying a high interest rate?

Another option is to offer a deed back in lieu of foreclosure. However, it's hard to say if the resort will go for this or not - you will have to convince them that you truly intend to stop paying.

If your credit is already bad - or you don't care if you have bad credit, because you don't have any intentions of using credit in the near future, another option is to let it go into foreclosure, but it would be in your best interest to try for the deed-back first.
 
If I am right that what you own is a lot on Lake Whitney with some bells and whistles attached to your ownership, I repeat my previous advice. Call the Sales Dept and check out your options. If necessary, tell them that you have the ability to get the money to pay off the note. If nothing else, you will find out what, if any, your options are.

George
 
so say i take out a loan from the bank to pay off the TS, what is the usual standard procedure then? obviously i'd have to call them on such, but what would be the typical procedures to anticipate with a deed back/buy back?

I gave a timeshare back a couple years ago and the procedure was that I sent them a check for $250 and they took ownership of my unit.

There are companies that will give you personal loans to pay off timeshares. Lightstream and SoFi are two I've heard of people using.

I think you should call the resort to let them know you want out and see what they suggest.

https://www.sofi.com/personal-loans-referral-program/

https://www.lightstream.com/
 
I gave a timeshare back a couple years ago and the procedure was that I sent them a check for $250 and they took ownership of my unit.

There are companies that will give you personal loans to pay off timeshares. Lightstream and SoFi are two I've heard of people using.

I think you should call the resort to let them know you want out and see what they suggest.

https://www.sofi.com/personal-loans-referral-program/

https://www.lightstream.com/

so if they take back the timeshare, are you off the hook on the maintenance fees too? even if you still have the land property?
 
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so if they take back the timeshare, are you off the hook on the maintenance fees too? even if you still have the land property?

Confusing: Besides the timeshare, do you also own land/property in this resort?

If so, were the land and timeshare purchased together in one pkg?
 
Confusing: Besides the timeshare, do you also own land/property in this resort?

If so, were the land and timeshare purchased together in one pkg?

I never heard of that kind of timeshare?
 
Confusing: Besides the timeshare, do you also own land/property in this resort?

If so, were the land and timeshare purchased together in one pkg?

yes. i wish it were just the timeshare
 
yes. i wish it were just the timeshare

So, you purchased land and a timeshare together in one pkg?

How much do you owe all together?
 
Is there a market for the land? What is the concept of buying a timeshare and land? Were you going to build a home on the land?
 
Is there a market for the land? What is the concept of buying a timeshare and land? Were you going to build a home on the land?

that's part of their marketing concept--sort of an eventual retirement community where you can build your house. not planning to build any house anywhere here in the US. i'm afraid i won't have enough to retire with here. i'd rather retire in my home country where i might be able to live with some relatives to offset the costs
 
So did your "friend" sell this to you, or did they buy there as well?
 
If I am right that what you own is a lot on Lake Whitney with some bells and whistles attached to your ownership, I repeat my previous advice. Call the Sales Dept and check out your options. If necessary, tell them that you have the ability to get the money to pay off the note. If nothing else, you will find out what, if any, your options are.

Just because OP calls this a TS doesn't make it one. I think I am right (or close to right) with my above evaluation of what OP bought. I suspect that the "bells and whistles" I refer to is a lodge where OP has some sort of occupancy rights. IMO what he owns is a piece of land near a lake which he will not be able to sell for what he owes on it.

George
 
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