The financial crisis is making it really difficult to live not only for people but also for a number of pets. There is an existing call for good-hearted people to donate whatever they can to some shelters. The call was also even directed to timeshare owners who are looking for ways to get rid of their timeshares. This shows that the recession is really not yet over and will probably continue to affect more people and their lifestyles.

The shelters are flooded with pets because the owners of these pets are already finding it difficult to support the needs of their pets. And they may even be finding it hard to support themselves, as well. This situation is forcing them to take action. Unfortunately, one of the things they can do to curve out their expenses is to let go of their pets. These pets, in turn, have nowhere to go but the shelters.

And because of that, there are already too many pets in the shelters. The shelters in turn cannot also support all the needs of these pets. So they are now requesting for assistance themselves. They are calling for assistance in terms of goods, and even for services. They can either receive goods in the form of old blankets, old files of newspapers and magazines, tennis ball and other similar stuff that you would consider useful for pets and the shelter. A hand can also be much of help to these shelters. And the Humane Society can receive timeshare donations of owners who want to be free of their timeshares.

Alex Finkelstein, a Real Estate Channel journalist, believes that a timeshare property is not to be considered a real estate investment. He may not have specifically mentioned that timeshare owners should get rid of their timeshares but he was intent in pointing out that those who are thinking of buying a timeshare should not look at it as an investment.

Finkelstein posted a discussion on timeshares after a loyal reader of the Real Estate Channel goaded him into doing so. He may have had hesitations because of the number of supporters as well as critics of timeshares but he did as requested with the fact that the one who requested it was not actually inclined on a particular side. Pipuk, the avid reader, may be thinking that timeshares and timeshare resales will take a rebound after the whole real estate market but he is open to any of the views of Finkelstein.

So, Finkelstein pointed out that the current facts on timeshares and the resale market is not really good. The market shows that apart from the condos, the sales of timeshare in the residential market drastically suffered during the 22-month recession. The prices of timeshare resales, on the other hand, continued to plummet even up to 100 percent but they still do not have takers. That was how awful Finkelstein pictured out the timeshare industry. It clearly tells timeshare owners and those who are considering of buying a package that timeshares cannot be considered as an investment, especially not as a financial one.

Timeshare sales presentations are generally exciting. Any person who is able to attend a timeshare sales presentation would probably consider vacation ownership as a good offer to its potential buyers. Especially if the prospect is unaware of the existence of a group of timeshare owners trying to get rid their timeshares. The pictures and the explanation that one can see and hear in the presentation can amaze any prospect.

Timeshare vacation packages include an authority to use the resort at the advantage of the timeshare owner for a certain period of time. Unfortunately, these timeshare owners will come to realize that timeshares have other fees aside from the amount initially shelled out for the property. The fees will keep coming and they will also start escalating.

Because of the maintenance fees and other charges, some timeshare owners become disappointed about their timeshare purchases. They then realize that they are caught in a trap with maintenance fees and other charges. Things will become worst if the timeshare owner is unable to use the one-week vacation package. He will all the more think that he wasted a good sum of money for a futile exercise. The process will end up with the timeshare owner totally angry because of the expense he incurred for a seriously useless package. If he will not be able to sell the timeshare immediately, he will surely recognize the trap that he is in.

Sell My Timeshare NOW CEO Jason Tremblay debunked three myths about timeshares in one of the recent posts in the Timeshare Authority Blog.

The three myths are “Timeshare is a financial investment,” “Timeshare is worthless on the resale market,” and “If a company charges you to advertise your timeshare resale, the company is unethical.” These said myths have been in existence since no one can actually remember and it is such a wonder how these said myths still exist though there have been a number of efforts to debunk such beliefs.

To make things a little clearer, let us look at the first myth he mentioned. It says that timeshare is a financial investment. This is mostly used by timeshare agents to encourage people who are interested to buy timeshares or even those who are not interested. Apparently, the said line is erroneously used. Timeshare is not an investment wherein one can earn from it in the future. It is instead an investment in terms of the health benefits that vacationing can give as well as an investment in terms of being able to cut down on the preparation efforts for a one week or more vacation.

It clearly shows that words can be easily twisted to entice people on certain thoughts. Surely, timeshare cannot be an investment when you cannot always be certain that your personal home is an investment. These facts should lead more people to decide whether to buy a timeshare or not or to keep a timeshare or resell the timeshare instead.

According to The American Resort Development Association or ARDA, a recent passage of legislation by Florida’s state legislature ensures that important protections for timeshare owners and those who are selling their timeshares are in place. The bill HB 61 also codifies a common industry practice regarding the taxation of transient stays at timeshare resorts. It also allows timeshare developers to offer “Debt-Cancellation” products to purchasers.

It has become an increasing concern as state and local governments seek new revenue to fill the ever growing budget shortfalls although no state or jurisdiction currently collects a tax on timeshare exchange. One of the major attractions for timeshare buyers in recent years, Florida becomes the third state to pass legislation specifically protecting timeshare owners, particularly from taxes on exchange. Moreover, HB 61 protects the competitive position of Florida timeshares and the ability of Florida timeshare owners to effectively use the exchange process by preventing taxes that could raise the cost and lower the desirability of exchanges into the state.

ARDA, together with its Resort Owner’s Coalition, has advocated for state legislation guaranteeing that timeshare owners are protected from such taxes.

This HB 61 also cleared the way for timeshare developers to offer “Debt Cancellation” products. These arrangements would allow purchasers to return a timeshare to the developer if the individual losses a job or an occurrence of other specified events. This ensures that timeshare owners availing of the program will not experience negative impact on his consumer’s credit score. The legislation also represents the tax status of transient stays at timeshare properties. The common industry practice in such cases has been to remit tax in the same manner as a traditional hotel, but a recent court decision in South Florida called into question the taxability of these business transactions. With HB 61, the tax statutes of Florida can be updated to clarify that transient stays are taxable codifying the long-time practice.