Last month, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) issued a couple of consumer advisories to aid existing timeshare owners in their quest for timeshare relief. The timeshare resale industry involves timeshare resale companies, online advertising companies, and other companies related to the secondary timeshare market. The ARDA advisories were aimed to help in ushering towards a safer and more positive resale environment. Both advisories were designed to help dispense with the increasing misinformation and confusion in the timeshare secondary market by supplying tips in verifying timeshare resale companies as well as their business practices, fees, and services.

Howard Nusbaum, Chief Executive Officer of ARDA issued a press release statement in relation to the current lawsuit faced by two Florida timeshare resale companies engaging in highly suspect timeshare relief activities. “This is not an indictment of our reputable resale company members, but rather a problem faced by everyone who loves this industry being painted with the same ‘timeshare scam’ brush,” said Nusbaum. “We continue to work with stakeholders to craft what we believe will be guidelines for best practices and legislation.”

Even if there are legitimate timeshare relief companies providing resale services out there, the huge majority of timeshare resale companies are mere fronts for fraudulent business practices. Hence, timeshare owners should always verify any timeshare relief company prior to transacting with it. The advisories issued by ARDA are very specific tips that should be followed by timeshare owners before getting rid of their timeshares by dealing with a potential timeshare relief company.

A lot of timeshare owners today who are frantic for any form of timeshare relief have mistakenly procured the services of the wrong company. This is because the majority of timeshare relief companies out there are mere fronts for fraudulent activities. Here are a few tips to avoid being misled by unscrupulous organizations.

Never permit something because of a telephone conversation until you have verified the credentials of a company.

Written materials such as brochures are poor indicators of legitimacy as these are easily fabricated.

Company references such as business addresses and contact numbers should be immediately verified

Ask for the real estate license of the company and verify it with the corresponding agency

Inquire about the company’s method of payment whether they charge commissions or upfront fees. In addition, ask if there is a single payment involve, or if you will still have to pay for the processing and escrow fees.

Companies who charge upfront appraisal fees are usually unreliable. The most reliable companies only charges fees after a successful sale.

The best tip is still to consult with the Better Business Bureau or any local consumer protection agency. This is because the BBB as well as agencies of the sort mentioned above will have a record of the complaints filed against the company. Complaints are pretty standard for most companies but the more legitimate ones will have a proven track record of complaint resolutions. Timeshare owners wishing to get rid of their timeshare are best off availing of the services of such companies.

Scores of timeshare owners today are ever more displeased with their vacation packages. The inevitable presence of expensive maintenance fees has prompted many timeshare owners to secure the aid of timeshare relief companies. By doing so, they hope to be alleviated from the recurring scourges of costly upkeep charges as well as the intermittent bills for special assessment fees. Hence, an increasing number of owners are seeking aid from third party companies, going so far as to recompense these companies for their service; ever hoping that their service fee would be their last expense on their timeshare property.

It is to the dismay of many owners that most of these timeshare relief service companies require the payment of an upfront fee before providing their services. In the timeshare resale business, a common modus operandi for fraudulent timeshare relief companies is to charge an upfront fee without guaranteeing the eventual sale of the timeshare property. Listing services are notorious for this type of timeshare resale operation, as the timeshares of their customers are just included in a public listing without further action on the part of the listing company.

Title transfer companies, on the other hand, also require upfront fees for their services. Title transfer companies transfers the timeshare ownership from the owner to a corporation, hence, freeing the owner forever from his timeshare financial liabilities. However, timeshare owners wishing to avail of this service should first make sure that the title transfer company is legally capable of getting rid of the timeshare property of the owner.

Many owners today are getting rid of their timeshare vacation packages due to expensive maintenance fees. Some owners choose to avail of the services of listing companies in order to help them sell their timeshare properties. However, timeshare property owners should be aware of the different types of listing services in order to effectively facilitate the sale or resale of their timeshare vacation package.

Listing services all have one thing in common, that is, they are advertising tools to expedite the sale of a particular timeshare property. However, different types of listing services provide different benefits and disadvantages; hence, owners should select the best type of listing service according to their unique needs.

Non-exclusive listings allow owners to contract with several brokers at once. Real estate brokers generally would not accept non-exclusive listings as their commissions are not guaranteed upon the sale of the timeshare. In contrast, exclusive listings bestow upon the broker exclusive rights for the sale of the timeshare. Hence, upon the conclusion of a sale, the broker receives his commission even if he was not the one responsible for the sale.

Lastly, net listing services allow owners to determine a fix price for the sale of their timeshare. Brokers may sell the timeshare at whatever price as long as he remits to the owner the agreed upon amount upon the conclusion of the sale. Thus, whichever listing service the owner chooses, the owner is assured of timely relief in their timeshare sales dilemma.

A new Senate Bill was passed this month entitled the “Travel Promotion Act” for the benefit of US tourism and travel. The bill has indirectly benefited exiting timeshare owners desiring to get rid of their timeshares. Senate Bill 1023 or the Travel Promotion Act has created a public-private partnership devoted to the promotion of the United States of America as a premium tourism hot-spot. The Act was also enacted for the purpose of better demonstrating and elucidating on the advantages of US security policies to the travel market consumer base. The program has been predicted to produce approximately 40,000 new jobs, generating over $4 billion in new consumer spending as well as decreasing the US budget deficit by as much as $425 million.

The Travel Promotion Act has been forecasted to lure hundreds of thousands of new visitors to the United States. Market study results have shown that foreign tourists spend an approximate mean of about $4500 dollars per individual for every visit to the US. Thus, the increase in visitors would naturally result to an increase in the number of tourists not to mention the increase in vacation periods in the US. All of these factors would have a considerable beneficial effect in increasing the incidence of future timeshare purchases.

By promoting and encouraging US travel and tourism to the global community, the Travel Promotion Act will not only generate much needed additional revenue for the federal budget but will also potentially save the capitulating sections of the US tourism industry. The recent economic breakdowns has diminished the market status of many sectors in US tourism especially the luxury real estate divisions such as the timeshare industry. It is a sad fact that the status of timeshare ownership has driven many existing owners to give up their properties either by selling their timeshares or obtaining aid from timeshare relief companies. However, with the enactment of the Travel Promotion Act, it may be that the future of timeshare ownership in the US has a better chance of survival compared to the rest of the world.

Spending holidays or vacation tours in prestigious resorts and hotels is everyone’s dream and it’s surely a lure. That’s how timesharing gets in and has now become a trend. The system of timesharing tends to be very popular that the impact became so appealing to most vacation goers dreaming of having or owning a timeshare property.

However, many complaints are coming up from timeshare owners trying to get rid of their timeshares. And you start to ponder why they want to be free from the property.

You may think that owners want to be free from their timeshares because they may have been affected by the global recession today. Another possible reason that you may think of is that they will venture into other forms of investments that can be a source of funds. Yes, your perceptions may be true if you are not familiar with the real scenario of timesharing.

To fully understand what is really going on with timeshare, here are some realities that owners experience. They regularly pay maintenance charges, and sometimes their timeshare company charges them special billings without explanation what it is for. Their financial obligation continues to increase every year, while the value of the property decreases. And the longer they keep the property, the more money they waste.

Now that you have insights, you can say that is justifiable for owners to seek for timeshare relief if they want to free themselves from their financial liabilities. It’s a relief to have that freedom over your finances again.

In his last address to the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC), Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO for Group RCI, announced that Australia is the most sought after timeshare location these days. There is then the possibility that timeshare owners who want to seek for relief from their timeshares will increase in the country.

The demand for timeshare in Australia is based on the data gathered from timeshare owners who are mostly composed of Americans. Americans are the biggest market of timeshares. And most Americans have not gone to Australia for a vacation. So, they are looking at Australia to avail of their timeshare vacation week.

With this booming interest in Australia, the possibility of also increasing the need for timeshare relief in the area must concern not only the timeshare owners but most especially the legislators. Proper legislations must be put in place to protect the citizenry as well as the timeshare companies from also experiencing the current situation in other countries where timesharing is both gaining positive and negative feedback.

Regulation of companies who market timeshares should be strictly done. The number of fraudulent sales agents and companies should not increase with the increase of the demand for Australian timeshares.

It is good to know that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is strict in their regulation of the timeshare industry. The Commission not only demands for financial services license but also clear paper works and presentations. With the rate of regulation in Australia, those interested to purchase timeshares may be well-informed enough not to need timeshare relief in the future.

Australia is the most sought after location for timesharing, according to Geoff Ballotti, CEO for Group RCI during his address in the 2009 ATHOC conference. Mr. Ballotti also stressed that Australia is the most demanded place out of their 4400 resorts, and that people would want to come to Australia more than anywhere else in the world.

Now, you have a crowd to donate or resell your timeshare package. Since the beaches are breathtaking and the weather can accommodate and support a large number of timeshare developments, Australia, particularly the Gold Coast, is being looked at for the best location of timeshare resort construction. People will now be elated and enthralled to have your timeshare membership pass on to them with the possibility of a growing timeshare location in Australia.

Most timeshare owners are Americans and since Australia is one of the least timeshare locations that they visit, they are looking forward to be able to go on vacation in the country. This report then calls for the big timeshare developers like Marriott and Disney to put up their resorts in the Gold Coast or other sites in the country. RCI will also support the projects that can potentially open the timeshare market for more possible customers and resort locations.

However, if you cannot convince people on taking or receiving your timeshare account, you can always contact timeshare relief for positive outcome on your efforts to get rid of the liabilities that come with your timeshare account.