Lucky Number 100 !

Good Morning,

   As you may be wondering about the odd title of this post, today we're celebrating our 100th Blog Post (Woo Hoo!). In looking back over the past 99 previous posts, we have listed our top 5 posts (based on traffic and votes), in descending order:

#1: "5 Tips For Buying a Second Home/Condo for Investment or Vacation"

#2: "Has the Housing Market Impacted Curb Appeal?"

#3: "Short Sales - What Do You Need to Know?"

#4: "Are Timeshares Truly Related to Real Estate Investing?"

#5: "Right Time to Buy? Top Real Estate Investing Markets"


CONTEST NEWS FLASH:

   We want to take the time and thank you for being loyal readers of our Blog, and we invite you to receive a hard copy (PDF) of some of our earlier posts ("oldies, but goodies").
   For the first 10 people who send an E-mail to homebuyer@lease2buy.com with the subject, "Lucky Number 100 Blog Contest", we will send you a copy of this via return mail.

   Did you send the mail yet? These contests close very quickly, so don't delay.

   We hope to post 100,000 more entries that will entice you, inspire you, and enlighten you.

Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !!

Are Timeshares Truly Related to Real Estate Investing?

Hi Folks,


   Hope you are having a good "shortened" week so far.

   A request from our mighty mailbag has asked about the relationship between Timeshares and Real Estate Investing, and we spoke to a few people "in the know" about this.

   Lisa Ann Schreier, a consumer advocate with "The Timeshare Crusader", says that, "While buying a timeshare in the United States generally involves a deeded piece of real estate, that’s really where most of the similarities to general real estate end.", and that it should only be thought of as an investment in future vacations, since the value of a timeshare, "drastically decreases the moment it is purchased" and is not a very liquid purchase.

   Peter Giamalva, a partner with Creative Impact, says that, "A timeshare purchase can complement your overall real estate investments since you choose a timeshare to meet your lifestyle vacation needs", and suggests that you, "buy in locations where supply is limited and demand is high to maximize exchange value and improve your future selling options." Giamalva continues to say that, "like any good investment strategy, beneficial real estate investing requires diversification, and as you broaden your investments, you want to be active in different locations and different markets (annual versus seasonal for instance).”

   Schreier, however, points out that most timeshares are real estate based, and that consumers must know "that they are dealing with licensed real estate agents when purchasing or selling timeshare; whether on the primary or the secondary market." She warns that the secondary timeshare market is "rife with unlicensed organizations and persons charging an upfront fee, which is NOT the way real estate must be handled."

   Alan Brody, a Timeshare Owner, says that, "There are companies that actually charge you $2500 - $4000 to get RID of your timeshare because of the succession issue in timeshare contracts".

   "For consumers looking to buy a timeshare", says Schreier, there are "three basic questions I advise them to honestly answer before making any purchase:"

1. Do you understand the product (weeks, points, floating, fixed, etc.)?
2. Will you in all likelihood use the product?
3. Would you pay that amount of money “anyway” on future vacations?
.....Additionally, she says that, "any one 'no' is a deal-breaker for me."

   What are your thoughts on the timeshare market? Do you Agree or Disagree? We'd love to hear your opinion.

Have a Great Day, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !!