Timeshare transfer: how to transfer ownership and what to watch for

Short answer

A timeshare transfer moves your ownership and your yearly fee responsibility to someone else. In short:

• Check your contract for transfer fees, approvals and a right of first refusal.
• Bring fees and any loan current. Resorts may refuse a transfer while you owe money.
• Use the correct documents, such as a recorded deed or a developer transfer form.
• Get written confirmation from the resort that your name is off the account.

Transfers are not guaranteed, and the receiver must truly want the ownership. If it will not work, other exit routes may exist.

If you are looking into a timeshare transfer, you probably want one thing: to stop being the owner without a fight. Transferring ownership means legally moving your timeshare to someone else, such as a family member, a buyer, or the developer. It sounds simple, but a transfer only works if the other side agrees and the paperwork is done correctly. This guide explains how timeshare ownership transfer works, what it can cost, and where owners get stuck.

What is a timeshare transfer?

A timeshare transfer changes who owns the timeshare and who is responsible for it. For a deeded timeshare, that usually means recording a new deed. For a points or membership product, it usually means the developer or club updates its records to a new member.

The key point: a transfer is not the same as walking away. The new owner takes on the yearly maintenance fees and any assessments, and your contract may keep you responsible until the transfer is fully complete. Until the resort or club confirms it in writing, you may still be on the hook.

Who can you transfer a timeshare to?

There are four common routes, and each has trade-offs:

• A family member or friend. This is the simplest to arrange, but only works if they truly want the ownership and understand the fees that come with it.
• A buyer. This is a sale, and the transfer is the last step. Our guide on how to sell a timeshare covers pricing and listing.
• The developer or resort. Some developers run surrender or deed-back programs for owners who qualify. See deed back a timeshare.
• A transfer service. Some companies offer to handle the paperwork or take the ownership. Be careful here, as covered below.

Check these before you transfer

Most failed transfers fail because of something that could have been checked first. Before you pick a route, look at:

• Your contract. Look for transfer fees, approval requirements, limits on who can receive the ownership, and any right of first refusal that lets the resort step in first.
• Your balances. Resorts often will not process a transfer while maintenance fees, assessments or a loan are unpaid. Ask owner services for a current statement.
• Your ownership type. Deeded ownership, a points program and a right-to-use membership are handled differently. Some right-to-use contracts can only be ended through the developer.
• Your co-owners. If the timeshare is in more than one name, everyone usually has to sign.

Our timeshare exit checklist lists the documents to gather before you call anyone.

How to transfer timeshare ownership in 6 steps

1. Ask the resort for its transfer rules

Call owner services and ask for the transfer requirements in writing: forms, fees, approvals and timing. Rules vary by resort and by state, so use the resort's answer instead of guessing.

2. Confirm the receiver wants it

Make sure the new owner understands the annual fees, possible special assessments and the fact that fees tend to rise over time. A person who is pressured into a gift timeshare may end up in the same spot you are in now.

3. Settle what you owe

Bring maintenance fees current and deal with any loan. If there is a loan, the lender generally has to be paid or has to agree to the change. Do not stop paying fees or your loan while the transfer is pending. Missed payments can lead to collections, credit damage and, for deeded timeshares, possible foreclosure.

4. Prepare the transfer documents

For deeded timeshares this is usually a deed, often a quitclaim or warranty deed, signed in front of a notary and recorded with the county where the property sits. For points and memberships it is usually a developer transfer form. The requirements differ by state, so many owners use a title or closing company, or an attorney, rather than a template.

5. Record and file it

A deed that is signed but never recorded may not change ownership in the public record. Ask whoever handles the closing to confirm recording and to send you proof.

6. Get written confirmation from the resort

This is the step people skip. Ask the resort or club to confirm in writing that the account has moved to the new owner, that your name is off it, and that you owe nothing further. Keep that letter.

What a timeshare transfer can cost

Costs vary a lot, so be wary of any single number you see online. Fees that may come up include:

• A resort or club transfer fee
• A closing, title or attorney fee for preparing the documents
• County recording fees and, in some places, transfer taxes
• Notary fees
• Any overdue maintenance fees, assessments or loan payoff

Ask for every fee in writing before you agree to anything, and ask who pays each one. Our maintenance fees guide explains how fee debt can follow an owner.

Can you just give a timeshare away?

Sometimes, but not always. Because of the yearly fees, many people do not want a timeshare even for free, and resorts can refuse a transfer that does not meet their rules. If a stranger offers to take your timeshare for free, ask hard questions. Why would they want it, and what do they get out of it?

A legitimate transfer should be documented, recorded and confirmed by the resort. If the other party cannot show you that process, or if they ask you to keep paying fees "for now," treat that as a warning sign.

Transfer company red flags

Owners who want out are a common target for upfront-fee schemes. Be careful if a company:

• Guarantees it will take over your timeshare or guarantees a result or timeline
• Asks for a large fee before doing any work
• Cannot explain who the new owner will be and how the resort will confirm the change
• Tells you to stop paying your loan or maintenance fees
• Pushes you to decide fast or sign before you have read the contract

Read our guide to timeshare exit scams and our overview of how to choose a timeshare exit company before paying anyone.

If a transfer will not work

If nobody will take the ownership, or the resort will not approve a transfer, you still have other routes. Depending on your contract, your timing and your state, they may include:

• Cancellation inside the rescission window. If you bought recently, you may still be within the cancellation period that most states give buyers. See the rescission period guide.
• A developer surrender or deed-back program. These often have eligibility rules and may require a paid-off account.
• A contract review. If the sale involved misleading promises, a review can help you understand what other options may exist. Talking to a timeshare lawyer is another option, and costs vary.

For all of the routes side by side, see our exit options comparison or the main guide on how to get out of a timeshare.

Timeshare Exit Path is a free consumer guide, not a law firm. Our partner, an independent timeshare exit company, pays us for referrals.

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