How much does it cost to get out of a timeshare?

Getting out of a timeshare can cost anywhere from nothing to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the route — and the cheapest routes are usually the safest. Canceling within your state's rescission window is free. A developer deed-back or surrender program is often free or carries only a modest transfer fee of a few hundred dollars. Reselling through a legitimate marketplace costs a small flat listing fee, though timeshares frequently sell for as little as a dollar. A consumer or real-estate attorney typically charges a normal hourly or flat fee. The most expensive route is a third-party 'exit company,' which often charges $5,000 to $30,000 upfront — and is the route the FTC has repeatedly acted against for taking money and delivering nothing. Work from cheapest to most expensive.

Work from cheapest to most expensive

The price of leaving a timeshare ranges from $0 to tens of thousands of dollars, and — unusually — the cheapest routes are also the most reliable. The expensive "guaranteed exit" route is where most timeshare horror stories happen. Here is what each path actually costs.

The free or near-free routes

Rescission (cancellation) window — free. If you signed recently, every state lets new buyers cancel within a few days and get a full refund of any deposit. Send written notice by certified mail. This is the only route that gets your money back, and it costs nothing.
Developer deed-back or surrender — free to a few hundred dollars. Many major developers run voluntary exit programs. Some are free; some charge a modest one-time transfer fee (often a few hundred dollars, not thousands). See can you give a timeshare back to the resort.
Resale through a legitimate marketplace — a small flat listing fee. Sites like Timeshare Users Group (TUG) and RedWeek charge a small flat fee to list. Be realistic: an oversupplied secondary market means many timeshares sell for as little as $1. The goal is ending the future fees, not recouping the purchase price. Never pay an upfront fee to a company that claims it already has a buyer — that is a common resale scam.

The paid — but reasonable — route

A consumer or real-estate attorney — a normal hourly or flat fee. If the developer refuses a deed-back and there was deceptive conduct at the sale, an attorney can review your contract and pursue a release. A legitimate attorney charges a reasonable hourly or flat fee and does not demand a large upfront retainer. Costs vary by state and by how complex the contract is.

The most expensive — and riskiest — route

Third-party "timeshare exit companies" are the priciest option by far. Many of the companies the FTC and state attorneys general have sued charged owners somewhere between $5,000 and $30,000 upfront — and a number of owners paid that money and never got out of their contracts. Paying thousands in advance buys no guarantee, and a "money-back guarantee" is frequently written so narrowly that it never pays out. Before you consider this route, read are timeshare exit companies legit.

Don't forget the cost of keeping it

Part of the math is what you save by leaving. Timeshare maintenance fees average over $1,000 a year and tend to rise annually, whether or not you ever use the property — plus occasional special assessments. Weigh a one-time exit cost against years of escalating dues. And know the consequence of simply walking away: a loan can be foreclosed and unpaid fees go to collections, hurting your credit. See what happens if you stop paying your timeshare. This article is general information, not legal advice.