There are two different types of timeshare contracts you can purchase: a deeded ownership and a Right To Use timeshare. With a deeded timeshare, you own an actual fraction of the property through a deed. Right To Use (RTU) gives you the right to vacation at the property. An RTU contract typically has an end date, where a deeded contract is for life.

Deeded Contracts

With deeded contracts the use of the resort is usually divided into week-long increments and are sold as real property via fractional ownership. As with any other piece of real estate, the owner may do whatever is desired: use the week, rent it, give it away, leave it to heirs, or sell the week to another prospective buyer. The owner is also liable for an equal portion of the real estate taxes, which usually are collected with condominium maintenance fees. The owner can potentially deduct some property-related expenses, such as real estate taxes from taxable income.

Deeded ownership can be as complex as outright property ownership in that the structure of deeds vary according to local property laws. Leasehold deeds are common and offer ownership for a fixed period of time after which the ownership reverts to the freeholder. Occasionally, leasehold deeds are offered in perpetuity, however many deeds do not convey ownership of the land, but merely the apartment or unit (housing) of the accommodation.

Right To Use Timeshare

By contrast, Right To Use (RTU) ownership is a system in which you purchase the right to use a specific unit or week at a resort for a set period of time (often between 10 and 50 years). The expiration date for your RTU timeshare is written into your contract, at which time you are no longer legally responsible for the timeshare.

Timeshare Exchange Programs

With either a deeded or RTU type of timeshare structure, the owner buys the right to use one particular property. This can be limiting to someone who prefers to vacation in a variety of places.

To offer greater flexibility, many resort developments participate in exchange programs. Exchange programs enable timeshare owners to trade time in their own property for time in another participating property. For example, the owner of a week in January at a condominium unit in a beach resort might trade the property for a week in a condo at a ski resort this year, and for a week in a New York City accommodation the next.

Exchange clubs can involve some challenges however. Usually, owners are limited to choosing another property classified similar to their own. Plus, additional fees are common, and popular properties might be tricky to get.