Originally Posted by pinniped

I had a friend buy a couple timeshares during the financial crisis in 2008. (Basically took them over pennies on the dollar on the secondary market.) They were places he wanted to go a few times and the "maintenance fee" was a decent value compared to renting a 2-bedroom apartment on VRBO or whatever.

If the market for them gets that bad here, I could see picking one up. (I don't have a real need for two!) I honestly know very little about timeshares - it's typically not my style of travel - so I'd have to do more research into how easy it is to just walk away from one if you're tired of it and it doesn't have any resale value.

Originally Posted by Eastbay1K

Resale values can be as low as 10% of purchase price, or less. And when you own real property, generally you just can't legally "give it away" - the deed has to be accepted by the grantee. Your unpaid fees will then cloud the title, as well as subject you to collection action. (And a leasehold interest is still an interest in real property, just for a fixed time.) Kind of like the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, but the door never opens. Or is it more like the Hotel California?

Here's are examples of a lower end Waikiki property on the resale market. It is a leasehold (as are many Hawaii properties, and most if not all Mexico properties). (Some are going for $1 plus costs of sale.)
https://www.timeshare-hawaii.com/pro...on-club-12264/
https://www.timeshare-hawaii.com/pro...on-club-12283/