A Guide to Understanding Timeshare Maintenance Fees

The idea of vacation ownership can sound attractive. Who wouldn’t want to have their own slice of paradise? But timeshare owners eventually learn it’s not that simple. Not only do you have a mortgage and other expenses, but you must also pay annual maintenance fees for your timeshare. Understanding timeshare maintenance fees is critical to see the whole cost of a timeshare — and why vacation ownership is far more expensive than you were led to believe.

Annual maintenance fees are ongoing costs that you pay to your timeshare company every year. You can expect your fees to go up every time you pay. Perhaps worst of all, you will never finish paying off maintenance fees. You will keep paying every single year for the rest of your life. (And, if your will gives the timeshare to your heirs, they’ll be paying timeshare maintenance fees for the rest of their lives as well.)

This article will take an in-depth look at annual maintenance fees: what they are used for, how much they can cost, and what happens if you don’t pay them. Most critically, we’ll look at what to do if you can no longer afford to throw that money out the window. As the premier timeshare exit company, Centerstone Group can help you achieve freedom and salvage your finances after a bad timeshare experience.

Maintenance fees cover the upkeep and routine repair of timeshare resort properties. Since it’s a time-consuming job to keep resorts in shape, developers either pay a timeshare management company or homeowners association (HOA) — or more often, themselves — to manage properties. 

Obviously, it’s a problem when the company that is managing the property also sets the fees that timeshare owners pay it, because that creates an incentive to overcharge. And that’s exactly what happens. Maintenance fees become a huge profit center and is why fees continually increase.  

The Amount You Can Expect to Pay

According to numbers published by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) in June 2025, the average costs for maintenance fees were $1,480 per weekly interval. These fees are used to pay a variety of costs, as shown in the table below.

As you can see from the table above, the hefty amount of annual maintenance fees pays for a variety of services to the property. They are, however, only a portion of what you will ultimately have to pay.

Don’t Forget to Add Special Assessment Fees

In addition to the maintenance fees, you will have to pay special assessments, which are costs for specific repair or improvement projects. Think of new amenities, like new swimming pools, designed to lure in even more new timeshare owners. 

A special assessment may also be charged for repairing damage after a natural disaster, like a hurricane. In this way, special assessments can be less predictable and more financially damaging than the already considerable amount you’re paying in maintenance fees, especially in disaster-prone areas like Puerto Rico and southern Florida.

In fact, older units in Florida are facing exactly this problem, as companies kept fees low by failing to save for repairs, then used special assessments to cover the shortfall. Now, Florida law requires increased reserves for repairs to those units, which means owners there now face high special assessments and increased maintenance fees.

Total Fees Per Interval Will Cost You Thousands Per Year 

The total amount of annual maintenance fees and special assessments can change between developers, resorts, and even contracts within the same company. It will also be influenced by the type of timeshare you have (deeded versus non-deeded) and how big that interest is.

In some cases, you could be paying far more than the average amount in both fees and special assessments. According to an August 2025 news report, the cost of ownership widely varied based on location alone.

In addition, if your developer requires membership in a timeshare exchange company like Interval International, you can expect to pay nearly $200 per year on top of those fees.

Despite what the timeshare salesperson might’ve told you, you probably can’t write off your timeshare maintenance fees. However, state tax laws differ widely, so it is difficult to give a definitive answer.

Generally speaking, though, timeshare maintenance costs are not the same as real estate or property taxes (which usually can be deducted on federal tax returns, though they’re typically less than 1% of the total annual fee) or other itemizable deductions. As a rule, it would be very difficult to convince the IRS or state tax agencies that timeshare maintenance fees are a deductible expense.

This hard truth means that you will either have to keep paying those fees every year or find a way out of your timeshare contract.

No, you don’t want to just stop paying your timeshare maintenance fees. Timeshare companies have designed their contracts so that if you fail to pay your maintenance fees or any other financial obligations of timeshare ownership, they can come after you. The company may foreclose on your timeshare. If that doesn’t get them all the money they’re owed, they may even get a deficiency judgment against you.

Westgate Resorts even openly states on its website that failing to pay the timeshare company could negatively impact your credit score, causing problems with getting other financing or loans in the future. A hit on your credit report could also make any loans you do manage to get much more expensive.

While you might think a developer would just realize they can’t get blood from a stone and leave you be, that’s not how these companies work. They’re very good at getting their money, whether through foreclosure or other means. Failing to pay them puts you at their mercy and makes your situation even more difficult than it already is.

This question is trickier to answer than it may seem. If you are talking about a mortgage, then yes, you will eventually pay off your timeshare. But understanding timeshare maintenance fees will make it clear that you will never, ever be done dumping money into your timeshare.

Owners who want to get off the hamster wheel do have some options though.

1. Selling Your Timeshare

First, let’s be clear that you will almost certainly not sell your timeshare for a profit on the resale market.  Timeshares are commonly listed on Craigslist and eBay for $1, or even for free. Even at that lowest of prices, dismayed owners often find that there are no buyers, and these listings languish in dusty corners of the internet for years.

That means that timeshares like yours may literally be worth less than a dime a dozen. That said, in some cases it may be possible to resell your timeshare, but only with a licensed Realtor who specializes in the area and can give you an honest assessment.

Also, you may not even be able to try a resale under the terms of your contract. The developer may have limited or forbidden any sale without their approval, or subject to a right of first refusal. Timeshare resale, then, if often just not a realistic option.

2. Deed-Back to the Developer

Timeshare developers frequently encourage owners to “deed-back” their units to the company as a method of exit. While this may sound tempting, consider that developers are entirely in charge of these programs. They don’t have to let you through if they don’t feel like it, which they usually don’t. In reality, developers will not allow deed-backs unless they are put under a substantial amount of pressure.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t ask; it’s just that you should be prepared for extreme resistance to the idea.

If you owe any money on your mortgage, or if you owe outstanding fees, you will not be approved for a deed-back. Even assuming that you do everything right, there are often long waiting lists for these programs, so there’s no telling how long you could wait for a resolution. (And the whole time you’re waiting, you will be paying fees).

3. Timeshare Exit Services With Centerstone Group

While the outlook might seem bleak, don’t let that make you think there is no way out. Centerstone Group has helped thousands of timeshare owners just like you escape the money pits created by their timeshare agreements.

In contrast to the exit options given by developers, our solutions are designed to get you out of your timeshare as quickly as possible, with minimal expense and trouble. We also understand that not one solution fits all people. Maybe we can help you achieve a timeshare rescission to get a full refund on a recently purchased timeshare.

Perhaps you need a deed-back through our proprietary pressure campaign, which turns the tactics of timeshare companies against them, or perhaps you can utilize our successful transfer program to get out of your timeshare.

When it’s a fair fight, many times these developers will buckle under the pressure. That’s why getting the best timeshare exit company on your side can be the smartest, most effective — and often the cheapest — option.

Below are a few common questions, with some resources providing answers.

1. I Just Bought a Timeshare. Can I Cancel and Get a Refund?

You can maybe cancel and get a refund (known as a rescission), if you act quickly. Depending on your state’s timeshare cancellation laws, you may be able to send a cancellation letter to a specific address and get a full refund. But if you don’t do it correctly, you’ll be stuck. Centerstone Group can provide you with free guidance on the rescission process.

2. Can I Protest Fees?

Yes, you can protest anything you like, but it’s doubtful that the company will listen to you or adjust your fees. Once you sign a contract with the fine print detailing the company’s fee structure, you’re most likely locked in. Developers will not negotiate lower fees with you, even if you’re struggling to pay.

However, if you were tricked into signing that contract by fraud or misrepresentation, Centerstone Group may be able to find a timeshare attorney to help you.

3. Will My Maintenance Fees Go Up?

Yes, your fees are sure to increase every year. Fees and their underlying costs are subject to inflation just like everything else. Also, the developers want to make as much money as possible, so they will institute fee increases at every opportunity.

For example, the average maintenance fee amount has gone up every year since 2020, according to ARDA:

• 2020: $1,090
• 2021: $1,120
• 2022: $1,170
• 2023: $1,260
• 2024: $1,480 

4. Can I Give Back My Timeshare Instead of Paying the Fees I Owe?

Generally, no, developers will usually not allow you to deed-back a timeshare without being current on your fees. However, Centerstone Group can consult with you to find a solution if this is your situation.

5. Can I Just Give My Timeshare to Someone Else and Make Them Responsible for the Fees?

You can’t give your timeshare to someone else without the proper legal steps. The contract you signed when you bought the timeshare made you responsible for the fees. If you refuse to pay, the timeshare company will come after you as the signer of that contract. Again, if you need to transfer your timeshare, Centerstone Group has a program that can allow you to do that.

6. I Recently Got a Phone Call from a Company Telling Me They Could Sell My Timeshare. Can I Sell It That Way?

No, if you received an unsolicited call about selling your timeshare, it’s likely a scam, and you should contact law enforcement right away. The so-called timeshare resale companies that make unsolicited phone calls to owners are known to defraud them out of thousands of dollars. They have also been criminally investigated in several states, including Florida. If you have any doubts about an offer you have received, Centerstone Group will gladly give you a free consultation to review your options.

7. Do All Timeshare Exit Companies Offer the Same Services?

No, not all timeshare exit companies are created equal, and you must be careful to avoid companies that have engaged in bad practices, like misleading or abandoning customers. Always look for a free consultation, and ask plenty of questions before selecting the company that is right for you.

Pushy salespeople at timeshare sales presentations will do everything they can to distract you from the true price of your timeshare. Because of that, sitting down and understanding timeshare maintenance fees can come as a shock. You might even feel betrayed or trapped.

It might feel like you have no escape from the fees, but you do. Let Centerstone Group help. Our team has decades of experience in the timeshare industry, and we have successfully achieved timeshare exits with developers throughout the country and even overseas.

As an A+-rated, accredited company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), we have achieved an outstanding customer satisfaction rating of 4.78-out-of-5 stars. We achieved that by collecting decades of expertise in several different exit methods. While every case is different, we have the breadth and depth of experience to find the right solution for every case.