Can you sell your timeshare back to RCI? The honest answer

Last updated 2026-07-25

Can I sell my timeshare back to RCI?

No. RCI (Resort Condominiums International) is a timeshare exchange company. It is not the developer that sold you your week or points, and it has no program to buy, take back, or resell any timeshare interest. RCI's business is running an exchange network that lets members trade their vacation ownership for stays at other affiliated resorts, a structure confirmed in RCI's affiliation with ARDA, the timeshare industry's trade association ^[1]. That's the whole business. RCI doesn't hold title to your unit, doesn't collect your maintenance fees, and has no financial stake in whether you keep or dump your ownership. A lot of owners assume RCI must have some kind of buyback desk because RCI's name is on their membership card, their exchange confirmations, and sometimes even their maintenance fee statements. It isn't. Your legal relationship is with the resort or homeowners association (HOA) that holds your deed or contract, not with RCI. If you call RCI asking to sell your week back, the most you'll get is a transfer of your RCI exchange membership itself, which is a separate thing from the underlying timeshare interest. This confusion costs owners real money. Scam operators know that "RCI buyback" and "RCI resale" are common search terms, and some run ads or cold-call scripts pretending to be affiliated with RCI to sell fake exit services. If anyone claiming to represent RCI asks for an upfront fee to "buy back" or "resell" your week, that's a red flag worth treating as a hard stop.

What does RCI actually do, if not buy timeshares?

RCI runs a points and weeks exchange network. You deposit your usage rights (a week, or points from a points-based system) into RCI's system, and in exchange you can book a stay at a different affiliated resort somewhere else, subject to availability, exchange fees, and RCI's own rules. RCI's business model runs on annual membership dues and exchange fees paid by members, not on buying or selling real estate interests. The company has no legal mechanism, under its own terms or under state real estate law, to accept a deed transfer from you. Deed transfers happen between the owner and either the resort/HOA (a deed-back), a new private buyer (a resale), or in some cases a licensed timeshare resale broker. Some resorts do have relationships with RCI for exchange purposes and separately run their own deed-back or exit programs. Those two things are run by the resort or its management company, not by RCI. If your RCI-affiliated resort has an exit program, you'd contact the resort or HOA directly, not RCI's exchange customer service line.

How do I actually get rid of an RCI-affiliated timeshare?

Start with your resort, not RCI. The most direct paths, in rough order of how often they actually work for owners: 1. Rescission, if you're still inside your state's cancellation window. This is the cleanest, fastest exit if you qualify, but the window is short and varies by state, so confirm your state's rescission window before you assume you've missed it. See our guide on how to get out of a timeshare for how rescission works state by state. 2. Deed-back to your resort or HOA. Many major developers (Marriott Vacation Club, Hilton Grand Vacations, Wyndham, and others) run some form of deed-back or "exit" program for owners current on fees, though acceptance isn't guaranteed and terms vary by brand and resort. Contact your HOA or developer directly and ask what their deed-back process requires. 3. Resale on the secondary market. Timeshare resale values are famously low; ARDA's own consumer-facing materials acknowledge that timeshare interests are not purchased as financial investments and that resale value is typically far below the original purchase price ^[2]. Don't pay large upfront fees to a resale "broker" promising a guaranteed sale. 4. Donation or transfer to a willing party, sometimes through the resort's own transfer process, occasionally through nonprofit or transfer services, understanding that maintenance fees follow the deed until it legally transfers. None of these run through RCI. RCI's role stays limited to exchanges, right up until the day you're no longer a timeshare owner at all.

Does RCI have a resale or exit program under a different name?

Not as a general program open to all members. RCI has, at times, operated smaller marketplace-style listing services for members wanting to advertise their week or points for sale or rent to other RCI members, but these are listing platforms, not a buyback or guaranteed-sale service. RCI does not purchase the listing itself, doesn't guarantee a sale, and doesn't take title. If you see a company using "RCI" prominently in ads for a paid exit or resale service and it isn't RCI's own website, treat it with real caution. Confirm any RCI-branded offer directly through RCI's official member support before paying anything. The Federal Trade Commission warns that timeshare resale and exit scams commonly use fake affiliations with real, recognizable brand names to build trust before asking for upfront payment ^[3].

Are timeshares scams?

The original purchase usually isn't a scam in the legal sense, it's a real contract, but the sales model is built around high-pressure tactics and numbers that rarely work out for the buyer. The FTC's consumer guidance on timeshares warns that "salespeople use high-pressure tactics to get you to buy" and that the resale market is weak, meaning owners who want out later often can't sell for anywhere near what they paid, sometimes for anything at all ^[3]. Where "scam" applies more literally is in the exit industry that grew up around unhappy owners. Numerous state attorneys general, including Florida's, have sued or issued warnings against timeshare exit companies that took large upfront fees (often $2,000 to $10,000+) and then did little or nothing to cancel the timeshare, sometimes advising owners to stop paying maintenance fees or mortgage payments, which damages the owner's credit and can lead to foreclosure. That's the part of this industry that deserves the scam label without qualification. So: the timeshare purchase is a bad deal for most buyers, not a criminal scam. The upfront-fee exit industry has a real and well-documented scam problem. Different question, different answer.

How much do timeshares cost?

Purchase price (new, from developer)	roughly $10,000 to $50,000+	ARDA 2023 [4]
Average purchase price	approx. $23,940	ARDA 2023 [4]
Average annual maintenance fee	approx. $1,120	ARDA 2023 [4]
Resale price	often a small fraction of original price	ARDA consumer guidance [2]	That gap between what you paid and what it's worth on resale is the core financial problem timeshare owners run into when they decide they want out.

The upfront purchase price and the ongoing fees are two separate numbers, and both matter. According to ARDA's 2023 State of the Vacation Ownership Industry report, the average price paid for a timeshare interval was around $23,940 ^[4]. That number covers a huge range: some fixed weeks at older resorts sell (new, from a developer) for under $10,000, while newer points-based products at major branded resorts can run $30,000 to $50,000 or more depending on season, size, and points allotment. Then there's the maintenance fee, billed annually regardless of whether you use the week. ARDA's data put the average annual maintenance fee at roughly $1,120 in 2023 ^[4], and fees typically rise a few percent every year, sometimes jumping sharply after a special assessment for a major renovation or storm damage. Owners of larger units or higher-demand resorts often pay well above that average; $1,500 to $2,500 a year isn't unusual for a two-bedroom unit at a popular resort. | Cost item | Typical range | Source |

How do you get out of a timeshare, step by step?

There's no single button to push, so here's the order that actually makes sense for most owners. First, check your calendar against your purchase date. If you're still inside your state's rescission period, that's your fastest and cheapest exit, full stop, and it costs you nothing but a certified letter. Every state sets its own rescission window and requirements; Florida, for example, gives buyers a 10-day cancellation period under Florida Statutes Chapter 721.10, which states a purchaser "may cancel the contract until midnight of the 10th calendar day following" the later of the execution date or receipt of the public offering statement ^[5]. Pull your own state's actual statute rather than assuming Florida's timeline applies everywhere. Second, if rescission has passed, call your resort's owner services or HOA and ask directly: "Do you have a deed-back or exit program, and what are the requirements?" Many programs require you to be current on maintenance fees and sometimes require a fee of a few hundred dollars to process the deed transfer. Get any offer in writing before you sign anything. Third, if there's no deed-back option, look at resale, understanding the market is weak and prices are low. A licensed real estate agent who specializes in timeshare resale (check their state license) is safer than an unlicensed "resale company" cold-calling you. Fourth, if you're being pursued for unpaid fees or a delinquent loan and considering a paid exit company, verify that company's business registration with your state attorney general's office and the Better Business Bureau before paying anything upfront. No legitimate company can promise a specific cancellation outcome, because your resort's rules and your contract terms control what's actually possible ^[3]. Our timeshare cancellation guide walks through the documentation piece of this in more detail, and our how to get out of timeshare page covers the deed-back and resale comparison side by side.

How do I sell my timeshare, realistically?

Selling is legal and possible, it's just rarely profitable, and it usually takes patience. List through a licensed timeshare resale broker or on a reputable marketplace, and price it based on comparable recent sales, not what you paid. ARDA's own consumer materials acknowledge timeshares aren't purchased as an investment vehicle and that resale prices routinely land far below original purchase price ^[2], so if a company promises you'll get most of your money back, that's not a realistic claim to build a plan around. Avoid any resale company that asks for payment before it finds a buyer. The FTC specifically warns that legitimate resale companies get paid after a sale closes, not before, and that any company demanding money upfront for a "guaranteed buyer" is a common exit-scam pattern ^[3]. Be patient about timeline. Unlike a house, there's no MLS-equivalent with strong buyer demand for most timeshare products, and some owners wait many months or longer without an offer. If you have zero interest after a reasonable listing period, deed-back to the resort (if offered) or a documented transfer/donation, handled properly through your HOA, sometimes ends up being the more realistic path than waiting for a resale buyer who may never show up.

What's the difference between a deed-back and a resale?

A deed-back means you hand the deed straight back to the resort or HOA, usually for no money (sometimes for a processing fee), and the resort cancels your ownership. A resale means you find a private buyer and transfer the deed to them, sometimes for a small payment, sometimes for nothing beyond covering closing costs. Deed-backs are faster and simpler when available, because there's no buyer to find and no price negotiation, but not every resort offers one, and some only accept deed-backs from owners who are fully paid off with no outstanding loan balance. Resales take longer and depend on finding a willing buyer in a market where demand and resale prices both run low ^[2]. Neither option runs through RCI, worth repeating one more time given how many owners land on this page assuming otherwise. If your resort participates in RCI's exchange network, that only affects how you use the timeshare while you own it; it has no bearing on how you get rid of it.

What should I do if a company says it's affiliated with RCI and can buy my timeshare?

Verify before you pay anything. Call RCI's official member services line (found through RCI's own website, not a number given to you by the company that contacted you) and ask directly whether the company is an authorized partner. In most cases, it won't be. This is the exact pattern the FTC and state attorneys general have flagged repeatedly: a company invokes a recognizable brand name to sound legitimate, then asks for an upfront fee ranging anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars for a resale or cancellation service it can't actually deliver on the terms promised ^[3]. Florida's Attorney General has pursued multiple enforcement actions against timeshare exit companies for exactly this kind of misrepresentation and fee-taking without delivering results. A few concrete checks before paying anyone: - Ask for the company's state business license number and verify it with the secretary of state's office where they're registered.

• Search the company name plus "attorney general" and plus "complaints" before signing anything.
• Never pay by wire transfer or gift card; both are common in fee-taking scams because they're hard to reverse.
• Keep paying your actual maintenance fees and loan payments while you sort this out. Stopping payment to pressure a resort into releasing you almost always backfires as delinquency fees, credit damage, and sometimes foreclosure ^[3]. Our timeshare exit companies page has a longer checklist for vetting any paid exit service, and our timeshare call list breaks down which offices (state AG, resort HOA, RCI itself for exchange questions) actually handle which piece of this.

Where ExitHonest fits if you're stuck

If you've confirmed rescission has passed, your resort has no deed-back program, and resale isn't moving, the next step is usually organizing your documents (deed, contract, fee history, any correspondence) before you approach the HOA again or consider a paid service. Our $149 one-time Exit Kit Builder walks you through building that document package and a request letter for your resort, without charging the thousands of dollars some exit companies charge for the same basic paperwork. It doesn't promise a specific outcome, nobody honest can promise that, but it gives you a clean, organized starting point before you spend real money on anyone else's process.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sell my timeshare back to RCI?

No. RCI is an exchange company, not a timeshare buyer or developer. It has no program to purchase, take back, or resell your timeshare interest. Your deed-back or resale options run through your resort, HOA, or a licensed resale broker, not through RCI's exchange customer service.

How to get out of a timeshare?

Check your state's rescission window first (it's short and varies by state). If that's passed, ask your resort or HOA about a deed-back program. If no deed-back exists, list for resale through a licensed broker, understanding resale values are usually low. Avoid any company demanding a large upfront fee promising a guaranteed outcome.

How do you get out of a timeshare if the rescission period already passed?

Contact your resort or HOA directly and ask about a deed-back or surrender program; many major developers offer some version of this for owners current on fees. If unavailable, pursue resale through a licensed broker. Verify any paid exit company's state license and complaint history before paying anything upfront.

How to sell a timeshare?

List through a licensed timeshare resale broker or reputable marketplace, priced near recent comparable sales, not your original purchase price. Never pay a company upfront for a "guaranteed buyer." Expect a long timeline and a low sale price; ARDA data shows resale values typically run far below original purchase cost.

How to get rid of a timeshare that I inherited?

Confirm you actually accepted the inheritance (you can sometimes disclaim it before it legally transfers to you). If you've already accepted it, contact the resort's HOA about a deed-back program, or consult a probate or estate attorney about formally disclaiming or transferring the interest, especially if fees are already delinquent.

Are timeshares scams?

The purchase contract itself usually isn't a legal scam, but the sales process uses heavy pressure tactics and the resale market is weak, per FTC consumer guidance. The bigger scam risk sits in the exit industry: state attorneys general have sued numerous exit companies for taking large upfront fees and delivering little or nothing.

How much is a timeshare?

ARDA's 2023 industry report put the average purchase price at about $23,940, with a wide range from under $10,000 for older fixed weeks to $30,000-$50,000+ for newer points products. Resale prices run far lower, often a small fraction of the original purchase amount.

How much do timeshares cost per year in maintenance fees?

ARDA's 2023 data put the average annual maintenance fee around $1,120, though larger units or higher-demand resorts often run $1,500 to $2,500 or more. Fees typically rise a few percent yearly and can jump sharply after a special assessment for repairs or storm damage.

Does RCI buy timeshares or offer a buyback program?

No, RCI has never operated a general buyback program. It runs an exchange network where members trade usage rights for stays at other resorts. Any deed transfer, whether back to the resort or to a new buyer, happens outside RCI, through the resort's HOA or a licensed resale broker.

Is it safe to pay an upfront fee to a company claiming RCI affiliation?

Be very cautious. Verify any RCI affiliation claim directly through RCI's official member services before paying anything. The FTC and multiple state attorneys general have documented exit scams that falsely invoke recognizable brand names to collect upfront fees without delivering a cancellation or sale.

What happens if I just stop paying my timeshare maintenance fees?

Stopping payment doesn't cancel your ownership; it usually triggers late fees, collections calls, credit damage, and eventually foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which can still show up on your credit report. Work through a deed-back, resale, or documented cancellation process instead of simply stopping payment.

What's the difference between a deed-back and selling a timeshare?

A deed-back means handing the deed directly back to the resort or HOA, usually for no payment, and the resort cancels the ownership. A resale means transferring the deed to a private buyer, typically for a small amount given weak resale demand. Deed-backs are simpler when a resort offers one.

Can I get a refund from RCI for unused points or exchange fees?

RCI's refund policies apply only to its own exchange membership fees and deposited exchange credits, governed by RCI's member terms, not to your underlying timeshare purchase price or maintenance fees. Contact RCI member services directly about their specific refund terms for exchange fees.

Sources

1. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), member directory listing for RCI: RCI operates as a timeshare exchange network and is a recognized industry member entity distinct from resort developers
2. ARDA, Owner's consumer guidance on timeshare resale value: Timeshares are not purchased as financial investments and resale value typically runs far below original purchase price
3. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: Timeshares, Vacation Clubs, and Related Scams: High-pressure sales tactics, weak resale market, and upfront-fee resale/exit scam warnings
4. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), State of the Vacation Ownership Industry 2023: Average timeshare purchase price and average annual maintenance fee figures
5. Florida Statutes, Section 721.10 (Cancellation of timeshare contracts): Florida sets a 10-day rescission period for timeshare purchase contracts, running from execution or receipt of the public offering statement, whichever is later
6. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Explains what a timeshare is and the financial obligations involved in ownership.
7. Florida Senate Statutes: Sets out disclosure requirements timeshare developers must provide, relevant to understanding timeshare costs and contracts.
8. Florida Senate Statutes: Establishes the rescission period allowing timeshare purchasers to cancel a contract within a specified timeframe.
9. National Association of Attorneys General: Provides consumer protection guidance related to timeshare resale and exit scams.