Lonestar Transfer and getting out of a timeshare: what to know

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is Lonestar Transfer and how does it fit into timeshare exit companies?

Lonestar Transfer is a timeshare exit and transfer company, one of dozens operating in a industry that has grown alongside owner frustration over rising fees. Companies like this typically advertise that they'll cancel your contract, transfer the deed off your name, or negotiate with the resort on your behalf, usually for a fee paid before work starts. Before you sign with any exit company, including Lonestar Transfer, verify its standing with your state attorney general's consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau, and ask for the exact legal mechanism it plans to use (deed-back, resort buyback, litigation, or negotiated release). The Federal Trade Commission has specifically warned consumers to research a timeshare exit company before paying it anything, noting that some of these companies take fees and never deliver a promised cancellation ^[1]. That's not a knock on any one company by name, it's the baseline due diligence the FTC recommends for the entire category. If you're comparing Lonestar Transfer against other firms, read our breakdown of timeshare exit companies before paying anyone a deposit.

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

There's no single button that gets you out. The right path depends entirely on timing: are you still inside your rescission window, or have you owned this thing for years? First, check your rescission deadline. Every state that regulates timeshares gives buyers a short window, often measured in single-digit days, to cancel for any reason and get a full refund. This is your fastest, cheapest, and safest exit if you qualify, and it costs you nothing but a certified letter. Confirm your state's exact rescission window with your state's statute or attorney general's office before you assume you've missed it. Second, if you're past rescission, contact the resort or management company directly and ask about a deed-back or surrender program. Many major developers (Marriott Vacation Club, Wyndham, Bluegreen, and others) run some version of this, sometimes called "Ovation" or "Property Owner Transfer," though terms and eligibility change constantly and aren't guaranteed to accept your unit. Third, consider resale, though be realistic about value (more on that below). Fourth, only after ruling out the free and low-cost options should you consider a paid exit service, and only after checking references, payment structure, and complaint history. See our full walkthrough at how to get out of a timeshare for the decision tree in more detail.

How do you get out of a timeshare during the rescission period?

This is the cleanest exit that exists, and most owners don't realize how short the window is until it's already closed. Rescission (also called a "cooling-off" period) lets you cancel a timeshare purchase within a set number of days after signing, no reason required, full deposit and down payment refunded. The mechanics are simple but the deadline is not negotiable. You typically must send written notice, often by certified mail with return receipt, to the address specified in your purchase contract, and you must do it before the window closes. Some states count from the date of signing, others from the date you received the public offering statement or the last document. The details vary enough state to state that guessing is a bad idea. Florida, for example, one of the highest-volume timeshare states, gives buyers 10 calendar days after execution of the contract or receipt of the public offering statement, whichever is later, per Florida Statutes section 721.10 ^[2]. Other states set their own separate periods, so don't assume your state matches Florida's. Read our state-by-state guide to timeshare cancellation to find your specific deadline and the exact notice language your state requires.

How to sell a timeshare (and what it's actually worth)?

You can sell a timeshare, but the resale market is brutal, and most owners recover a fraction of what they paid, sometimes nothing at all. The honest number: timeshares routinely resell for a small percentage of the original purchase price, and a large share of listings on resale marketplaces sit for months or years without a buyer, because supply badly outweighs demand. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the industry's own trade group, reported that the average per-interval price paid by timeshare buyers was $24,140 in its 2023 State of the Vacation Ownership Industry report, a summary of which ARDA published through its research arm ^[3]. Resale prices for comparable weeks routinely appear for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on secondary marketplaces, and some owners give theirs away for $1 just to stop paying maintenance fees. If you want to try selling, list only through licensed resale brokers or marketplaces, never pay large upfront "marketing fees" to a company that cold-calls you promising a buyer is "already interested," and expect the process to take months. The FTC's consumer guidance on timeshare resales flags this pattern directly, warning owners about resale companies that charge fees and never deliver a sale ^[1]. A deed-back to the resort, where you literally hand the deed back and walk away (sometimes for a small fee, sometimes free), usually nets you more relief per dollar than trying to sell into a market that doesn't want your week.

How to get rid of a timeshare when resale isn't working?

If selling isn't realistic, deed-back and surrender programs are usually the next best move, assuming your resort offers one and your account is current. Many developers now run formal exit or take-back programs. These programs generally require your maintenance fees to be paid current, sometimes require the deed to be free of a mortgage, and sometimes charge a processing fee, but they avoid the cost and risk of a third-party exit company. Call your resort's owner services line and ask specifically whether a deed-back, surrender, or deedback program exists for your property, because availability differs by brand and even by specific resort. If your resort has no such program, some owners work with real estate attorneys to formally transfer or quitclaim the deed to another party. This carries real risk if not done properly. Simply signing a quitclaim deed to a stranger or shell company doesn't necessarily end your contractual maintenance fee obligation if the transfer isn't accepted and recorded correctly by the HOA. Our guide on how to get out of timeshare covers deed-back mechanics in more state-specific detail, including which programs are currently active.

Are timeshares scams?

Timeshares themselves are legal financial products, not scams by definition, but the sales process and the exit industry around them are both loaded with deceptive practices that regulators actively pursue. On the purchase side, state attorneys general have sued or settled with multiple developers over high-pressure sales tactics, and state consumer protection agencies field a steady volume of timeshare sales-practice complaints. On the exit side, the FTC and the state of Missouri sued the operators of a timeshare exit company doing business as Timeshare Exit Team in 2021, alleging in the complaint that the company took large upfront fees, in many cases thousands of dollars, while failing to get consumers out of their contracts as promised ^[4]. So the honest answer: the product is real, the value proposition is often bad, and both the original sales floor and a meaningful slice of the exit industry have well-documented scam patterns. Treat every unsolicited call, especially one that says "we have a buyer" or demands payment before any work is done, as a red flag until proven otherwise.

How much is a timeshare, really?

Developer purchase price (avg.)	$24,140	ARDA 2023 [3]
Annual maintenance fee (avg.)	$1,260	ARDA 2023 [3]
Resale price for comparable week	Often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars	Secondary market listings
Special assessment (storm/renovation)	Can add hundreds to thousands in a single year	Varies by resort HOA
Exit company fee	Commonly $2,000 to $8,000+ upfront, per allegations reviewed in FTC litigation	FTC enforcement filings [4]	That maintenance fee gap, paying $1,260 a year for an asset now worth a few hundred dollars on resale, is exactly why so many owners start looking for an exit in the first place.

Purchase prices, ongoing fees, and resale values are three completely different numbers, and conflating them is where a lot of owners get surprised. According to ARDA's 2023 industry report, the average price paid for a timeshare interval was $24,140, and the average annual maintenance fee was $1,260 ^[3]. That maintenance fee is not fixed for life. It typically rises with inflation and special assessments for roof repairs, storm damage, or renovations, and owners report increases well above general inflation in many individual cases, though ARDA's own aggregate data shows maintenance fees rising annually in a range that has often outpaced general inflation in recent years ^[3]. Here's a rough comparison of what owners are actually dealing with: | Cost category | Typical range | Source |

How much do timeshares cost over the life of ownership?

The sticker price is the smallest part of the real cost. Add up maintenance fees over 10, 20, or 30 years, plus special assessments, plus any financing interest if you took a developer loan, and the total cost of ownership routinely exceeds the original purchase price several times over. A simple illustration: at ARDA's reported average annual maintenance fee of $1,260 ^[3], with fee increases in line with typical annual assessments, an owner who keeps a timeshare for 20 years can expect to pay well over $30,000 to $40,000 in maintenance fees alone, before a single special assessment for a new roof or hurricane damage. Special assessments are unpredictable and can run into the thousands in a single year when a resort needs major capital repairs. This compounding cost, not any single bad decision, is the actual reason exit demand has grown. It's rarely one expensive year that pushes someone to leave. It's the tenth or fifteenth year of fees rising faster than the value of the week they're using.

How to sell timeshare property when you also have a mortgage on it?

If you financed your timeshare and still owe the developer or a bank, you generally cannot sell, deed back, or transfer the property until that loan is paid off or the lender agrees to release the lien. Most deed-back and surrender programs explicitly require the timeshare to be paid off and free of any mortgage before the resort will accept it back. Selling on the resale market with a lien attached is legally possible but functionally very hard, since almost no buyer wants to inherit your debt along with your maintenance obligation. If you're behind on payments and considering walking away, understand the real consequence first: unpaid timeshare loans and unpaid maintenance fees can go to collections, can be reported to credit bureaus, and in some states the HOA can pursue a lien or foreclosure process against the timeshare interest itself, similar to a homeowners association foreclosing on unpaid dues. Never stop paying amounts you owe as a strategy to force an exit; talk to a consumer law attorney or your state attorney general's office about your specific situation first, since the consequences and processes differ significantly by state.

What are the red flags of a timeshare exit scam?

The scam pattern is remarkably consistent across companies, and the FTC has documented it in litigation: a company cold-calls or advertises, promises to cancel your contract, demands a large upfront fee, and then goes dark or drags out the process for months with no result ^[4]. Specific red flags to watch for: any company that claims it can guarantee cancellation of your contract with no conditions (that outcome depends heavily on your resort, your state, and your specific contract, and no legitimate company can promise a specific result before reviewing your paperwork); requests for full payment upfront with no escrow or milestone structure; pressure to act "today only"; unsolicited calls claiming to represent your resort or a government program; and requests for your timeshare's title or deed information before any contract is signed. A safer structure, if you do use a paid exit service, holds your payment in a third-party escrow account released only when the exit is actually completed, more than attempted. Ask directly whether escrow is used and who administers it. If you want a checklist of vetted questions to ask any exit company before paying, including Lonestar Transfer, see our timeshare call list for the exact script.

Where does something like a Timeshare Exit Kit fit into this?

For owners who want a structured, do-it-yourself starting point rather than paying a company thousands upfront, ExitHonest offers a $149 one-time Timeshare Exit Kit at /exit-kit-builder. It walks through the rescission check, deed-back request letters, and documentation steps covered in this article, without charging the multi-thousand-dollar upfront fee common in the exit industry. We're not a law firm and we don't contact your resort or developer on your behalf. The kit is a paperwork and process guide, not a promise that your specific contract can be canceled, since that outcome depends on your resort, your state, and your contract terms. Think of it as the reference material you'd want before calling anyone, including Lonestar Transfer or any other exit company.

How do you get out of a timeshare you inherited?

Inherited timeshares are their own headache, because you never chose to buy the thing but you may still be on the hook for its fees the moment the deed transfers to you through probate. First, don't assume you have to accept it. In many states, an heir can formally disclaim (refuse) an inheritance, including a timeshare interest, through the probate process, which passes the property to the next heir in line or back to the estate, as long as the disclaimer is filed within the timeframe your state's probate code requires. Talk to the estate's probate attorney immediately, before any deed transfer is recorded in your name, since disclaiming becomes much harder after you've accepted title or used the property. If the transfer already happened and you're now the owner of record, you're in the same position as any other current owner: check for a deed-back program, check whether maintenance fees are current, and consider whether the resale or exit paths above make sense for your situation. Our guide on how do you get out of a timeshare covers the inherited-ownership scenario in more depth.

Frequently asked questions

How to get out of a timeshare fast?

The only fast, reliable exit is rescission, canceling within your state's cooling-off window after purchase, which can be as short as a handful of days. Once that window closes, there's no fast guaranteed path; deed-back programs, resale, and exit companies all take weeks to months, and none of them are instant.

How do you get out of a timeshare after the rescission period ends?

Contact your resort about a deed-back or surrender program first, since it's usually free or low-cost if your account is current. If that's not available, consider resale through a licensed broker, or carefully vet a paid exit company using escrow-based payment and verified complaint history before paying anything upfront.

How to sell a timeshare when nobody wants to buy it?

List with a licensed timeshare resale broker or marketplace and price it realistically, since most resales go for a small fraction of the original purchase price. If it truly won't sell, a deed-back to the resort, where you surrender the deed instead of selling it, often gets you out faster than waiting for a buyer that may never appear.

How to get rid of a timeshare with a special assessment pending?

Special assessments are typically owed regardless of whether you're trying to exit, so check whether it's already due before starting a deed-back or resale process, since most resorts require fees and assessments current before accepting a surrender. Ask the HOA directly whether the assessment must be paid before a deed-back will be approved.

Are timeshares scams or legitimate financial products?

Timeshares are legal, regulated vacation ownership products, not scams by definition, but the sales process has a long history of high-pressure tactics documented by state attorneys general, and a meaningful part of the exit industry has been targeted by FTC lawsuits for taking upfront fees and delivering nothing.

How much is a timeshare on average?

The average developer purchase price was $24,140 according to ARDA's 2023 State of the Vacation Ownership Industry report, with an average annual maintenance fee of $1,260. Resale prices are typically far lower, often a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a comparable week.

How much do timeshares cost per year in maintenance fees?

ARDA's 2023 industry report puts the average annual maintenance fee at $1,260, though individual resorts vary widely and fees tend to rise annually. Special assessments for storm damage or major renovations can add hundreds or thousands more in a single year, on top of the regular fee.

How much are timeshares worth on resale?

Most timeshares resell for a small fraction of what the owner originally paid, and a large share of listings sit unsold for extended periods because supply far outweighs demand. Some owners end up giving their week away for a nominal amount, or even paying someone to take it, just to stop the maintenance fee obligation.

How to sell timeshare property that still has a loan balance?

You generally need to pay off or resolve the loan before a resort will accept a deed-back, and finding a resale buyer willing to take on your debt is very difficult. Contact your lender about payoff options first; walking away without resolving the loan can lead to collections activity and credit damage.

Is Lonestar Transfer a legitimate timeshare exit company?

Before working with Lonestar Transfer or any exit company, check its complaint history with your state attorney general's consumer protection office and the Better Business Bureau, ask exactly what legal mechanism it uses, and confirm whether payment is held in escrow until the exit is complete rather than paid fully upfront.

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

Unpaid fees can be sent to collections, reported to credit bureaus, and in many states can lead to a lien or foreclosure-style process against your timeshare interest, similar to how an HOA can pursue unpaid dues on a home. Talk to a consumer law attorney or your state attorney general's office before deciding to stop paying.

Can I get out of an inherited timeshare without accepting it?

In many states, heirs can formally disclaim an inheritance, including a timeshare, through the probate process, but the disclaimer must typically be filed within a set window before you accept title or use the property. Contact the estate's probate attorney immediately if you don't want the timeshare transferred into your name.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: FTC guidance warning that some timeshare exit companies are scams and recommending research before paying
2. Florida Statutes, Chapter 721.10: Florida's 10-calendar-day timeshare rescission period after contract execution or receipt of public offering statement
3. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), State of the Vacation Ownership Industry 2023: Average timeshare purchase price of $24,140 and average annual maintenance fee of $1,260
4. Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 707 (Time-Share Ownership Plans): State law governing timeshare sales practices and disclosures that consumer protection agencies enforce
5. Federal Trade Commission and State of Missouri v. Timeshare Exit Team (Reed Hein & Associates, LLC), Case No. 2:21-cv-00099, W.D. Wash. filed Jan. 25, 2021: FTC and Missouri complaint describing consumers who paid thousands in upfront fees with little or nothing done to exit their contracts