Last updated 2026-07-26
TL;DR
The best way out of a Bluegreen timeshare depends on timing. Inside your state's rescission window, cancel in writing immediately, it's free and legally solid if done right. After that, ask Bluegreen about its deed-back or Vacation Club exit options before paying any third party. Never pay large upfront fees to a stranger who cold-calls you.
What's the actual best way to get out of a Bluegreen timeshare?
There's no single trick that works for everyone, but there is a correct order to try things in. First, check whether you're still inside your state's rescission window, because that's the only exit that's free, fast, and legally solid if you follow the rules exactly. Second, if that window has closed, call Bluegreen directly and ask about deed-back, surrender, or their internal exit programs before you spend a dollar anywhere else. Third, if Bluegreen says no and you still want out, weigh resale (for a small number of desirable weeks or points packages), a licensed real estate attorney in your ownership state, or simply keeping the contract and managing costs down. What you should not do is sign up with the first company that calls you promising a fast exit for $4,000 to $8,000 up front. The Federal Trade Commission has sued and settled with multiple timeshare exit and relief companies over exactly this pattern of upfront fees and undelivered promises [1]. Bluegreen itself discloses ongoing litigation involving timeshare exit and transfer companies in its SEC filings, which tells you something about how contested this space is [2]. The honest framing: getting out of any timeshare, Bluegreen included, is rarely instant unless you're still in your rescission period. Everything after that involves either Bluegreen's cooperation, a buyer willing to take on the deed and fees, or professional help you vet carefully. For a broader walkthrough of the general process across brands, see how to get out of a timeshare.
How do you get out of a timeshare during the rescission period?
You cancel in writing, following your contract's instructions exactly, before your state's rescission deadline expires. This is the fastest and cheapest exit that exists, and it's the one Bluegreen can't legally refuse if you do it right and on time. Every state that regulates timeshares gives buyers a rescission (sometimes called "cooling off") period after signing, during which you can cancel for any reason and get your money back. The length varies a lot by state. Florida gives buyers 10 calendar days under its timeshare statute [3]. Some states allow longer windows; others are shorter. Because Bluegreen sells in multiple states (its home base is Boca Raton, Florida, with resorts across the country), the rule that applies is usually the one for the state where you signed, not necessarily where you live. Confirm your state's rescission window before doing anything else. To cancel, send a written notice (not a phone call) by a method that creates proof of delivery, certified mail with return receipt is the standard approach, to the exact address listed in your purchase contract for cancellations. Keep a copy of everything: the letter, the mailing receipt, the signed contract, the closing documents. Don't rely on a verbal promise from a sales rep. If you're past the window in your original state but the purchase involved fraud or misrepresentation, that's a different, harder legal argument and usually needs an attorney, not a cancellation letter. For state-specific mechanics, see rescission by state resources.
What happens if you miss the rescission deadline?
You still have options, but none of them are instant or free. After rescission closes, your realistic paths are: Bluegreen's own deed-back or exit programs, selling on the resale market, hiring a licensed attorney, or living with the ownership and controlling the ongoing costs. Bluegreen has publicly discussed exit and "Vacation Club" transition options for owners in specific circumstances, often tied to being current on payments and fees, having a fully paid-off deed, or moving into a different Bluegreen product. These programs change over time and aren't guaranteed to accept every owner. The only way to know what's currently offered is to call Bluegreen's owner services line directly and ask, in writing if possible, what deed-back or surrender options exist for your specific contract. Resale value for most timeshares, including Bluegreen weeks, is low. Consumer reporting and secondary marketplace listings have long shown resale prices running a small fraction of original developer prices, with many timeshares listed for $1 or less because there's essentially no resale demand. That's a hard truth: you likely won't recoup what you paid. If you go the attorney route, look for a licensed real estate or consumer protection attorney in the state where the resort sits, not a national "timeshare exit" company that isn't a law firm. State bar association directories are a legitimate way to verify a license.
How do you sell a Bluegreen timeshare, and is it worth it?
You can sell through resale marketplaces, licensed timeshare resale brokers, or by transferring the deed directly to a buyer, but expect a low sale price and real closing costs. Bluegreen also has a right of first refusal on some resale transfers, meaning the company can step in and buy the timeshare back at the negotiated price before an outside buyer can, depending on your specific contract language. Before listing, request an estoppel/maintenance fee statement from Bluegreen so a buyer knows exactly what fees and any special assessments are owed. Unpaid fees follow the deed, more than the original owner, so buyers (and their title companies) will want this cleared up. Realistic pricing: for most weeks-based Bluegreen products, resale value is often near zero once you account for the transfer costs, and some owners end up paying a licensed transfer company a few hundred dollars just to get the deed off their name, essentially a paid deed-back rather than a sale. Avoid "we have a buyer already lined up" pitches that ask for money before any sale closes. That's one of the most common upfront-fee scam patterns the FTC has documented in timeshare resale fraud cases [1]. For general resale mechanics across timeshare brands, see how to get out of timeshare.
Are timeshares scams?
The timeshare product itself is legal and regulated, but the industry has a documented pattern of high-pressure sales tactics, and a large secondary industry of exit companies has been repeatedly prosecuted for fraud. Those are two different problems, and it's worth keeping them separate. On the sales side, state attorneys general and consumer protection agencies have pursued timeshare developers and marketers over deceptive presentation tactics for decades. The core product, a right to use a property for a set period each year in exchange for a purchase price and ongoing fees, is a legitimate real estate or contractual interest recognized under state law. The scam risk concentrates heavily in the exit and resale side of the industry. The FTC has brought enforcement actions against timeshare exit and relief companies for taking large upfront fees and failing to deliver promised cancellations, in some cases actively damaging owners' credit by advising them to stop paying. The FTC's 2019 complaint and stipulated order against the operators behind Resort Release describes exactly this pattern: collecting thousands of dollars in upfront fees while failing to obtain the promised timeshare cancellations [1]. So: is a Bluegreen timeshare a scam? No, it's a real contract with real obligations. Is the exit industry full of scams? Yes, enough that the FTC has an entire enforcement track record on it, and that's exactly why vetting anyone you pay to help is non-negotiable. See our timeshare exit companies guide for a vetting checklist, and check our timeshare call list before you dial anyone claiming to specialize in Bluegreen exits.
How much does a Bluegreen timeshare cost, and why does that matter for your exit strategy?
| Rescission cancellation | $0 (postage only) | Days to weeks | High, if done correctly and on time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegreen deed-back/exit program | $0 to a few hundred dollars in fees, varies | Weeks to months | Medium, depends on eligibility | |
| Resale/transfer to a buyer | Often $0 to low sale price, plus transfer/closing costs | Months, no guarantee of a buyer | Low to medium | |
| Hiring an attorney | Hourly or flat fee, often $1,500 to $5,000+ | Months | Medium, depends on your facts | |
| Upfront-fee exit company | $3,000 to $10,000+ (red flag range) | Claimed weeks, often much longer or never | Low, high scam risk | The math tells the story: paying $5,000 to a stranger promising a fast exit from a timeshare that might have a resale value near zero is a bad trade almost every time, especially when Bluegreen's own deed-back conversation is free to have. |
Bluegreen sells primarily through a points-based system, Bluegreen Vacation Club, where purchase prices for a new points package commonly range from roughly $10,000 to $30,000 or more depending on the number of points and any promotional financing, though older deeded weeks purchased directly can run lower or higher depending on the resort and season. These are rough market ranges based on typical developer pricing patterns in the timeshare industry generally; Bluegreen does not publish a universal price list, and your actual contract number is the only figure that matters for your situation. On top of the purchase price, annual maintenance fees are the number that usually drives people to look for an exit. These fees are not fixed for life. They rise with inflation, renovation costs, and special assessments after storm damage or major repairs, which is exactly why owners who calculated a monthly cost of $50 a decade ago sometimes find themselves paying much more today. Your own annual owner statement, not an industry average, is the only reliable source for what you're actually paying. Here's a simple cost comparison to frame the decision: | Path | Typical cost to you | Timeline | Certainty |
What upfront-fee red flags should Bluegreen owners specifically watch for?
Watch for a company that contacts you first (especially by cold call or unsolicited email), asks for payment in full before any service is performed, and refuses to name specifics about how they'll actually get Bluegreen to release the deed. Common patterns documented in FTC enforcement actions include: pressuring owners with a false deadline ("this offer expires today"), claiming a partnership with or endorsement by the resort that doesn't exist, promising to have your timeshare "canceled" through a process that's actually just non-payment leading to foreclosure, and using notarized-sounding paperwork to appear more official than it is [1]. Some companies also pose as government affiliated or claim a special relationship with Bluegreen's legal department, which Bluegreen does not authorize. Before paying anyone, verify their business name with your state attorney general's consumer complaint database and with the Better Business Bureau, and ask for a written contract that spells out exactly what happens if they fail. A legitimate company will let you take the contract home and think about it. If they demand payment on the call, that's your answer. Also be wary of "timeshare transfer" services that simply take your deed for a fee without confirming the buyer or recipient is real and willing; some of these have left owners still on the hook for maintenance fees because the transfer never actually recorded at the county level.
Can Bluegreen just take the timeshare back for free?
Sometimes, yes, if you qualify. Bluegreen has periodically offered deed-back or surrender options, generally for owners who are current on payments and maintenance fees, own the deed outright with no mortgage balance, and hold a product Bluegreen is willing to take back into inventory. The key word is "periodically." These programs are not a permanent published policy the way a state's rescission statute is; availability depends on Bluegreen's internal decisions at the time you ask. That means the only reliable way to find out what's on the table right now is to contact Bluegreen owner services directly and ask in writing for their current deed-back or exit program terms. Don't assume a verbal "maybe" from a phone rep is a commitment. Get any offer in writing before you stop paying anything, and never treat an informal conversation as permission to withhold maintenance fees while you wait for paperwork; unpaid fees can still lead to a lien or collections action against you even if an exit is pending. If Bluegreen declines a deed-back, ask specifically why, since "deed not fully paid off" or "fees in arrears" are fixable problems that might make you eligible later, versus "we don't currently offer this for your resort," which is a dead end for now.
How does inheriting a Bluegreen timeshare change the exit strategy?
An inherited timeshare usually comes with the same obligations the original owner had, including ongoing maintenance fees, unless the estate formally declines (disclaims) the interest before accepting it. This is one of the more overlooked traps in timeshare exits. If you're an heir and haven't yet accepted the property (signed anything, paid a fee, or used it), you may be able to disclaim the inheritance entirely under your state's probate and disclaimer laws. Under the federal disclaimer rule in the Internal Revenue Code, a disclaimer generally must be made in writing within nine months of the decedent's death (or the heir's 21st birthday, if later) to be treated for tax purposes as if the heir never received the interest at all [4]. As the statute puts it, a qualified disclaimer requires that "such refusal is in writing" and received within that nine month period, among other conditions [4]. Once you've accepted it, even informally, disclaiming becomes much harder. If disclaiming isn't an option because too much time has passed or the estate already transferred the deed to you, you're back to the same menu: contact Bluegreen about a deed-back, explore resale, or consult a probate or real estate attorney about the deed transfer. A practical note: executors sometimes pay a year or two of maintenance fees out of estate funds just to avoid a lien while sorting out whether heirs want the property or a disclaimer makes sense. That's a reasonable stopgap, but get it in writing from the estate's attorney rather than assuming it's automatic.
Where does the $149 Exit Kit fit into this?
If you've already worked through the free options, confirmed your rescission window has closed, and Bluegreen's deed-back program isn't available to you right now, a self-directed toolkit can help you organize the next steps without paying a company thousands of dollars to do it for you. ExitHonest's $149 one-time Exit Kit Builder gives you the letter templates, contact scripts for Bluegreen owner services, and a state-specific rescission and deed-back checklist so you can pursue the legitimate paths yourself, or hand a clean file to an attorney if you decide to hire one. It's not a promise that Bluegreen will cancel anything, nobody legitimate can promise you that, and it's not a substitute for legal advice if your situation involves fraud claims or a contested deed. What it does is put the free and low-cost options in one place instead of you piecing them together from scratch. You can start at /exit-kit-builder.
What's the honest bottom line?
Rescission is the only sure thing, and it's only available in a short window right after you sign. After that, Bluegreen's own deed-back conversation costs nothing to have and should be your first call. Resale rarely returns meaningful money, an attorney is worth it mainly when fraud or a contested deed is involved, and any company demanding thousands of dollars upfront before doing anything deserves a hard no until you've checked them against your state attorney general's complaint database and the FTC's enforcement record [1]. Nobody can promise they'll get you out of a Bluegreen timeshare, and you should be skeptical of anyone who says otherwise, including us. What's true is that the order of operations above (rescind if you can, ask Bluegreen directly, then weigh resale, legal help, or self-directed paperwork) reflects how the free and low-risk options actually stack up against the expensive, high-risk ones.
Frequently asked questions
How to get out of a timeshare fast?
The only genuinely fast, reliable exit is canceling inside your state's rescission window, which can be as short as a matter of days after signing. Send written cancellation notice by certified mail to the address in your contract before the deadline. Outside that window, there is no fast reliable exit; deed-back, resale, and legal routes all take weeks to months.
How do you get out of a timeshare after the rescission period ends?
Contact the resort developer (Bluegreen, in this case) directly and ask about deed-back or surrender programs. If that's not available, consider resale through a licensed broker, hiring a real estate attorney in the resort's state, or managing the contract while researching options. Avoid companies that demand large upfront fees for a promised cancellation.
How to sell a timeshare?
List through a legitimate resale marketplace or licensed timeshare resale broker, request a maintenance fee estoppel statement from the developer first, and price realistically; many timeshares resell for very little given weak secondary market demand. Never pay someone upfront who claims to already have a buyer lined up before any sale closes.
How to get rid of a timeshare you no longer want?
Start with rescission if you're still in the window, then try the developer's deed-back program, then resale, then a licensed attorney if the deed is contested or fraud is involved. Keep paying maintenance fees during this process; stopping payment can trigger a lien or collections action even while you're pursuing an exit.
Are timeshares scams?
The core product is a legal, regulated real estate or contractual interest, not inherently a scam. The bigger fraud risk sits in the exit and resale industry, where the FTC has repeatedly sued companies for taking large upfront fees and failing to deliver promised cancellations. Vet any company you pay through your state attorney general's office first.
How much is a timeshare, and how much do timeshares cost?
Purchase prices for points-based products like Bluegreen Vacation Club commonly run roughly $10,000 to $30,000 or more depending on points and promotions, with older deeded weeks priced differently. Annual maintenance fees are set per contract and rise over time, especially after special assessments, so your own owner statement is the only number that matters for your situation.
How much are timeshares in maintenance fees specifically?
There's no single official industry-wide average that's independently verified, but maintenance fees commonly run somewhere in the four figures per year for many owners, and larger points packages, newer resorts, and post-storm special assessments can push individual owners' fees well above that. Your specific fee is set in your annual owner statement, not by any industry estimate.
Does Bluegreen have a deed-back or exit program?
Bluegreen has periodically offered deed-back or surrender options for owners who are current on fees and own the deed outright, but availability isn't a fixed published policy and changes over time. Contact Bluegreen owner services directly and ask in writing what's currently offered for your specific contract before assuming it exists.
What is a timeshare rescission period and how long is it?
It's a legally required window after signing during which a buyer can cancel for any reason and get a refund, no penalty. Length varies by state; Florida sets it at 10 calendar days under its timeshare statute [3]. Confirm your specific state's rescission window, since it depends on where the contract was signed, more than where you live.
Can I stop paying maintenance fees to force Bluegreen to take the timeshare back?
This is risky and not something to do without legal advice. Unpaid fees can lead to a lien, collections action, or damage to your credit, and it does not guarantee Bluegreen will accept a deed-back; some contracts simply move to foreclosure instead, which can still show up on your credit report.
Is it worth hiring a timeshare exit company to get out of Bluegreen?
Only after heavy vetting. The FTC has documented a pattern of exit companies charging thousands of dollars upfront and failing to deliver [1]. If you hire anyone, check them against your state attorney general's complaint database first, insist on a written contract with a refund clause, and never pay the full fee before work starts.
What happens to a Bluegreen timeshare when the owner dies?
It typically passes to the estate or named heirs along with its obligations, including maintenance fees, unless the heir formally disclaims the inheritance before accepting it, which under federal disclaimer rules must generally happen within nine months of the death [6]. Once accepted, even informally, disclaiming becomes much harder.
Sources
- FTC v. Robert Casarona, Suzy Casarona, et al. (Resort Release), Stipulated Final Judgment, Case No. 8:19-cv-02419, M.D. Fla. filed 2019: FTC enforcement action describing upfront-fee timeshare exit scheme and consumer harm
- Bluegreen Vacations Holding Corporation, Form 10-K annual report, fiscal year 2023, Item 3 Legal Proceedings: Bluegreen discloses litigation involving timeshare exit and transfer companies in its SEC filings
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 12 CFR 1026.23, Right of rescission: Written notice within the cancellation deadline is the standard for exercising a right-to-cancel period
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2024-02, Deceptive marketing practices in timeshare-related lending: Federal consumer finance guidance addressing deceptive practices connected to timeshare-related financial products
- 26 U.S.C. Section 2518, Disclaimers: Federal rule requiring a qualified disclaimer generally within nine months to be treated as never having inherited the interest