How to get out of a westgate timeshare mortgage

Last updated 2026-07-26

Can you actually get out of a Westgate timeshare mortgage?

Yes, but there's no single button that makes a Westgate loan vanish. A timeshare mortgage is a real loan secured by your interest in the resort, and Westgate Resorts (through its lending arm, Westgate Resorts Ltd. or affiliated finance companies) can pursue the same remedies any secured lender uses: late fees, credit bureau reporting, collections calls, and eventually foreclosure or repossession of the timeshare interest if you stop paying. The FTC's consumer guidance is blunt about this: timeshare contracts are hard to get out of once you sign, and the agency warns that some companies promising a quick exit are scams ^[1]. The path that actually works depends on timing. If you're still inside your state's rescission period, cancel in writing immediately. That's the cleanest exit and it kills the loan along with the deed. If you're past rescission, your realistic options are a Westgate deed-back or surrender program (if you qualify), a private resale (rarely recovers loan value), working with your lender on a modification, or, in genuine hardship cases, bankruptcy counsel weighing in on the debt. There is no legitimate service that can force Westgate to release you from a loan you're current on and choose to keep.

How to get out of a timeshare during the rescission period

Every state that permits timeshare sales gives buyers a short window to cancel for any reason, no explanation needed, and Westgate's own purchase paperwork will state the applicable period for the state where you bought (commonly Florida, since many Westgate resorts are Florida properties). Florida law gives buyers 10 calendar days after signing the contract or receiving the last document, whichever is later, to cancel a timeshare purchase ^[2]. Other states set their own number, so confirm your state's rescission window using the contract you signed and your state attorney general's consumer page rather than assuming Florida's 10 days applies everywhere. To rescind, send written notice by a method you can prove. Certified mail with return receipt is the standard advice from state regulators. Send it to the address listed in your contract's cancellation clause. Do it before the deadline, keep copies of everything, and don't rely on a verbal promise from a sales rep that "we'll take care of it." If you financed through Westgate at the point of sale and you rescind in time, the loan should be canceled along with the purchase. Get written confirmation that both the deed and the note are voided, more than one or the other. If you're past the window, rescission isn't available to you anymore, no matter how unhappy you are with the purchase. That's a hard stop, and any company that tells you they can "still rescind" a five-year-old contract is not being straight with you. For more on this process generally, see how to get out of a timeshare.

Does Westgate have a deed-back or exit program?

Westgate has operated post-sale exit conversations for some owners, sometimes branded around loyalty or accommodations, and it's worth calling the company directly to ask what surrender or deed-back options currently exist for your specific contract, since program availability and eligibility rules change and aren't uniformly published. Ask specifically: is my loan balance a barrier to deed-back, is there a fee, and will they confirm the deed transfer and loan release in writing before you sign anything. Developer deed-back programs across the industry typically require the loan to be paid off or close to it. A resort generally won't take back a deed while a large mortgage balance is still owed, because that leaves them holding a liability instead of a clean asset. If your Westgate loan has a meaningful balance left, expect the honest answer to be some combination of "pay it down first" or "we don't offer deed-back at this time for your resort/contract type." Don't pay a third party a large upfront fee to "negotiate" a deed-back on your behalf. If Westgate offers this option, you can request it yourself for free by calling owner services directly. For background on how these programs generally work across the industry, see deed-back programs.

What happens if you just stop paying your Westgate mortgage?

This is the question most owners actually want answered, and the honest answer is: don't do this as a strategy, because the consequences are real and documented. A timeshare loan default works like any other secured consumer loan default. Westgate or its loan servicer will report delinquency to the credit bureaus, assess late fees, and eventually refer the account to collections or pursue foreclosure on the timeshare interest, which can also trigger a deficiency judgment in some states if the resort forecloses and the interest sells for less than you owe. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's guidance on disputing credit report errors confirms the basic mechanics here: creditors furnish payment history, including delinquencies, to credit reporting agencies, and that history affects your score for years ^[3]. Some owners assume walking away from a timeshare is lower-stakes than walking away from a house, since the dollar amounts are smaller. It isn't. The credit damage and collections activity follow the same rules regardless of the loan size. We are not telling you to keep paying forever out of fear, and we're not a law firm or collections attorney. But we are telling you plainly: don't stop paying as a first move hoping it forces a negotiation. If you're genuinely unable to pay, talk to a consumer bankruptcy attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor about your specific finances before you miss payments, not after.

How to sell a timeshare (and why it's harder than selling a house)

Timeshares almost never sell for what you paid, and a huge share of listings sit unsold for years, so treat resale as a possible partial exit, not a way to recoup your investment. The secondary market for timeshares is thin. If you want to try: list only through resale marketplaces where you pay nothing until it sells (a flat closing/transfer fee at closing is normal; a large fee before any offer exists is not). Never pay an upfront "marketing fee" of several thousand dollars to a company that promises a quick sale. This is one of the most common timeshare scam patterns regulators warn about. If your Westgate interest still has a loan balance, you generally cannot sell it until the loan is satisfied, since the lender holds a security interest and won't release the deed with debt outstanding. Realistically, if your unit is a smaller or lower-demand week with a loan attached, resale may not be viable at all, and deed-back, continued ownership, or in rare hardship cases bankruptcy counsel become the more realistic paths.

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

When resale isn't realistic, owners generally have four remaining paths, each with different pros and cons. First, developer deed-back or surrender, if Westgate offers it for your contract and your loan is paid off or nearly so. Second, a licensed real estate attorney in the state where the timeshare sits, who can review your specific deed and note for any legal defect, misrepresentation claim, or contract violation that might support a release; this costs real attorney fees but doesn't involve guarantees. Third, simply keeping the timeshare and budgeting for it, which sounds unsatisfying but is sometimes the financially cleanest option if fees are manageable and you use the unit. Fourth, in serious financial hardship, bankruptcy, where a timeshare debt can potentially be discharged or restructured along with other unsecured or secured debts, something only a bankruptcy attorney can evaluate for your situation. What doesn't belong on this list: paying a company thousands of dollars upfront to "guarantee" your exit. If a company guarantees they can get you out of a Westgate mortgage no matter your situation, that's a red flag, not a selling point, because no one can guarantee a release from a debt you owe on a contract you signed.

Are timeshares scams?

The purchase itself usually isn't illegal. Timeshares are a real, regulated product in every state that allows them, but the sales tactics and the post-purchase exit industry are where most of the actual scams live. High-pressure sales presentations, exaggerated resale value claims, and "today only" pricing are long-documented industry practices that consumer regulators have repeatedly flagged, though they don't necessarily rise to fraud in every case. Where things clearly cross into scam territory: exit companies that demand large upfront payment and disappear or fail to deliver, "timeshare relief" callers who claim to have a buyer lined up for a fee, and any offer that asks for banking information to "process your refund" from a timeshare you no longer own. State attorneys general in Florida, where many Westgate resorts sit, publish consumer protection guidance and accept complaints specifically covering timeshare-adjacent fraud and deceptive resale offers. So: is your specific Westgate purchase a scam? Probably not in the legal sense. It's a real contract with real terms you agreed to. Is the industry around getting out of that contract full of scams? Yes, and that's where you need to be careful.

How much do timeshares cost, and how does that affect your exit math?

Average purchase price	$24,140 [4]
Average annual maintenance fee	$1,120 [4]
Typical resale value	Often a small fraction of purchase price; many listed for $1 on peer-to-peer sites
Florida rescission period	10 calendar days [2]

The average price of a timeshare interval was $24,140 in 2022, according to ARDA's owner survey data, with average annual maintenance fees around $1,120 ^[4]. Westgate units, especially larger or newer-built resorts, can run higher than that average, and financed purchases add interest on top, often at rates well above a typical mortgage, since timeshare loans are unsecured-adjacent consumer credit rather than traditional real estate mortgages in most states' treatment. That purchase price matters for your exit strategy because it sets your expectations for resale (almost always far below what you paid) and for deed-back negotiating position (a resort is more willing to take back a deed with no debt attached than one with a large balance owed). If you're five years into a $25,000 loan at double-digit interest, you may owe more in real dollars than the original price once you count interest paid, which is exactly why paying down or off the loan before attempting deed-back tends to be the more realistic sequence than trying to negotiate an exit while heavily indebted. | Cost item | Typical range |

What should you do first if you're behind on your Westgate payments?

Call Westgate's loan servicing department directly and ask about hardship programs before you miss a payment, not after. Some timeshare lenders offer temporary payment modifications, interest rate adjustments, or short forbearance for owners with a documented hardship (job loss, medical event, and similar), though terms vary and nothing is guaranteed. Get any agreement in writing before you rely on it. If you've already missed payments, a nonprofit credit counselor certified by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling can review your full financial picture for free or low cost and tell you honestly where a timeshare debt ranks against your other obligations. This is different from a paid "timeshare exit company" and won't ask for a large upfront fee. If the debt is genuinely unmanageable alongside other debts, ask a consumer bankruptcy attorney (not a timeshare exit company) how a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing would treat the Westgate loan specifically. Outcomes depend heavily on your state, your other debts, and whether the timeshare is secured or unsecured debt in your situation, so this needs individualized legal advice, not a general answer.

How do you spot a timeshare exit scam targeting Westgate owners?

Scammers specifically target Westgate and other big-brand owners because the brand name gives the pitch credibility. Watch for these patterns: a cold call claiming to be affiliated with Westgate, the state, or a class action, asking for an upfront fee before any work is done; pressure to pay by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency (legitimate businesses don't require these); a guarantee that they can cancel any timeshare contract regardless of your loan status or how long you've owned it; and refusal to put fee and refund terms in writing. Before paying anyone, check the company's name against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database and the Better Business Bureau, and ask for a written contract you can review for a few days before signing. Walk away from anyone who won't allow that. A legitimate exit path involves either your own direct communication with Westgate, a licensed attorney you vet independently, or documented, no-upfront-fee resale listings. Anything that starts with a large check before any deed transfer happens deserves serious skepticism. See our timeshare exit companies guide and timeshare call list for how to vet who's actually calling you.

Where does a self-help exit kit fit into this process?

If you want to handle the rescission letter, the deed-back request, and the record-keeping yourself rather than hiring an exit company, a structured self-help toolkit can save time by giving you the right letter templates, the documentation checklist, and a state-by-state view of your rescission rights, without charging the thousands of dollars some exit companies charge. ExitHonest's $149 one-time Exit Kit Builder is built for exactly this: an organized way to build your own rescission or deed-back request package instead of paying a company a large upfront fee to do something you can do yourself with the right documents. This isn't a substitute for legal advice on a specific contract dispute, and it won't make Westgate release a loan they're not willing to release. What it does is put the paperwork and process in your hands at a fraction of the typical exit company cost. If your situation is inside a rescission window or you're preparing to ask about deed-back, start at /exit-kit-builder and compare that against any company quoting you thousands of dollars.

Frequently asked questions

How to get out of a timeshare with Westgate specifically?

Confirm whether you're still inside your state's rescission window (Florida gives 10 calendar days) and cancel in writing if so. If that window has passed, contact Westgate directly about deed-back or surrender eligibility, consider resale only through no-upfront-fee marketplaces, and consult a licensed real estate or bankruptcy attorney for contract-specific or debt-specific options. Never pay a large upfront fee to a third party guaranteeing an exit.

How do you get out of a timeshare loan without ruining your credit?

Keep making payments while you pursue an exit option, since missed payments are what damage your credit, not the ownership itself. If you rescind within your state's window, the loan is voided along with the purchase. If you're past that window, ask about hardship modifications from the lender before missing payments, and avoid default as a negotiating tactic.

How much is a timeshare, on average?

The average timeshare purchase price was $24,140 in 2022, with average annual maintenance fees around $1,120, according to ARDA's owner survey data. Prices vary widely by resort, unit size, and season; larger or newer resorts, including some Westgate properties, can run well above that average, and financing adds interest on top of the purchase price.

How much do timeshares cost in maintenance fees each year?

ARDA's owner survey data puts the average annual timeshare maintenance fee around $1,120, though this varies by resort size, amenities, and location, and fees typically rise most years. Special assessments for repairs or renovations come on top of standard maintenance fees and aren't included in that average.

Are timeshares scams?

The purchase contracts themselves are legal and regulated in every state that allows timeshare sales, so owning one isn't inherently a scam. The bigger scam risk sits in the exit industry: companies that charge large upfront fees and guarantee a cancellation regardless of your contract or loan status. Check any exit company against your state attorney general's complaint database before paying anyone.

How to sell a timeshare you no longer want?

List it through a resale marketplace that charges nothing until it sells; expect the sale price to be far below what you originally paid, since resale values are typically a small fraction of purchase price. If a loan balance remains, you generally must pay it off before the deed can transfer to a new owner.

How to sell timeshare interests when there's still a loan balance?

You generally can't complete a resale with an outstanding loan balance still owed, since the lender holds a security interest in the deed. Pay down or pay off the loan first, or ask Westgate whether they'll allow an assumption of the loan by the buyer, which some resorts permit under specific conditions.

Does Westgate ever forgive or cancel the loan balance?

Not as a general policy that we're aware of; lenders don't typically forgive debt owed on a contract simply because the owner asks. Some owners have negotiated modified payment plans or deed-back arrangements requiring the loan be paid down first, but full forgiveness while a balance remains isn't a standard, published Westgate program.

What happens if Westgate forecloses on a timeshare mortgage?

Foreclosure on a timeshare interest works similarly to home foreclosure: the resort or lender reclaims the deeded interest, reports the default to credit bureaus, and in some states can pursue a deficiency judgment for the remaining balance if the interest doesn't cover what's owed when resold. Consequences and state-specific procedures vary, so a local real estate attorney can explain your state's rules.

How to get rid of a timeshare that was inherited?

Contact the resort directly to understand the deed transfer and any assumed loan balance, since heirs aren't automatically obligated to keep a timeshare, but the estate may need to formally disclaim or deed it back. An estate attorney can advise on disclaiming the interest before probate closes, which can avoid taking on the debt at all.

Should you stop paying your Westgate mortgage to force a negotiation?

No. Missed payments trigger credit damage, late fees, and potential foreclosure or collections activity, and there's no guarantee a lender negotiates in your favor just because you've defaulted. If payments are genuinely unaffordable, talk to a nonprofit credit counselor or bankruptcy attorney before missing payments, not as a pressure tactic.

How do I know if a timeshare exit company is legitimate?

Check the company against your state attorney general's consumer complaint database and the Better Business Bureau, insist on a written contract with clear refund terms, and refuse any request for payment by wire transfer, gift card, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate services don't guarantee a cancellation regardless of your specific contract and loan status.

Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Advice: "Timeshares": Timeshares are hard to exit, foreclosure is possible on default, and some exit companies are scams
2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "How do I dispute an error on my credit report?": Missed installment loan payments, including timeshare loans, are reported to credit bureaus and affect credit scores
3. American Resort Development Association (ARDA), 2023 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry (summary), as cited by U.S. Government Accountability Office timeshare consumer protection review: Resale values for timeshare interests are typically a small fraction of original purchase price
4. Federal Trade Commission, "FTC Action Halts Timeshare Exit Scam That Took Millions From Consumers": The FTC has taken enforcement action against timeshare exit companies for upfront-fee fraud
5. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, "What is a timeshare?": Timeshares involve ongoing maintenance fees and financing arrangements separate from the purchase price