The industry is a frequent target for sophisticated fraud. Recently, organized crime has been linked to timeshare scams totaling over $300 million .

You own a fraction of the actual property, attached to a specific deed.

Some timeshare contracts are automatically transferred to next-of-kin upon the owner's death. Families often have to file a "disclaimer of interest" within a specific time limit to avoid inheriting these obligations.

When you buy into a timeshare, you are essentially paying for future vacations in advance. There are several common structures: