Buying
Timeshare research: how to interpret market statistics
Timeshare market statistics describe a defined market, sample and period. A developer-sales total, owner survey or industry average cannot by itself establish what an individual resale is worth, how long it will take to sell or which ownership fits your travel.
Read a statistic with its label attached
- Publication year: identify when the report appeared.
- Measurement period: identify which year or dates its data describe.
- Market: distinguish developer activity, resale offers, completed resales and rentals.
- Application: explain why that population is relevant to the particular ownership.
Ask what the number measures
Distinguish developer sales, resale asking prices, completed resale transactions, rental activity and offers. A total number of offers is not the same as completed business.
Check the period and sample
Look for the publication date, geography, ownership products and method. Averages can hide large differences between resorts, seasons and obligations.
Use specific evidence for your decision
Ask how comparable interests differ in use frequency, points, available usage, recurring fees and restrictions. A broad percentage saving or an old market average is not a substitute for a current written comparison.
| Measure | Can describe | Does not by itself establish |
|---|---|---|
| Developer sales | Reported developer market activity | Completed resale prices |
| Resale asking prices | Prices being requested | What buyers paid |
| Owner survey | Answers within the sample | Every future buyer’s result |
| Industry average | A defined population and period | The value of your exact interest |
A useful follow-up question
Does a report published in 2026 necessarily measure 2026 sales?
No. ARDA’s 2026 State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry page says its metrics concern calendar year 2025. Use that distinction when reading the report, and do not present its figures as a completed-resale valuation for your interest.
Continue your comparison
Sources and further information
Discuss your next step
We aim to send a first human response within one business hour during our staffed hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern Time. Requests received outside those hours are handled when we reopen.