Do People Really Sell WorldMark Points?

August 15, 2023

The Whys and Ways to Sell WorldMark Points

WorldMark points refer to a vacation ownership system where owners can purchase and use points for stays at various WorldMark by Wyndham resorts around the world. It's a popular model for flexible vacation planning, but the question often arises: Do people really sell WorldMark points? To understand, let's delve into the issues regarding the WorldMark Points system and the market surrounding it.

This a timeshare-type program overseen by Wyndham Destinations. Instead of owning a timeshare at a specific property, members own WorldMark points which they can use to book vacations at different WorldMark resorts. These points can be used for various lengths of stay and different kinds of accommodations, offering a lot of flexibility to the owners.

Selling WorldMark Points: A Real Phenomenon

Owners choose to sell WorldMark points and there are various reasons behind it. Some of the major reasons why include:

Financial Constraints: Some WorldMark points owners may face financial challenges and decide to sell their points in order to alleviate their burden and help with their financial situation.
Lifestyle Changes: Changes in family size, work commitments, health or even travel preferences may prompt an owner to sell their WorldMark points, as they no longer align with their changing vacationing needs.
Displeasure with the Program: Some owners may become dissatisfied with the annual maintenance fees, availability of desired locations, or other aspects of the program, leading them to sell their points.

The Secondary Market: The Place to Sell

The sale of WorldMark points occurs in the secondary, or resale, market where owners can sell timeshare points directly to other interested parties. This market includes various platforms, including:

1) Online Resale Companies

Some specialized timeshare resale companies focus on the resale of timeshare points, including WorldMark points. They offer services that market specifically to buyers to facilitate the sale.

2) Timeshare Resale Brokerage Companies

These are real estate firms that specialize in timeshares and are licensed by the state agency in the state in which they are located. Primarily operating on a commission-only basis, timeshare brokers function like a traditional residential real estate outlet, but for timeshares and timeshare points.

3) Online Auction Sites

Some owners opt to put their WorldMark points on online auction sites. This provides a direct route between buyers and sellers but can come with risks such as potential fraud.

4) Direct Sales

Owners may also choose to sell their points directly to someone they know or through social media or word-of-mouth marketing.

The Market Dynamics of Selling WorldMark Points

Supply and Demand

Like any other resale marketplace, the resale of WorldMark points is influenced by supply and demand. The availability of points and the interest of prospective buyers can affect prices. Seasonal variations and economic conditions also play a role, making the market for WorldMark points for sale quite dynamic.

Valuation of Points

Understanding the resale value of WorldMark points is essential for a smooth transaction. Factors such as the number of points, their expiration dates, and the desirability of the affiliated resorts all impact their worth. The valuation can be complex but is based on what a buyer is willing to pay and not the original price of the points.

Resale pricing is impacted by the way the points were originally sold. Similar to the way a new car is sold through the dealership, there are sales commissions and marketing costs that factor into the new sale price – overhead that inflates the price and is not included in a resale price. This can add up to as much as 60 percent of the original cost – which is why resale prices appear to be so discounted.

To get a start in researching an asking price for WorldMark points, use our free market analysis calculator. This will give you the average asking price from the WorldMark sellers who are advertising their points across our platform of websites. Enter the term WorldMark by Wyndham into the resort name field and you’ll get a good idea for a starting point for your resale price.

If you need professional guidance to ascertain the appropriate price, contact the agents at Timeshare Broker Associates. They are licensed real estate agents specializing in timeshares and can legally price properties for the resale market.

Risks and Challenges When Selling

Scams and Fraudulent Practices

As mentioned earlier, the resale market is not without risks. Scammers posing as legitimate buyers or upfront fee companies can defraud sellers. Proper research, due diligence, and engaging with reputable, no upfront fee companies such as SellaTimeshare.com can help overcome these risks.

The Role of WorldMark in Resales

WorldMark by Wyndham may offer guidance in the resale process. Because WorldMark is part of Wyndham, they would refer you to the Wyndham Cares team for advice. However, neither WorldMark nor Wyndham actively engages in the secondary market themselves. Understanding the company's role and limitations can help sellers navigate the process more efficiently.

Contractual Considerations

Selling WorldMark points comes with its own set of challenges and regulations. Both the buyer and the seller must be aware of the terms and conditions of the WorldMark program and comply with all legal requirements.

An advantage that WorldMark owners have is that the program is considered a pure-points program, meaning there are no deeded interests involved. This makes the process much easier as there are no deed searches or local government real estate issues involved like there would be for a traditional deeded timeshare transaction.

The transfer process is usually facilitated by a closing company that ensures all legal documents are in order and the transfer of ownership is properly executed. However, some fraudulent transfer companies work with so-called exit companies and prey on unsuspecting sellers. This emphasizes the need for working with legitimate resale providers when selling WorldMark points.

So, Do People Really Sell WorldMark Points?

The sale of WorldMark points is indeed a real and often complex process, but yes, people really do sell WorldMark points on the resale market. Just a few days ago, an offer of $3,500 came in through our system and some offers have been lower, but others have been higher over the years.

The key is to be realistic and patient with the process. As we mentioned earlier, resale prices tend to be much lower than prices directly from WorldMark, so this becomes more of an issue of wanting to transition out of your ownership and move on rather than making an overall profit from your original purchase.

The good news is that WorldMark points sell as resales. Even current owners look to top up their point allotment by adding resale points to their ownership.

Remember that if you're considering selling WorldMark points, it's advisable to research the company or individual you are dealing with. Endorsements from national associations such as the American Resort Development Association can go along way toward defining legitimate resale operators, and SellaTimeshare.com is proud to be associated with them.

If you are ready to sell your WorldMark points, get started here.