How to get out of a Westgate timeshare

By Andrea · Last updated: August 2026

Westgate Resorts is one of the largest timeshare developers in the United States. If you own a Westgate timeshare and want out, you are not alone, and you do have options. This page walks through the legitimate ways owners try to exit, in plain English. It is informational only. It is not legal, financial, or tax advice, and we are not affiliated with or endorsed by Westgate.

There is no single trick that works for everyone. Your best path depends on your contract, your state, whether your loan is paid off, and whether you are current on your dues. Read each step below, then confirm the details that apply to you directly with Westgate owner services, a licensed attorney, and the FTC at consumer.ftc.gov.

Step 1: Check your rescission window

If you bought recently, you may still be inside your cancellation, or "rescission," period. This is a short window after signing when you can legally cancel a timeshare contract and get your money back, usually with no penalty.

Two important truths here:

• The length of the window is set by state law and your specific contract. There is no universal day count. It is not always three days, or five, or ten.
• Rescission almost always has to be done in writing, delivered the exact way your contract requires, before the deadline passes.

Find your Westgate purchase documents and read the cancellation clause carefully. Then check the timeshare rescission rules for the state where you signed. If you are close to the deadline, act quickly and keep proof of when and how you sent your notice. If you are unsure whether you still qualify, a licensed attorney in that state can review the paperwork.

Step 2: Ask about Westgate's take-back program

If rescission is no longer an option, the next call is to Westgate itself. Some developers run a voluntary take-back program that lets eligible owners give the week back to the resort. Westgate has offered a take-back path sometimes described as a "Legacy Program" for certain owners in good standing.

Here is what "good standing" typically means in these programs, though exact rules vary and can change:

• The mortgage or loan on the timeshare is fully paid off.
• The account is current, with no unpaid maintenance fees or assessments.
• The owner meets whatever other conditions the developer sets at the time.

Eligibility is never guaranteed, and program terms change without much notice. Do not assume you qualify because a forum post or a stranger said so. Contact Westgate owner services directly, ask whether a take-back or deed-back option is currently available to you, and get any offer in writing.

This route is a type of timeshare deed-back, where ownership is returned to the developer rather than sold. When a developer accepts it, a deed-back is usually far safer than paying a third party, because you are dealing with the party that actually holds your contract.

Step 3: Resale or transfer

If Westgate will not take the week back, you can try to sell or transfer it to another person. Be realistic about price. On the secondary market, timeshares often sell for very little, and some list for a token amount just to move the ongoing fees to a willing buyer.

A few ground rules protect you here:

• Avoid upfront-fee resale offers. A legitimate broker is generally paid from the sale, not before it. Large upfront "marketing" or "listing" fees with a promised buyer are a common scam pattern.
• Confirm you can actually transfer. The loan should be paid off, and dues current, before most transfers can close.
• Watch for phantom buyers. Be cautious about anyone who suddenly has a buyer ready but needs a fee first.

If you do sell, make sure the deed is properly recorded so the obligation truly leaves your name. An unrecorded "transfer" can leave you still on the hook for fees.

Watch out for exit-company scams

The full step-by-step

The steps above are specific to Westgate owners, but the overall process, gathering your documents, checking rescission, asking the developer, then weighing resale or professional help, applies to most timeshares. For the complete framework, including how to organize your paperwork and what questions to ask, see our full guide on how to get out of a timeshare.

Go in order. Start with the cheapest, safest options, and only consider paying anyone once you understand exactly what you are buying and why.