Quarter Share Ownership FAQ's

Q: What is quarter ownership?
A: Quarter ownership gives the owner a 25% interest in a deeded property in most cases depending on the country or area. Your name (or name's if joint ownership) is on the deed along with three other owners.

You get access to the Villa, Home or condo 12 or 13 weeks each year. The weeks rotate every year so that the prime week of Christmas and New Years will be yours once every four years. The actual calendars of use are available on the agreement page.

Q: What’s included?
A: All of our condos come fully furnished with everything from furniture, TV’s, and VCR’s and linens to dishes, pots and pans right down to the corkscrew. (see full list of included furnishings on ‘furnishings’ on each listing). Phone, cable, electric/heat, cable and weekly professional cleaning are also all included in the monthly homeowners fee

Q: How is this different from timeshare?
A: In a timeshare scheme, you're buying the right to use a unit (not necessarily the same unit) for a week or more per year. With quarter ownership, you own 25% of a piece of real estate and the rental income it produces..

Q: How is what Quarter Share Properties, Inc. offers different from other quarter share programs?
A: You're buying a fee simple warranty deed with your name on the title as an owner. In some area's of the world we're more beneficial as we offer a ‘share’ in a limited liability corporation (LLC) and the corporation owns the property. In other share buying plans, you're buying timeshare, just with 13 weeks instead of 1. Setting up a quarter share these ways are easier for the seller, but you don't own real estate...

Some quarter share ‘programs’ don’t let you have the property until all quarters are sold, making you wait to purchase at an unknown time. The property can also often be sold out from under you if a buyer comes along with an offer to purchase the whole unit before all four quarters are sold. Some quarter share programs also dictate that all the other owners can tell you who you can and can't sell your quarter too. Read the contingencies carefully to pick the property and ownership agreement that fits your needs...

Another thing to compare is the monthly fees. The fees for a developer property are often over $250/mo per quarter ($1,000+ for the unit). Quarter Share Properties, Inc. rates are based on actual costs that are incurred by the owners plus a low Financial management fee per month for the unit. All costs are carefully tracked and reported to you as an owner. Owners can also elect to perform all the bookkeeping themselves instead of paying any additional bookkeeping costs...

Q: Do I know the other owners?
A: Owners know who each other are, but do not have to have a social relationship. Owners are free to sell their quarters at any time just as you would sell whole ownership real estate. Owners do typically meet and exchange messages in order to be able to swap time...

Q: What are the rules?
A: Each Villa, Vacation Home or Condo has a very detailed partnership agreement that each member must abide by. A strong partnership agreement is very important for sharing your Vacation property without surprises. Only if everyone knows the rules going in and abides by them, can a quarter share provide the zero-stress 2nd home that is the reason you buy a 2nd home to begin with.

The unit must also be professionally cleaned and maintained using the prearranged service after each use so that it is ready for the next owner.

Q: Can I get income from renting my weeks?
A: Just like if you owned the Villa, Vacation Home or Condo, you own your weeks and can choose to rent them. Initially, the condo is rented and managed through our Acapulco villas and St. Martin villas web site (Rooms In Paradise). You get 75% of the rental fees generated. The Rental company gets 25% for marketing, and sales commissions (credit card fees, travel agency fees, etc.) Typical resort splits are 50%-50% or worse if rented as part of a conference. They also reserve the right to use your unit for up to 6 days per year at NO CHARGE. The 15%+ you lose CAN be the difference between losing and making money*.

* there is no guarantee that any unit will generate positive cashflow. this will depend on many factors such as market conditions, percentage of time rented and the level of your expenses. Contact Quarter Share Properties,Inc. for a projection of future income based on currently booked rentals for the quarter you are interested in.

Q: What are the advantages of quarter ownership?
A: Most people that own a Villa, Vacation Home or Condo don’t use it every week. So it sits empty, or it’s rented. By purchasing a quarter share, you only buy the part of the Vacation Home that you're going to use...

Furthermore, a quarter share property can appreciate, like real estate. (note that real estate is an investment with risk, and appreciation is not guaranteed). However, we only deal in properties located in high demand vacation area's worldwide.