You visit Aruba often, and it feels more like a favorite neighborhood than a vacation stop. If you are ready to move from booking stays to owning a slice of the island, your two most common options are a resort timeshare or a deeded condominium. Each path offers a different mix of flexibility, cost, and long-term value.
In this guide, you will learn how timeshares and deeded condos work in Aruba, what they cost to own, how rentals and resale potential compare, and the due diligence steps that help you buy with confidence. You will also see where each option fits different lifestyles and goals. Let’s dive in.
Timeshare vs deeded condo basics
What a timeshare is
A timeshare gives you scheduled usage rights for a resort unit. Your agreement might be a deeded interval that is recorded as a fractional interest, a right-to-use contract that expires after a set term, or a points-based program that you spend like currency across a network. Usage is usually set by specific weeks, a season, or a points budget. Exchange networks can expand destination choices, but they come with their own rules and fees.
What a deeded condo is
A deeded condominium gives you full ownership of a specific unit plus a share of the building’s common areas. You can use the property year-round, live there part-time or full-time, and customize the interior within the association’s rules. Your ownership transfers like other real estate, which affects financing options, rental flexibility, and resale potential.
Usage rights and lifestyle fit
Timeshare usage
A timeshare shines if you prefer a predictable vacation rhythm. You get the same resort experience, often the same week, with housekeeping and on-site services. The tradeoff is less spontaneity. Peak weeks require early booking, floating weeks still follow seasonal windows, and exchange availability is never guaranteed.
Deeded condo usage
A deeded condo gives you control all year. You can plan extended stays, use the unit for seasonal living, or even move in full time if that aligns with your plans. You also have latitude to renovate or personalize the space, subject to the condominium association’s rules.
Ownership and transfer
Timeshare title and transfer
If your timeshare is a deeded interval, it is recorded as a fractional interest, often with covenants and a defined transfer process. If it is right-to-use, it is a contract, not real property, and it will expire. Secondary markets for timeshares are limited. Many resell at a fraction of the initial price, and some contracts require developer approval, buy-back provisions, or transfer fees that affect your exit.
Deeded condo title and transfer
With a deeded condo, the transfer process is similar to standard real estate. You can sell, mortgage, inherit, or gift the property, subject to local rules for foreign buyers.
Costs you will carry
Timeshare fees and assessments
Timeshare owners typically pay annual maintenance or administration fees, plus potential utility surcharges and exchange membership fees. Maintenance fees tend to rise over time, so review the fee history and any reserve funding. Some structures include property taxes within maintenance charges, but you should verify these details before you buy.
Deeded condo expenses
Condo owners typically pay association fees for common areas, property taxes, building and unit insurance, utilities, and occasional special assessments. Ongoing costs can be higher than a timeshare, since you carry full responsibility for the unit. The tradeoff is full asset ownership and the potential for capital appreciation.
Financing and taxes
Timeshares are often financed by the developer or third-party lenders at higher rates and shorter terms, and many buyers pay cash. Deeded condos can be financed with more conventional mortgages, although non-residents may face stricter underwriting and higher down payments in Aruba. Transfer taxes, registration fees, annual property taxes, and any tourism-related charges vary by ownership type. A local notary, attorney, and tax advisor can confirm your specific obligations.
Rental flexibility and income potential
Timeshare rental options
Rental rules differ by resort. Some prohibit owner rentals, while others offer on-site rental pools that place your week into a managed program with commissions. Fixed-week schedules limit your ability to chase peak rates, and some exchange memberships restrict third-party rentals. As a result, income potential is usually modest.
Deeded condo rental strategy
Condo owners typically have more freedom to rent through platforms or property managers, as long as they follow the building bylaws and local tourism rules. With full-year control, you can adjust pricing, target peak periods, and optimize occupancy. This flexibility generally leads to stronger income potential than a timeshare, but you should verify any rental restrictions in the condominium documents before you buy.
Resale and exit strategy
Timeshare resale
Timeshares usually have slower resale timelines and lower resale prices. Value depends on your week or season, the resort’s reputation, and whether your agreement is deeded or contractual. Many owners accept that resale prices may be a small fraction of the original developer purchase price.
Deeded condo resale
Deeded condos benefit from broader demand, including lifestyle buyers and investors. Market drivers include proximity to beaches, ocean views, building amenities, unit condition, and the financial health of the condo association. This liquidity can support more predictable exit planning.
Local factors
Notary, title, and recording
Aruba follows civil-law practices that rely on notaries for deed preparation and registration. Confirm whether your timeshare interest is recorded as a real-property fraction or handled as a contract. Recording affects how transfers work and how liens and priorities are recognized.
Regulations and consumer protections
Before you sign, verify any Aruba-specific consumer protections for timeshares, such as rescission periods and mandatory disclosures, with a local attorney. If you plan to rent your unit, confirm that the resort or property manager has the proper licensing and that your condo bylaws permit short-term rentals.
Tourism demand and seasonality
Aruba benefits from steady, year-round tourism. Peak holiday weeks command higher rates, which can be the most valuable periods in a timeshare plan. For deeded condos, exact location, unit size, and building reputation drive rental performance within this broader demand.
Which path fits your goals?
- You vacation the same week every year and want on-site services. A timeshare can offer predictable usage and convenience at a lower upfront cost.
- You plan extended stays, want design control, or may live part-time in Aruba. A deeded condo provides full control, year-round access, and renovation flexibility.
- You want rental income and the ability to adjust to market demand. A deeded condo generally gives you stronger rental potential and strategy control, subject to bylaws and licensing.
- You want an exit strategy with broader buyer demand. Deeded condos usually offer better market liquidity and clearer resale pathways.
FAQs
Can a non-resident buy property in Aruba?
- Yes. The process typically involves a local notary who prepares and registers deeds.
Does a timeshare make me a property owner?
- It depends on the structure. Deeded intervals are recorded as real property interests, while right-to-use agreements are contractual and can expire. Always review the documents.
How much are annual maintenance or HOA fees?
- Fees vary by resort and building. Request the current fee schedule, the history of increases, and the reserve fund status to understand long-term costs.
Can I rent my place when I am not there?
- Timeshare rental permissions vary and can be limited. Deeded condos usually allow more flexible rentals, subject to HOA rules and Aruba’s requirements.
How easy is it to resell if I change plans?
- Deeded condos typically have better liquidity and broader buyer interest. Timeshares often resell for less than their original purchase price and can take longer to sell.
What financing options do buyers use in Aruba?
- Timeshares are often paid in cash or financed at higher rates and shorter terms. Deeded condos may qualify for more conventional mortgages, with stricter terms for non-residents.
