A few thoughts:
A timeshare sales price has nothing to do with ongoing maintenance, upkeep, and renovation, just as the price you pay to buy a house has nothing to do with
its ongoing maintenance, upkeep, and renovation. Those things are paid for out of annual "maintenance fees"---the owners collectively share in the costs to operate the resort as well as contributing to a fund to handle large expenses as they are expected to occur. For example, periodically updating the units via refurbishment, etc.
Most timeshares are (more or less) perpetual. While you own it, you continue to share in the costs of operation and upkeep. This is a contractual relationship. There are a few (and Disney is one) that have defined end dates, but in the US those are the exception rather than the rule.
The value in most timeshares is in using them. They are not investments. However, a good timeshare has a solid value proposition: Owning and using it will be less expensive than renting the same stays over some period of time. The longer you own it, the better the returned value.
Note that this can only happen if the cost to rent the unit on the open market exceeds the maintenance fees. If that's true, the timeshare has value. If that's not true, the timeshare is only a liability.
It is (relatively) easy to get rid of a timeshare that has value (as defined above). You just have to find the market of people who want to use it. One good place to find that market is the Timeshare User's Group, or TUG. (
www.tug2.net,
www.tugbbs.com). The sales price might be very low--as little as a few dollars--but if you've owned it long enough, you've already gotten good value out of the ownership, because you saved money vs. renting.
However, a timeshare that is a liability (again, as defined above) is very difficult to unload. It's not impossible, but the person who would take it off your hands would either be completely uninformed (and has no idea that renting the same unit is cheaper) or very very well informed (and realizes that this unit might provide arbitrage opportunities in the exchange markets.)
Most name-brand developers have programs by which they will take back timeshares that are no longer wanted. Sometimes owners use this because they don't want (or know how) to sell it themselves. Sometimes it is because the timeshare is a liability and it can't be sold. The costs for this service can range from "free" to some smallish multiple of the annual fees. These programs are not guaranteed, though, and in a tougher economic climate might no longer be offered.
Companies that promise to "get you out of your obligation"---and they are legion---are shams. They do not do anything you could not easily do yourself, but they charge a substantial up-front fee to do so. In the worst case, they do nothing other than tell you not to pay and have the management company foreclose.
Finally, it's worth noting that if someone bequeaths you a timeshare,
you are not obligated to accept it, and you shouldn't unless you know what you are doing.
https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/inheriting-timeshares
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I own a number of timeshares, all of them bought on the secondary market, for something between "less than free" to a bit less than a dime on the dollar. The "less than free" ones included one year's worth of free usage. I bought my first one almost 20 years ago. They provided many excellent vacations for my family over the years. I definitely would have spent more renting than I did by owning. But owning also has its ups and downs, and I don't recommend it for most people.
However, if you are willing to put in a little elbow grease to learn the ins and outs,
and you buy resale, you can get some really great vacations at a very affordable price.
