Timeshare ownerships offer romance during honeymoon period HOUSE CALLS

Q: The past two or three letters you have answered about timeshares (the letter from R.B. especially) led me to write.

Like R.B., I have owned a timeshare for about 15 years, but I have had great experiences. In the beginning, I paid membership dues to my resort's exchange service. I later became disenchanted, so I researched and found a great online alternative: TUG (Timeshare User's Group). There, one can find a wealth of information for and by owners, buyers, sellers and traders. Subject-specific bulletin boards are free and if one chooses, you can join for a tiny yearly fee ($15, I believe), which includes a 90-day classified ad. I am not a member, but use the bulletin boards for most everything relating to my yearly vacation -- local restaurants, day trip info, hot spots for children, etc.

Again, I am not a member and am not endorsing the Web site. But there is a huge amount of information on all aspects of timeshare ownership there. The address: www.tug2.net. I hope this letter might bring a bit of aspirin to some timeshare owners' headaches. -- J.P.

A: Those with happy timeshare experiences aren't usually the ones writing in, so it's refreshing to hear from you. Other readers have mentioned that site also. I've heard that other good ones include www.redweek.com and www.myresortnetwork.com.

The one thing to avoid if one is trying to sell a timeshare is any "advertising service" that requires hefty advance fees.

Broker can help with

problem home purchase

Q: Last May, a Realtor showed my daughter a home. We decided to purchase the home and had it inspected ($500). We also arranged for a mortgage. In the meantime, the owner of the house was incarcerated for several months. Upon his release, it came to light that there was a lien on the house, which he later said he cleared up. I don't think that was true.

The house has been empty all along and when we passed the house this week, there was an orange sticker on the front door saying the lock has been changed.

Does this mean the house was foreclosed? He also owed back taxes. He kept calling us and asking if we were still interested, and we are. Lately, we haven't heard from him and he hasn't contacted the Realtor either. Is there any way we could still purchase the house -- perhaps through the bank? We don't know what to do. The owner also claimed that if he had a note from the mortgage company saying he had a buyer, they would sell us the house. What do you think? -- C.Y.

A: I think you could use professional help. Hire a real estate broker to investigate the situation. After that, it's time to involve your own attorney to make sure you don't buy into problems.

Effective period helps

protect condo's price

Q: I have listed my condo for sale exclusively with a prominent Realtor. The contract expires this Friday. I have been unhappy with the lack of effort on the part of the Realtor. It has been a comedy of errors. I do not wish to renew the existing contract. However, there is a question I need to know the answer to.

It says in the listing contract "if I sell or lease the property within _____ days after this contract ends (the "effective period") to a person who was shown the property by the owner's Realtor, or anyone else during the life of this contract, I will pay Realtor the same commission agreed to in Paragraph 4 of this contract."

What is meant by the "effective period"? No number was ever put in that blank.

Can I sell my condo myself, or can I have another Realtor sell it for me? -- via e-mail

A: That extension clause is intended to prevent you from taking the Realtor's customer aside and whispering "Wait until the listing expires and then I'll sell you the place for less." With no number written in the blank, my guess is that if it came to court, a judge might say the extension period was whatever is typical or customary, perhaps 60 or 90 days.

The clause applies only if you sell to someone who saw the place while it was originally listed. Otherwise, you are perfectly free to find another agent, or to sell the place on your own.

Solar shingles

can be found

Q: I need help finding solar shingles. I need some company that sells, installs and has a warranty. I live in the country and so far cannot get anyone. I know some factory must make them. -- B.M., via e-mail

A: When I went to Google and searched for "solar shingles," any number of possibilities came up.

Edith Lank will personally respond to any questions sent to her at 240 Hemingway Drive, Rochester, N.Y. 14620 (please include a stamped return envelope), or readers may e-mail her at ehlank@aol.com.