Timeshare

Be careful with these things. Huge, hot real estate arena in various areas of the country.

How's it work? Well, you...share...time (in real estate ownership).

That is, you buy 1/4th of a condo a stone's throw from the beach. The condo itself, as a stand-alone thing, would cost $1 million, but you're splitting the cost here with four other time-sharers. So it should cost $250,000 for your 1/4 share, which entitles you to every fourth week occupancy.

Sounds interesting, right? Kinda Airbnb vibe, old school. But it's oh so not that simple. Fees in (to the friendly sales guy); fees out (well, someone has to pay the realtor when you sell). And then there are the Association fees, and 18 other fees, and you pay retail prices for the doorman and the gardener and the caretaking facilities, all interestingly owned by the property developer personally.

So, hm...something you want to sign up for? Read the fine print. Or go Airbnb. At least with them you know upfront how much things are gonna cost you, and there's no long-term commit. It's a date, not a marriage.