Timeshare: Is it right for you? Many people buy timeshares after a lot of research and analysis. But same is not true with some people who simply buy timeshares hearing the buzz surrounding it with poor perception and ignorance about timeshares. Buying a timeshare is a huge investment and thus should be dealt with utmost importance. Before buying a timeshare you have to first question yourself whether is it really for you? How often do you go for vacation? Is that place right for you to go year after year? Do you want to buy a timeshare just for vacation purpose or you are buying it as an investment? Even if you decide to buy a timeshare property you should start your research at least nine months before you buy a timeshare. But let us weigh in various factors to know whether timeshare is really for you or not. A vacation home might be a minor financial investment for few rich and wealthy but to many middle class people it is possible only in dreams. Middle class people badly needed an alternative to this costly investment. The search for an alternative resulted in the discovery of timeshare in Europe in 1970�s. This was a welcome relief to many people who could not afford to buy an expensive vacation home. This concept gained huge popularity with every passing year and today over two million Americans own timeshare properties which is a big number. A timeshare is nothing but a real estate property split into many ownerships. The cost is shared among the owners. Timeshares are basically classified into two types of plans, deeded and non-deeded. In a deeded plan the owner buys the timeshare unit and the unit for 30-40 years. It can again be classified into fixed use and flexible use. A fixed use allows only a specific time and specific number of years where as a flexible use timeshare allows you to choose vacation at any time of the year but only on first come first serve basis as many people would like to go for that option. The other types of plan called non-deeded plan is also called right to use plan which is like a lease, you have the same facilities but only for specific period and you lose all the rights after the lease expires. Having understood what a timeshare is and different types it is also important to dig into the facts of timeshare. Timeshares are usually common in a tourist place. The cost depends on the location and season of the year. Apart from cost of timeshare you have to pay the maintenance and various other fees also. This also may vary depending on the location. But one good thing about timeshare is that you don�t have to worry about the upkeep and maintenance of your timeshare unit. But you have to think is it really worth to pay hundreds of dollars every year in addition to the thousands you have already paid to buy the timeshare and that too to spend only one or two weeks in a year. This may be reasonable only if the maintenance fee is low which is generally not. But if you see the other side of the coin, in long term a timeshare will be cheaper than a hotel or vacation home. If you add up the cost of hotel for thirty years and compare it with timeshare it will be way higher. But then again, if you decide to go to a different vacation spot every year hotel may be ideal for you. Although timeshare offer exchange of properties with other owners across the states and countries it may not be that easy to do it. Also one should compare the other alternatives to a timeshare available in that place. In some seasons timeshares could really be expensive due to their close proximity to beach fronts etc. So a quick market survey to find cheap alternative should never be ruled out. PPPPP Word Count 665

The Best North American Snowmobile Competitions

Since their inception several decades ago, snowmobiles have improved for better safety and performance for more adventurous snowmobilers. When first manufactured, their basic purpose made traveling across snow-covered landscapes less of a chore that what it was. But as with every produce, snowmobiles have constantly been updated and improved upon as technology and snowmobile lovers have changed. Snowmobiles have been made to go faster and other accommodations have been made to make the sport of snowmobiling more exciting and interesting. As a result, snowmobile competitions have become one of the more popular spectator sports across North America.

The most popular snowmobile competition occurs at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado. In 1998, the Snocross event was added to the roster of the X Games. At the time, it was similar to the Motocross event in that it was a lengthy course with holes and jumps. The Snocross differs from Motocross in that it is held outside and the holes and big jumps are covered in snow. Snowmobilers will enjoy watching this event as current snowmobiles can gain speeds of 70 MPH in less than 4 seconds, making the Snocross event one of the most popular events at the Winter X Games. An added event for 2007 will also be exciting for enthusiasts. The Snowmobile Freestyle event will consist of 10 riders in the first-ever snowmobile freestyle course. Riders and spectators will undoubtedly marvel at the individual runs that include jumps ranging from 45-100 feet, enabling participants to come up with bigger and more awe-inspiring tricks. As an added benefit, the X Games have become a breeding ground for events that often make their way into the Olympics, so Snowmobile Freestyle may soon become an Olympic event.

In Michigan, spectators and sportsmen alike will enjoy watching any of the events that make up a full winter schedule of snowmobiling and snow-related sports. These events often take place at various Michigan county fairgrounds and other venues. Popular snowmobile locations in Michigan are often in Upper Peninsula region of the state in cities like Mackinac, St. Ignace, and Sault Ste. Marie. But there are also places in the Lower Peninsula where the winter weather is ideal for snowmobile enthusiasts, including Cadillac, Traverse City, and Gaylord.

Annual snowmobile regional races take place throughout the northern states. In Minnesota, spectators and enthusiasts will surely enjoy the Minnesota State Championship Series. In Wisconsin, the Northwoods Challenge is a respectable and exciting snowmobile racing event as is the Rock Maple Racing Regional in New Hampshire. Canada is no stranger to snowmobiling, either. The Ski-Doo Grand Prix de Valcourt in Valcourt, Quebec is one of the more recognized and popular events in North America, although Canada is the leader in the snowmobiling and winter sport industry.

Although the X Games provides the most popular venue for snowmobile competitions, every winter there are events occurring across North America in which snowmobilers and spectators can participate. The National Snowmobile Racing Association sponsors and sanctions many of these annual events and they are often broadcast on television so the less adventurous spectators can enjoy the events from the warmth and comforts of their own home. Thanks to the popularity of the X Games, the snowmobiling industry has attracted some of the world�s top athletes and a larger group of spectators. The sport of snowmobiling is one of the more exciting events to watch and there is no sign of its popularity fading anytime soon.

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