Resale timeshares are different than real estate in that there is one agent who represents the seller and you the buyer. The agents typically get $1500 commission (or sometimes negotiated as low as $1000) paid to them by the seller. The process can take as little as 3 weeks, but typically 6 weeks. First step if you are dealing with a timeshare broker is to contact the broker and discuss your needs. Then they will contact you when a contract becomes available (if they don't already have one). Many resales never make it to the web listings, they are sold off of brokers lists.
You make an offer and if its accepted you do have to send a check or money order for deposit and then the balance will be due at closing. After closing the deed needs to be recorded and then Disney is notified, so it can take a few days before you are in the DVC system. As previously mentioned, everything is negotiable, however it appears that negotiating wise, sellers are more likely to drop the price/point than agree to pay closing costs. You have to figure around $450 for closing so factor that into your price per point. Maintenance fees are normally prorated for the year, unless all the points have been used. Contracts with borrowed or no points should go in the $58-$60 range (plus closing costs) and those with current points around $60-63/point, $65 if they have banked points. This is just an average of whats been reported on the board in the last year. At one point people were listing BW for $70- $72/point, and ended up around $68 which was a little high. Others have reported getting as low as $55/point, but it seems Disney will exercise their ROFR on contracts this low.