Hey, it’s Doug.

Let’s talk Airbnb for a minute.

Over the past few years, a lot of people jumped into vacation rentals thinking it would be the perfect way to turn their second home into passive income. And for some, it worked.

But for many others, especially in today’s market, it’s getting harder to make the numbers pencil out.

If you own an Airbnb (or you’re thinking about buying one), here are a few questions worth asking:

1. Are rising costs eating into your returns?

Insurance premiums for vacation homes, especially on the coast, have gone through the roof. Taxes are climbing. Repair and maintenance costs aren’t slowing down. And in a lot of markets, nightly rates aren’t keeping up with those increases.

With co-ownership, you’re not carrying 100% of those costs on your own. You still enjoy the home, but you share the expenses with a small group of co-owners.

2. Are local rental restrictions tightening?

A growing number of popular vacation markets are cracking down on short-term rentals.

We’re seeing:

• Caps on how many homes can operate as short-term rentals

• Stricter permitting and licensing rules

• New local taxes and fees

These changes are happening in places like Florida, South Carolina, California, Nantucket — even here in North Carolina.

With co-ownership, your primary goal isn’t maximizing nightly rental income, it’s owning a share of a beautiful property you get to enjoy throughout the year.

3. Is managing your Airbnb becoming a second job?

Even with a property manager, the to-do list never really stops:

• Managing turnover and cleaning

• Fielding guest questions

• Monitoring reviews

• Dealing with last-minute repairs and vendor coordination

Co-ownership simplifies all of that. You’re not managing guests. You’re sharing ownership with like-minded folks who want to use and enjoy the home, not turn it into a hotel.

4. Is your equity trapped?

We’re seeing more owners use co-ownership to free up cash without having to fully sell the home.

Instead of selling outright, they sell a portion of the property as co-ownership shares. That allows them to:

• Pay off debt

• Diversify into other investments

• Buy a second property (many are trading beach equity for a mountain house!)

You still keep access to the home, but you’re not carrying the full financial load alone.

The bottom line

The Airbnb model still works for some, but for a growing number of owners, the numbers aren’t adding up like they used to. Rising costs, tighter regulations, and ongoing management headaches are making full ownership harder to justify.

If you’re starting to feel that pressure, it might be worth exploring whether co-ownership is a better fit for your goals.

Before we jump to this week’s featured property, I’d love to know:

Featured Property: Holden Beach, North Carolina

Some homes are built for summer.
This one was built for every season of life.

The Banks family has been coming to Holden Beach since 2005. It started as a summer tradition. Then came Thanksgivings, spring breaks, off-season escapes. In 2022, they hosted an 80th birthday that brought eight siblings under one roof from all across the country.

Now, they’re opening up the opportunity for others to create their own version of that story.

This home is ideal for big groups—families with grown kids, multiple generations, even reunion-style gatherings with friends. Mornings start on the beach. Afternoons drift by the pool. Evenings stretch out around the dinner table.

And it’s not just sentimental. It’s a strong investment.

Rental History + Returns

The property grossed around $210K last year with ~$106K in net income after management fees.

Peak summer weeks rent for $14,500.

38 weeks were booked—13 of those accounting for 80% of annual income.

With 8 shares total, each owner gets 6 weeks per year for a mix of personal use and rental income, depending on your goals.

Whether you want to unplug, celebrate, reconnect, or earn steady returns at the coast, this place gives you options.

Previous Properties:

• St. George Island, Florida

• North Topsail Island, North Carolina

• Bald Head Island, North Carolina

• Navarre Beach, Florida

Next Week: Tulum, Mexico

Thanks again for following along.

If you want to chat through how co-ownership works, just reply to this email. Happy to walk you through it.

Also, we started a free WhatsApp Channel for Real Estate Investors interested in Co-Ownership.

Doug + The Plum CoOwnership Team

P.S. We're in the final stages of closing our seed investment round. Interested in learning more? Just reply to this email.