How to Own a $2.6M Vacation Home for $325K

Short-term rental income, personal vacation weeks, and less stress — here’s how.

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Doug Rich, Rick Vlaha, Josh Knowles, Bill Nagel & Plum CoOwnership
July 02, 2025

I’ve been talking to a lot of folks lately who are thinking about a vacation home that also helps cover its own costs. And it makes sense.

Short-term rentals have taken off in the last few years, and for good reason. They offer steady bookings, strong returns, and a chance to spend time in a place you love with family or friends.

But buying one on your own isn’t easy. The best short-term rentals usually come with a steep price tag, and it takes a lot of cash upfront just to get in the door.

That’s where co-ownership comes in.

When you team up with other like-minded buyers, you can unlock a much nicer property than you’d ever afford on your own. Instead of pouring your whole budget into a small fixer-upper in an average spot, you can pool resources to own part of a premium home — the kind with views, pools, hot tubs, and design touches that really stand out in the market.

Let’s say you have $325,000 to invest. On your own, that might get you a dated two-bedroom condo blocks away from the beach. It might rent okay, but you’d still be responsible for every repair, every quiet season, and every guest complaint.

With co-ownership, that same $325,000 could buy you an eighth share of a $2.6 million oceanfront luxury home with professional management, a strong rental profile, and plenty of personal weeks built in.

You’d only be responsible for a fraction of the down payment and monthly costs and still benefit from consistent bookings and the potential for long-term property value growth.

Let’s see an example of how this can work with our Holden Beach property.

Featured Property: Oceanfront Holden Beach Luxury

This premium property sits right on the ocean at Holden Beach, NC — one of the most popular family beach destinations on the East Coast.

It has 8 total shares, with 4 still available. Each share gets you 6 weeks a year, right on the sand, in a modern, spacious house designed for large groups and repeat guests.

Here’s what you’d be looking at:

  • $2,600,000 target home price

  • $325,000 per share

  • $305,013 total cash at closing per share (down payment + costs + reserves)

  • $642 estimated monthly expenses (insurance, taxes, cleaning, repairs, utilities, etc.)

  • 8 shares total

  • Short-term renting permitted

If you tried to buy this home outright, you’d be looking at a down payment north of $500,000 plus a hefty mortgage. Co-ownership makes it possible to step into a property like this with a fraction of the upfront cash, while still enjoying the benefits of owning something truly special.

Previous Properties:

The Difference of Co-Ownership

A few reasons people are choosing co-ownership over buying solo:

✅ Better properties attract better guests — High-end vacation rentals are booked more often, command higher rates, and tend to see better care from renters.

✅ Shared expenses lower your risk — You split repair costs, reserves, and maintenance with the other owners, instead of carrying all of it alone.

✅ More flexibility — Co-ownership lets you pick the weeks you want to stay while renting the rest of the year. And if your plans change, you can sell your share instead of selling the entire property.

✅ Professional management — You don’t have to handle bookings, turnovers, or late-night phone calls from guests. That means you actually get to enjoy the place when you’re there, and keep it running smoothly when you’re not.

I see co-ownership as a way to open doors. You get to own an amazing property (and use it) without taking on the full burden of ownership by yourself.

If you’ve been thinking about stepping into the short-term rental market, but you don’t want to go it alone, this might be worth a closer look.

Doug + The Plum CoOwnership Team

P.S. Want to take the next step? Here are three easy ways to get more out of Plum:

1. Got a question or just want to say hey? Reply to this email or message me on Linkedin.

2. Curious about buying or selling a share? Book a call with me here

3. Just want to browse? Check out the latest listings on the Plum Marketplace