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Turn Your Vacation Home Equity Into More Vacation

You don’t have to sell your home to unlock value. Here’s how co-owners are trading up and expanding their vacation footprint.

We’ve had a bunch of new readers join the Plum community recently, and I’d love to get to know you a little better.

Where are you in your vacation home journey?

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Thanks for being here, let’s dive in!

 – Doug

Featured Property: Waterfront Florida Home

This is one of my favorite stories on the platform right now.

The family behind Stella Maris spent years making memories here — beach bonfires, dolphin sightings at breakfast, sandcastle contests at sunset. Now they’re opening the door for others to experience the same thing.

This property is a 5-bedroom, 5.5-bath waterfront home in a private, gated community on Navarre Beach, Florida.

Each 1/8 share gets you 6+ weeks a year in your own Sound-front getaway. You’re right on the water with 110 feet of private shoreline, plus a pool and hot tub just steps away.

It’s fully furnished, professionally managed, and move-in ready — all you have to do is show up and enjoy.

Previous Properties:

How One Owner Used Co-Ownership to Buy a Second Home

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a guy who owns a rental home at the beach.

It’s been a good investment. It rents well. His family uses it a couple times a year.

But he’s tired.

Tired of coordinating with the property manager. Tired of approving vendor invoices. Tired of getting that call when the A/C breaks in July.

“I don’t want to sell it,” he said. “But I also don’t want to deal with it anymore. I’d rather use the equity to get a place in the mountains.”

And that’s exactly what he did.

He sold a few co-ownership shares of the beach house, freed up some capital, and bought into a second property, without taking on more debt or giving up the place his family loves.

Now he’s got both. And he doesn’t manage either. We do.

The Shift to Co-Ownership

A lot of people assume their only options are:

  • Keep the whole thing, and keep all the responsibility

  • Or sell it outright and walk away

But there’s a third option that’s starting to click for people:

Co-ownership lets you trade out part of your equity, keep using the home, and roll that value into something new.

We’ve seen owners sell 2–4 shares of a property they already own and use that to co-own something completely different like a ski house, a desert home, a place closer to extended family.

It’s not about downsizing. It’s about right-sizing.

Why This Is Happening

Here’s what we’re hearing from owners:

They’re over being landlords.

Even with a property manager, you’re still involved. There’s always another approval, another repair, another guest complaint. They didn’t buy a vacation home to feel like they’re running customer support.

Costs keep going up.

Between insurance, taxes, and maintenance, full ownership isn’t cheap. And with more rental restrictions popping up, the math isn’t what it used to be.

They want options.

One place isn’t enough anymore. A beach house is great, but what about a cozy cabin in the fall? Or a place to spend spring break with family?

They’re not chasing returns. They’re looking for more life from what they already own.

How To Make It Happen

If any of that sounds like you, here’s how it typically works:

Step 1: Sell a few shares of your current home

We help you legally structure and list 2–4 co-ownership shares. These are real, deeded ownership stakes…nothing like a timeshare.

Step 2: Use that cash however you want

Some folks pay off debt. Some buy into a second home. Some just reduce their monthly burn and make space for something new.

Step 3: Pick a second place (or tell us what you want)

We’ve helped buyers co-own homes in the Carolinas, Montana, Mexico, and more. Whatever experience you’re missing, there’s probably a property that fits.

Step 4: Let us handle the messy stuff

We match co-owners, set up the LLC, manage scheduling, and even run the home if you want hands-off ownership. You don’t need to be the group leader. That’s our job.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve owned a vacation home for a while and feel like it’s not quite giving you what you want anymore…

You don’t have to sell it.

You can free up equity, simplify the logistics, and co-own a second home that fits where your life is headed now.

More flexibility. Less hassle. Still yours.

Doug + The Plum CoOwnership Team

P.S. If you’re thinking about co-owning a vacation home but don’t want to manage the logistics, reply to this email. I’d be happy to talk it through.