When you’ve worked hard to build a life of success, the way you invest matters just as much as how you spend your time with family and friends. For many, owning a vacation home has long been a symbol of arrival — a place to gather, relax, and create memories. Yet full ownership often brings hidden burdens like endless upkeep and the sense of being anchored in just one place.
That’s why shared ownership real estate companies have grown in popularity. They offer the benefits of enjoying luxury real estate, from a vacation experience and capital appreciation perspective, without the hassles of property management. Within this space, two names often rise to the top: Equity Estates and Pacaso.
Equity Estates vs. Pacaso: How They Work
Both of these models provide ownership and access to beautiful homes. But the way they deliver the experience — and the long-term outcomes for owners — couldn’t be more different.
The Equity Estates Approach
Equity Estates is built on an investment portfolio ownership model. Rather than tying your investment to a single property, you own units in a professionally managed real estate fund of 12+ luxury residences across the globe, with the ability to enjoy more than 65+ residences across funds. Each home is deeded, carefully vetted, and maintained to five-star standards.
The hospitality-first mentality is what makes the experience special. The Equity Estates Voyager app makes browsing, booking, and planning incredible vacations easy. Local hosts, property management, and housekeeping keep the homes ready for each guest, concierge teams take care of everything from filling the fridge to making dinner reservations, and you’ll never walk into a property that has been rented to strangers. Only Equity Estates investors and their invited guests can stay in the properties.
The investment structure has been designed with clarity and foresight. Investors contribute capital once and then pay annual dues for property management, maintenance, and concierge services. Each fund has a 10-year lifecycle before a defined exit plan is executed, seeking to sell the homes for the highest value and distribute the proceeds to investors. For those desiring access to luxury homes while striving for long-term capital appreciation, this model offers welcome peace of mind.
The Pacaso Model
Pacaso goes in a different direction. You buy a stake in a single investment property instead of a diverse portfolio – commonly one-eighth ownership. You, along with up to seven other people (whose identities are not disclosed to you), hold the deed. And you can use the property based on how much of it you possess.
Pacaso’s app handles scheduling by rotating peak dates among owners and serving as a digital gateway for reservations. The organization also takes care of the property bills, repairs, and cleaning, so owners can avoid the day-to-day responsibilities that often accompany second-home ownership. This offers the experience of owning part of a single luxury home without carrying the full weight of ownership alone.
Owners can try to sell their part in Pacaso’s marketplace or through a real estate agent, although liquidity is not guaranteed, and current Pacaso owners have reported significant challenges exiting.
For investors evaluating vacation home ownership options, understanding the exit strategy should be a primary consideration.
Key Differences Between Equity Estates and Pacaso
While both options offer shared vacation home ownership, their structures make for very distinct experiences.
Ownership Structure
Investors in Equity Estates own a variety of deeded residences through a fund, which spreads their money across different markets and types of property. This portfolio strategy strikes a balance between market risk management and usage variety.
People who acquire a luxury asset through Pacaso, like most other fractional real estate companies, have a partial deed to one specific property. Their investment goes up or down with that one house, and all of their usage rights are related to that address.
Usage Flexibility
Equity Estates lets you stay in more than 65 homes in places all over the world — not just limited to the fund investors subscribe to. You could ski in Aspen in the spring, go to Paris in the summer, and enjoy Mexico or the Caribbean in the winter, all while living the Equity Estates life in their portfolio of luxury homes. This flexibility makes travel interesting and new while ensuring that service is always top-notch.
Pacaso gives you a sense of permanence in a place you love. People who desire to put down roots in one place may like returning to the same house through the year, and year over year.
Fees and Costs
Equity Estates has a simple, predictable structure: You make a one-time capital contribution and pay annual dues that cover everything from taxes, property management, improvements, insurance and concierge-level services. There are no hidden costs for investors; they know exactly what they’re paying for.
Pacaso adds the cost of the initial purchase to the continuing costs of upkeep and the management company. Owners may have to pay additional costs for property upgrades or assessments in certain situations. All co-owners share these costs.
Resale and Investment Potential
Pacaso vs Equity Estates highlights how different real estate investing companies can be.
Equity Estates has a clear 10-year plan for each fund. The properties are sold, and the proceeds are distributed to investors.
Pacaso owners can seek to sell their share whenever they choose, but they have to find a buyer who is interested in that property and the allocated shared usage at that time. Selling a partial interest in a vacation home with shared ownership can be complicated, especially when the other owners are unknown.
Service and Amenities
Equity Estates puts a lot of emphasis on consistency at the level of hospitality. Every property is managed and prepared to the same high quality, and concierge teams make sure that everything goes well along the way. For investors and their guests, the experience is more like arriving at a trusted luxury brand than stepping into an unpredictable rental.
Pacaso’s main job is to manage properties, making sure bills are paid and the home is ready. However, the quality of service may differ by location. It’s more about how easy ownership is than how well it’s planned.
Which Model Suits Different Types of Buyers
How you envision your perfect vacation is often the deciding factor in which model you choose. Each style offers pros and cons of shared ownership.
Equity Estates can be a great fit if you want to enjoy new experiences and bring your loved ones together in diverse places around the world. It’s designed for those who crave variety while appreciating a defined investment horizon.
Pacaso may be right for you if you love one place and wish to go back there again and again. Its single-home format gives a sense of familiarity and permanence. For some people, the feeling of “coming home” to the same view matters, as long as they don’t mind sharing that vacation home with others.
In either case, shared ownership is a compelling alternative to full second-home ownership or timeshares. The most important thing is to choose a model that fits your way of life.
Explore Your Options Today
Partial vacation home ownership has come a long way since the days when your main options were to buy a timeshare, rent a villa or stay in a hotel that was too expensive. Today, savvy purchasers can pick between owning a single property with others or a diversified portfolio. Both of these options let them enjoy luxury travel without the stress of owning a second home on their own.
Equity Estates sets itself apart by offering a growing portfolio of 65+ well-chosen residences, skilled hospitality, and a clear exit plan. It’s a model for real estate investors who value luxury experiences with friends and family.
Curious how shared ownership works in practice? Learn more about Equity Estates and discover how portfolio ownership can transform the way you and your loved ones vacation around the world.
If you would like more information about investing with Equity Estates, please reach out to our Investor Relations team at 404.445.8501 or click to schedule a call.
