Comfort and consistency: How one owner finally found the right second home

Second home buyer: George, Bay Area entrepreneur George is a long-time Bay Area resident and tech company CEO, and with three kids between the ages of 7 and 12, he felt the time was right for a second home where his family could take a break from their busy lives. He wanted a location that felt like an escape but was still easily accessible by car, and served as a welcome gathering space for his immediate family as well as extended family and friends.  The situation George’s second home vision started as a building project. He had been researching the When George and Anne learned about Pacaso, however, they were intrigued. As a tech entrepreneur with an eye for innovation, George embraces forward-thinking business ideas.  “We are big believers in the shared economy,” said George. “What was compelling about Pacaso was it was ready and available now, and it was clear the team had really thought about what the shared economy looks like for vacation homes, and what would it look like for me and my wife who want to take advantage of a second home but are busy and active in our work lives. We're not retired or close to it, so I'm not going to be occupying a second home more than 15% tops. It's a perfect product for someone like me, and that helped us move forward quickly and become owners of a Pacaso home.” Although Pacaso was relatively new, George was familiar with the co-ownership concept and felt confident in his purchasing decision. In fact, he sees Pacaso as the model for second home ownership: “This is the way the future is going, and the way a vacation home should be leveraged by a person like myself.”  Still, there were a few important details George wanted to discuss before committing to a purchase. “One of the biggest hurdles for any buyer is understanding Another concern was how co-owners might treat the home. “What I liked about the contract was that it made it very clear that every owner is expected to be a true owner,” said George. “It presents a deliberate point of view about how you should think of and value your home, which sets the right tone.” Since purchasing their Pacaso, George and his family have loved staying at their home, and any misgivings about others’ care of the property have been erased. In fact, they’ve referred friends who ended up buying a share. A key factor in their enjoyment? Not having to deal with maintenance or other hassles of ownership.  "We don't have to worry about things like a leaking sink, and when we noticed that the Wi-Fi wasn’t great outside, we talked to Pacaso and they took care of it,” said George. “We get the advantages of using the home in the way we want without all the downsides of owning a second home, and that’s because of the Pacaso team.”  George has also been impressed with the ease of scheduling time at their home. “One of the most positive aspects is how well Pacaso thought about the app — when owners can get access, how much time they can schedule, who can book. We look at the calendar and know what we can plan, and it's been pretty awesome.” Conclusion For George and his family, their Pacaso ticks all the boxes: It’s an escape from the city, a comfortable place to gather with loved ones, and a practical alternative to whole home ownership. “It's your home, but it's also a home that's well taken care of when you're not there. When we come back, everything is ready to go — we don't have to fix or clean anything — and when we’re there, we don't have to worry about all the typical homeowner issues, which allows us to maximize our time there. It’s an incredible thing.” And while the home itself is well matched to their needs, it represents so much more to George. It’s a place where he and his wife can watch their children grow into young adults.  “My kids are at a critical point in their lives, and their memories and the ways they think about family are being created as we speak,” said George. “To have a place that we can call our home and where we can separate ourselves from living and breathing the frenetic pace of Silicon Valley — having that time and memories that are so distinct from the Bay Area, that's huge. These are the formative years for our kids, and having this place for our family is really meaningful.” Find your Napa Valley getaway With gorgeous (and hassle-free) homes available throughout the

Growing up in Texas, Kevin Peranio had few opportunities to experience the thrill of fresh powder. After moving to the West Coast and starting a family, he was excited to introduce his children to the joy of skiing. Kevin and his wife Rebecca began exploring their options for a second home with easy access to ski slopes. “Our search was a couple of years in the making. Our kids are young, so I wasn’t in a big rush, but I was still eager and we knew we wanted something in a Second home destination: Park City After several idyllic visits to Park City, Utah, Kevin started scoping out properties in the area. Although the family enjoys local destinations like Big Bear, car rides with four young children — ages 2, 3, 6 and 8 — on winding mountain roads include the inevitable litany of “are we there yet?” at best, and one or more carsick kids, at worst. Their home in Newport Beach is minutes from the airport, and they find the short flight to Utah more convenient and relaxing than a long car trip. Ski town sticker shock The problem was finding a place they could afford. “Prices in Park City had been going up astronomically,” said Kevin. “My ideas about what I wanted and what I could actually afford were on two different levels.”  But then an opportunity opened up: A friend in the real estate business happened to mention Pacaso in an Instagram post. Kevin checked out Pacaso’s website and found a single listing in Park City. “I jumped on it right away. I was the first person to buy and the first owner to stay at the home. It was really exciting to be the first one.”  More home for less For Kevin, the cost savings of co-ownership were fundamental to his purchasing decision. “I couldn’t pay for this house in full. This is kind of a Texas phrase, but I have champagne taste and a beer budget. All the homes that I wanted to get into were really pricey, but co-ownership brought properties that I thought were out of reach into grasp.”  Beyond the price, the idea of Pacaso vs. whole homes and timeshares Kevin has a unique perspective on Pacaso, as his Park City home isn’t his first experience with second home ownership. “Owning a second home means dealing with maintenance, upkeep, furnishings — it’s a lot of work, especially if it’s far away. With Pacaso, I don't have to worry about any of that — it’s a breath of fresh air.”  How does that compare to his experience owning a whole second home? “We own another property in Rancho Mirage. It took forever just to finish the buildout and find subcontractors, and we have to drive there and deal with issues year-round. Two different second homes, and the starkest difference in upkeep.” The fact that Kevin doesn’t have to worry about his fully managed Pacaso doesn’t make him feel like less of an owner, however. “This is completely different from staying at a hotel or buying a timeshare. With Pacaso, you actually own a piece of this property and get appreciation. As an owner, you feel invested —  it’s not 100% ours, but you feel like it’s yours. You treat it like your home because it is. And then when I'm not using it, I don't have to worry about it.”  Satisfying his ‘champagne taste’ Kevin’s Park City Pacaso fulfilled all of his luxury home aspirations, which was a bit of a gamble, considering he purchased the property That care extends to the entire process of Adventure awaits in your Park City Pacaso For skiing, mountain biking, the Sundance Film Festival or just a place to get away, there’s nowhere quite like Park City. Co-ownership with Pacaso puts second home ownership in this mountain getaway within reach. Browse our collection of

Jason dreamed for years of owning a second home with his family. However, the thought of owning a second home didn't seem to be in the cards for him — until he came across Pacaso’s The right amount of time Despite wanting to own a second home, Jason felt that a whole luxury second home didn’t make sense financially, especially as a frequent traveler. “For me, staying in one city exclusively was not going to be realistic since we love to travel, and we knew we wouldn’t use it enough to justify buying a whole home.” Pacaso, however, provided the perfect solution. “Co-owning a second home was perfect for us,” Jason shared. “This is all organized by Pacaso to do exactly what I wanted: Using a few weeks each year I could spend in a second home, and sharing that with seven other families at a fraction of the cost.” Exceeding expectations Before buying his Napa home, Jason had previously thought of co-owning a home in Colorado or Utah. “I wanted to find what I call an ‘invisible unicorn’ home in the mountains. And the reason I called it an ‘invisible unicorn’ home is that I didn't know where this place was going to be. All I wanted was something that had beautiful scenery and mountain views.” After losing out on bids on homes in Colorado, Jason then set his sights on Napa — a place he’s been visiting for over 20 years. “It’s a wonderful place for my family to enjoy now, and by investing in this area, I’m able to get a feel for what it would be like to live here full time, which is something I’m considering when I retire.” Jason’s Pacaso checked all the boxes for his “invisible unicorn” second home. “The mountain views are sitting right in my backyard,” Jason shared. “I was looking for a more quiet and serene type of environment, and this home exceeds my expectations. And now, we welcome all of our family or friends to join us anytime they want to.” Part of the community  In addition to having a spectacular gathering place, Jason wants to get the most out of his community, from enjoying morning walks in this neighborhood and going horseback riding to visiting favorite wineries and exploring surrounding areas. The best part? Getting to slow things down. “When we stay at our Pacaso, we don't need to cram everything into a weekend like when we travel,” Jason said. “I’m treating it more as my time to relax. It’s my second home, and I finally feel like a local.” Jason sees his Pacaso — and the ownership experience — as completely different from a timeshare or vacation rental. “We’re one of eight families sharing a home, in the same way that I could purchase a property and share it with seven of my other friends. We own this home, just like others own their homes. We're not just passing through. We’re here to establish friendships with our neighbors and our community.” Make Napa your home away from home When you become a co-owner of a Pacaso home, you enjoy hassle-free ownership at a place that truly feels like home. Check out our

Curious about co-ownership? We sat down with a Pacaso owner during a webinar to chat about her experience of buying and owning a beautiful Pacaso in Florida. Our leadership team also answers guest questions about Pacaso co-ownership, covering everything from financials to design. "I thought it was too good to be true," shared Cheryl. "But I remember first walking into the home and being overwhelmed that the home was so beautiful. After our property manager left that day, I just started crying and said to my husband, ‘I can’t believe we have a second home Pacaso makes second home ownership enjoyable and possible for families looking to spend more quality time together.

Liesl had been looking for a second home in California Wine Country for some time. After losing an offer on a whole home in Calistoga, Liesl came across a Pacaso listing in Malibu. Although Malibu was not on her radar, she was so intrigued by the idea of co-owning a home that she decided to share the listing with her sister.  “I never would have even purchased a home in Malibu, but it was even more beautiful in person than in the photos, so we ended up with a Pacaso on the Pacific Coast Highway,” Liesl shared. “We totally love it.” Then, after coming across another appealing Pacaso listing in Calistoga, Liesl fell in love with that home as well and decided to buy her second Pacaso.  A home for many occasions Beyond it being in her dream destination, Liesl loved how much “home” she was getting. “It was a much bigger home than I could afford,” she said about her Calistoga Pacaso. “We have a big family. We needed a big house for all of us to gather.” The big surprise was getting to use her home for other purposes, too. “The only reason I had gotten the home was for our big family, but it’s great for friends too. And, I could bring my dog. It’s great,” Liesl shared. The ease of ownership Liesl likes that her Pacaso homes are completely Another part of this ease is having a A familiar community to call home Having a second home offers limitless options for fun and relaxation. “In Malibu, we like to find local restaurants and shops, go on hikes and go to the beach. In Calistoga, we hardly left the house the first weekend we were there. We just enjoyed the house — we had friends over, and we played games, pickleball, bocce ball and board games, and we swam and we cooked.” Liesl also recounts a positive experience meeting a neighbor in Malibu. “So, he goes, ‘Oh, you're one of the Pacaso owners. That's great. Welcome to the neighborhood.’ I thought there'd maybe be a little resistance. But I would say this: It's my home, and I would treat it as my home. I want to get to know the community and be a part of the community.”  And for Liesl, there’s immense value in having a home where every aspect is familiar, from supporting her favorite local restaurants to knowing where the pots and pans are in the kitchen. “I run a pretty busy life being a CEO with two kids,” she said. “Being able to go somewhere where I know I'm not going to have to do a lot of work to prepare … it all goes back to having that place where you can unwind faster.” Find your place to unwind When you co-own a Pacaso, you enjoy hassle-free ownership at a place that feels like home — because it is. Whether you’re looking for a Wine Country retreat or a home on the coast, check out our

Chris and Julie previously owned a second home in South Lake Tahoe, using it for family vacations and as a rental. “We love the idea of having a home, but we didn’t need it full time. The workload that went into renting it out — there was a lot,” Chris said. “We did great with it, but it was a lot of work.” They sold the property in 2020 and started looking for a more manageable home on the north end of Lake Tahoe. During their search, they came across Pacaso’s co-ownership program. Chris and Julie were won over by Pacaso’s price, flexibility and amenities, and the true ownership experience stood out. New, comfortable and impressive The couple loved the idea of owning new construction at a price within their budget. “We figured, the new home aspect would be less wear and tear in the long term,” Julie shared. In addition, since Julie and Chris consider themselves as more “summer people,” a new home in a different area of Tahoe would provide more options for enjoyment.  But it’s not just the newness of the property — the couple is amazed by the home’s design and feel. “I think the most difficult part is having to come home to our main home,” said Julie, who’s a fan of interior design. “I love this house, and it is amazing. I think the design team did a phenomenal job.” As owners who had rented out their second home, the couple also appreciates how Pacaso takes care of the maintenance and adds special touches to make them feel at home. “The hot tub, furnishings, outdoor furniture and fire pits are all comfortable. You have everything you need that you can think of, and that makes me feel really good,” said Chris. “We’re going to impress our family and friends whenever we go there. And we’re always going to have a comfortable stay because of that.” Julie added, “It’s really nice just to be able to walk in and not have to do anything.” Julie and Chris aren’t the only ones who are impressed. On a recent stay, the couple’s daughter and dog didn’t want to leave. “That was a really good sign the Pacaso team did well,” Chris said. The perks of true ownership Simplicity and comfort aside, a massive benefit for Chris and Julie was having true ownership in their second home. “There’s a sense of pride when you own a piece of a home. One thing that resonated with me during our last experience was that we did build a lot of traditions,” Julie said. “And it felt nice to have the same place to go to and make it your own. And it is your own.” This feeling of ownership makes their new Pacaso different from other offerings on the market. “I think there’s a lot of misconception out there with it being a timeshare,” said Julie. “It’s not a timeshare — we’re owning a home with eight people. We are able to have access to Tahoe and a beautiful home that we would not be able to afford on our own.” A second home is a special place With more moments on the schedule and plans to pass the home to their daughter, the couple views their Tahoe home as more than just a second home — it’s about going to a beloved destination that holds special meaning in their family. “I think our second home is an extension of our primary home and an extension of our family,” said Chris. “We can’t say that about our current home as much as we love it, because — at some point — you transition out of your primary home. But with a second home, it’s always going to be a place we go to that matters.” Look forward to coming to Tahoe Looking for a place to make memories in Lake Tahoe? When you co-own a Pacaso, you enjoy hassle-free ownership in a beautiful property that feels like home — because it is. Check out our

Angela and Nkem had been thinking about buying a second home for a while. A place on the beach was their dream, and they’d considered several areas along the Southern California coast — a manageable drive from their home in Ventura County. Their family loves to travel, but it’s not always easy. “Having 5 kids close in age, it’s challenging to do big trips or find a hotel room with enough space to accommodate us. We were constantly looking for places where we could create a home-like environment,” said Angela. Not long after they started getting serious about their second home search, Angela came across an ad for Pacaso on Facebook. “We’d been looking at real estate and second homes, and the Pacaso concept was completely different. I showed it to my husband and we started to explore their offering.”  They were impressed with what they found. “We looked at a bunch of different homes and narrowed it down to two locations,” said Nkem. “Then we started looking at homes in detail — it was important to understand the layouts and imagine all of us living in the space. When we saw a home right on the beach in Malibu, it fit all the parameters. Once we toured it in person, we could see it had everything we were looking for, and we made the decision to buy it later that day.” Crunching the numbers Among the key factors in choosing a Pacaso were cost, convenience and location.  And convenience? Angela added, “We have demanding careers, so Pacaso fits really well with our vision of how we want to spend our limited free time together.”  Life’s a beach As for location, a home on the beach with ocean views from every room is a dream come true. “Being able to say, ‘Let’s go to the beach’ and have that be a 20-second journey down the stairs is amazing,” said Nkem. Angela agreed, describing her ideal day at their Pacaso: “I look outside and see the kids playing and enjoying the ocean, and when they’re done, they can come right up and take warm showers. There’s no rush to clean up and pack and get all the sand off before getting in the car. We can just go about our day, living our lives without stress or schedules.” The kids are thrilled too. Their older daughter said, “We all love going to the beach, so getting a house right on the beach was perfect for us. I do beach volleyball tournaments right down the coast, so it’s great if we want to relax the day before we get there.” Her sister added, “We love to travel and create new experiences and memories that we can share. It’s important to have time to get away from the normal routine.” One of their sons chimed in with his favorite downtime activities at their Pacaso, which all the kids could get behind: “Sleeping in, watching TV, and eating pizza and sushi.”  Most of all, Angela, Nkem and their kids are just happy to have found a beautiful place to spend quality time together. “I can’t wait to invite family and close friends,” said Nkem. “I look forward to making memories there, whether it’s birthdays, holidays or no special occasion at all. Just a change of scenery in a place that feels like home.” Meet Angela, Nkem and their kids, and hear what they love most about their Pacaso.  Live the SoCal life with Pacaso  When you become a co-owner of a Pacaso vacation home, you just arrive, unpack and relax. And our Family-Friendly Second Homes™ make it easy to just show up and have fun — from cribs and high chairs, to games, pool floaties, streaming services and more, we have you (and your kids) covered. Explore our

Curious about buying and owning a Pacaso? In this exclusive webinar, you’ll hear directly from two Pacaso owners about why they chose Pacaso, their experience with scheduling, and tips for potential Pacaso owners.  "The scheduling has been super easy — we’ve been able to get all the weeks we’ve wanted to get," shared Scott. "We live close to our Pacaso so we’re able to take advantage of last-minute weekend trips when they’re available." "As soon as I walked in, I knew it was the right decision," said Marilyn. With Pacaso, families can own a second home without the hassle and spend more quality time together. Explore our