FAQ

Kocomo is a marketplace and educational hub for the co-ownership of vacation homes, bringing people closer to their dream of owning a second home.

Kocomo makes it easy to learn about the co-ownership model, compare the industry’s key providers, and find the vacation property that’s perfect for you.

Co-ownership simply means that a property is owned by a group of multiple owners instead of one single entity. This is also known as fractional ownership - a concept and practice used to democratize access to otherwise unattainable assets.

Fractional ownership has existed for a long time, but it is difficult and costly to get right without a neutral third-party administrator to ensure transparency and fairness amongst co-owners. This is where Kocomo and our trusted co-ownership partners come in: We are paving the way to modern co-ownership and taking care of all the details so you can enjoy complete peace of mind.

Very simply, co-ownership providers enable multiple people to own one home and split all the costs amongst them, without the fuss and hassle normally involved. This is a smart and economical way to own a vacation home, as buying a whole home for just a few weeks a year feels like more hassle than it’s worth - while spending money on a rental is a waste.

Co-ownership providers make this possible by managing all the legal and administrative processes that come with home ownership, as well as all the property management. This removes the hassle of owning a home abroad and allows people to indulge in ultimate relaxation and unfettered quality time with their loved ones.

Not at all.

 With a co-owned home, you own a portion of the home (not only the right to use time there). You actually own a share of the home’s equity, and you can benefit from any appreciation in the value of the underlying real estate over time. By contrast, with a timeshare, you own only the right to use the property, typically for a fixed period of time each year.

If you want to sell a timeshare, you must attempt to sell it back to the resort operator who sold it to you, which often results in a loss relative to your purchase price. In general, with a co-owned home, you simply need to list your share on the provider’s marketplace to find another buyer.

Timeshare properties are typically hotel rooms or condo units in a resort property, while co-ownership properties are standalone vacation homes in prime locations chosen for their physical beauty, cultural heritage, and access to multiple outdoor activities.

Co-ownership is the new and transparent version of fractional ownership.

Historically, the traditional fractional model provided little transparency on cost and developers gave minimal support to owners when they wanted to sell their share.

Modern co-ownership, on the other hand, is being taken in an exciting new direction by the current players. The property value, margins charged on top, and future maintenance costs are all clearly communicated to co-owners - and importantly, providers make it easy to sell your co-ownership share when you’re ready to.

No, it is different.

Co-ownership is frequently based on an LLC structure (or country-specific equivalent) that provides limited liability protection to its owners or members. It combines the benefits of a (limited liability) corporation with the flexibility and tax advantages of a partnership. The owners of an LLC have their personal assets protected from the company’s liabilities, meaning their liability is limited to the amount they have invested in the LLC.

In contrast, a tenancy in common is a form of property ownership where two or more individuals hold an undivided interest in a property. Each owner in a tenancy in common has a separate and distinct ownership interest which can be of equal or unequal shares. Tenancy in common allows each owner to sell, transfer, or encumber their share of the property independently.

While both LLC co-ownership and tenancy in common involve multiple owners, they serve different purposes. LLCs are used in co-ownership to provide limited liability protection, while tenancies in common are a form of property ownership.

A co-owned property can have between 2 to 8 co-owners, however, it is most common for there to be 8 co-owners.

Each co-owner can enjoy the home for a pro-rata amount of time depending on the number of shares that they acquire. In the case of one share, each owner can enjoy around six weeks at their home per year. 

 It is also sometimes possible for one person to purchase up to four co-ownership stakes (owning 50% of the home).

When you buy a share of a co-owned vacation home you own a share of the company (an LLC in the US) and this holds the deed to the vacation home. The deed itself is not split amongst the co-owners.

Yes, you can.

Most co-owned homes are divided into eight equal stakes and you often have the option to purchase more than one stake: For instance, if you purchase four stakes, you will own 50% of the home. By owning more stakes, you are able to enjoy more time in your home and potentially benefit from greater returns when you sell your share.

Other than the piece of the home that you are buying, in the price per stake you are also paying for closing fees, home upgrade fees, and the provider’s service fee.

Yes. Co-ownership is genuine real estate ownership. When you buy a portion of a co-owned home you are protected by an LLC (or country-specific equivalent) and the property is exclusively managed and run by the co-ownership provider for the co-owners.

Yes. The legal documentation and completion process are similar to a normal home purchase. Co-ownership providers work with real estate agents and pay commissions in the same way you would when buying standard real estate.

In some cases, co-ownership providers offer financing on co-ownership shares.

Providers typically carry out a vetting process on interested parties. This is designed to ensure that all co-owners are responsible stewards of their home. As part of the process, they may validate identity, perform a credit and criminal record check, and ask some questions about employment status and assets.

Where possible, some co-ownership providers try to pool co-owners with complimentary needs for the home. For example, a family that uses the home during school holidays versus couples that have more flexibility.

Co-ownership providers have a proprietary scheduling system in place, each with specific rules on how far in advance a co-owner can make a reservation and for how long.

If you cannot use your scheduled time, some providers will allow you to swap the time with other co-owners in similar properties around the world, or through partnerships with vacation home swap platforms.

Some co-ownership providers permit owners to rent out or sell their time on vacation rental sites, whereas others don’t.

You can compare providers on our Providers page.

Providers understand that plans change, and if you can’t use your scheduled time, most will allow you to do one or more of the following:

1. Gift the time to a friend or family member.

2. Rent the time and your proceeds of the rental income will go directly towards covering your annual operating expenses.

3. Anonymously swap the time through the provider’s app to find a match with other co-owners.

4. Some providers allow you to exchange the time for a stay in a similar property around the world – importantly, at a time that works for you.

Yes, frequently co-owners are provided with a dedicated space at the house (with a lock) to keep personal belongings.

Co-ownership providers work with high-end interior designers who decorate and furnish the property on behalf of the co-owners.

Just like any home, there are operating expenses that fluctuate month by month. These could include insurance, property taxes, cleaning, property management services, preventive maintenance, and repairs.

Providers usually give an estimate of the year’s costs upfront so you can budget accordingly. They then pass through any expenses transparently and at cost to you and the other co-owners so they can be shared proportionately.

Providers normally charge a monthly platform fee of around $100 in order to give this superior level of service.

Every co-owner is given access to an owner’s app, which allows you to book your time, make payments, request additional services, and contact the provider’s 24/7 concierge service. All these features require the provider to have staff coordinating all logistics for you (including managing your house staff and coordinating the maintenance) and engineers ensuring you have a seamless online experience.

All recurring expenses are transparently and equally passed through to each co-owner. Co-owners are also given access to the provider’s books so they can see every transaction.

The provider takes on the responsibility of fully managing the co-owned homes on their platform. This includes the legal and financial aspects of homeownership, including coordinating and paying for utilities and property taxes, maintaining the LLC legal entity and its accounts, and representing the buyer group as necessary to outside parties, including municipal authorities.

For the physical upkeep of each property, providers partner with vetted high-quality property managers based in each of their active markets to ensure their homes are managed according to the highest standards of care and maintenance. Their partners take care of all aspects of property management, including landscaping, gardening, pool care, professional cleaning, preventative maintenance, and repairs.

As manager of the property LLC (or country-specific equivalent), the provider serves as a neutral party acting in the best interests of the co-owner group. In this capacity, the provider is empowered to make decisions with respect to routine matters such as weather-proofing outdoor spaces, performing minor repairs, and replacing worn-out appliances. Major decisions, such as the decision to purchase and install a jacuzzi, can be brought to a vote by any co-owner. Each fractional share holds a single vote.

No. Every co-owner is individually responsible for any expenses that are a direct result of acts during their stay.

Typically, under these circumstances, the provider would perform the necessary repairs itself, and seek to recover any monies spent for such repairs from the owner in question. If the owner were unable or unwilling to refund the expenditures after having been given the opportunity to do so, such an owner would be in default and could have his or her share repossessed and resold by the co-ownership provider.

Most co-ownership providers guarantee payment of monthly operating expenses on behalf of the ownership group, such that if one owner fails to make a required payment, the provider will step in and cover that payment itself. The defaulting owner will have the opportunity to fulfill his or her obligations, but if the default remains outstanding after the cure period has expired, the provider can repossess and resell the defaulting owner’s share.

Of course. Just like with any other real estate asset you might own, you can sell your co-ownership share at any time. The only restriction with most providers is that you have to own it for at least one year.

Yes, as a true owner your equity will rise in line with the home’s value. 

If you choose to sell your share, most co-ownership providers will recommend a market price, but ultimately the decision on price is yours.

The provider will then give the other co-owners first refusal, before marketing the property just like a whole home real estate listing.

Providers are constantly collecting data on the markets they operate, and they base share prices on this. When it comes to selling your share, the provider will recommend a fair market price, but like any other real estate asset, you have the freedom to sell your share at any price you desire.

This depends on the real estate market in your area at the time of sale.

Generally speaking, co-ownership providers act as the guarantor of the loan and will step in to fulfill the defaulting buyer’s obligations on his or her loan. This is one of the services they provide as part of their end-to-end co-ownership solution for customers.