Pacaso Company News and Updates | Pacaso
Company news
Five core values guide Pacaso’s leadership and Crew
At Pacaso, we’re committed to building a customer-centric organization that puts our Crew first. We are developing a culture where Crew members can do the best work of their careers, support one another, and create a culture of positivity and high achievement. And as in any great company, commitment must start at the top. Our commitment is evident in the company’s core values:
Read more about our core values
Being a Crew member has its benefits – lots of them, in fact
At Pacaso, we're serious about creating a benefits package that reflects what we actually value: your growth, your financial security, and your wellbeing. We're building a diverse, dynamic, and intentionally distributed workforce across the U.S. pulling together best-in-class people who want to revolutionize second home ownership. We know that your talent is our most valuable asset. That conviction shapes everything from how we compensate you to how we invest in your future. Our most distinctive benefit is the Crew Pacaso Ownership Program (CPOP). This innovative initiative empowers Crew members to build genuine equity as Pacaso owners. Each team member can earn up to $25,000 over five years to apply toward purchasing their own Pacaso home. It's more than a perk, it's an opportunity to own!. Beyond CPOP, we've designed a benefits package that supports the whole person:
Pacaso recognized by Forbes as a Top Startup Employer in 2026
Pacaso is thrilled to announce it has been named No. 5 on This top‑5 placement is Pacaso’s second consecutive year in the Top 10, reinforcing the company’s leadership not just in real estate innovation but also as a premier workplace where talent thrives. What the Alongside Pacaso in the top five were other rapidly growing startups known for strong employee experiences and innovative cultures. What this means for the Pacaso Team “This recognition is a testament to the extraordinary team building Pacaso every day,” said Austin Allison, CEO and co‑founder of Pacaso. “From day one, we set out to create not just a category‑defining company, but a place where talented people can do the best work of their careers.”
Being named one of Culture built on people and purpose Pacaso has experienced rapid growth by reshaping the vacation home market with its modern co‑ownership model, making luxury second‑home ownership more accessible. But beyond its business success, the company has invested deeply in a culture where collaboration, growth, and shared success are core values. “At the heart of our success is a crew that truly cares for one another,” said Nicole Luchau, Head of People & Talent. “We are proud to be part of an organization that balances prioritizing our people with pursuing our purpose.” Looking ahead This We’re honored to receive this accolade and grateful to the entire Pacaso team for helping make Pacaso one of the best places to work in America.
Read more about our recognition
The Pacaso story: Redefining second home ownership
Owning a second home is a dream for many families, but it’s often complicated and a financial burden. Pacaso was founded to change that — making second home ownership more accessible, flexible, and enjoyable for modern buyers. What is Pacaso? By combining innovative technology, thoughtful design, and Pacaso is a technology-enabled real estate marketplace that reimagines second home ownership by making it more accessible, flexible, and manageable. Pacaso’s business model is based on How does Pacaso work? Buyers co-own This approach allows buyers to enjoy a turnkey, fully furnished vacation home at a fraction of the cost and hassle of full ownership, while still building potential equity in a desirable property. Whether it’s a mountain retreat, lakeside escape, or coastal getaway, Pacaso makes second home ownership more flexible, accessible, and stress-free.
Who are the Pacaso founders?
Pacaso was co-founded in 2020 by Austin Allison and Spencer Rascoff, two seasoned real estate tech executives on a mission to make luxury second home ownership more accessible. Together, they combined their expertise to create a co-ownership model that makes second homes more attainable, manageable, and enjoyable. In 2014, several years before Austin came up with the idea for Pacaso, he and his wife purchased a second home in Lake Tahoe. For Austin, co-founder and CEO of Pacaso, owning a second home had long been a dream—but making it a reality was financially challenging and logistically complex. “We were like most families who aspire to own a second home but could not easily afford it at the time,” he explained.
How did Austin Allison build his real estate career? Austin grew up in Cincinnati in a working-class family. His father was a carpenter, and Austin was entrepreneurial from a young age — his very first venture involved building and selling birdhouses to families in his neighborhood. That early curiosity about creating and selling something tangible would foreshadow his future in business and real estate. Not long after, Austin’s interest in real estate began to take shape. He bought his first house at just 17 and earned his real estate license a year later, showing an early knack for understanding property and transactions.
What sparked the idea for Pacaso? It was before the acquisition of Dotloop that Austin purchased his second home. Even while running a successful business, Austin and his wife were thrilled to have a special place in a location they loved, a retreat where they could make memories and escape the everyday. Yet, the experience highlighted a gap in the market: second home ownership was complex, expensive, and often out of reach for many families.
How did Pacaso’s business model take shape? After leaving Zillow Group, this kernel of an idea started to develop. Austin and Spencer began brainstorming ideas for startups that would combine their shared passions for real estate, travel and tech innovation. They gravitated toward the concept of making second home ownership more achievable for more people, of “right-sizing” ownership by allowing people to buy only the amount of a home that they’ll actually use, and enabling true ownership with far fewer hassles. It was the better way of owning a second home that Austin had imagined was possible.
Why is the company called Pacaso? The story behind our name reflects the spirit of innovation at the heart of Pacaso. In case you’ve noticed the nod to a famous artist, it’s intentional. We are inspired by Pablo Picasso’s revolutionary thinking and the way he challenged artistic norms in the early 20th century. Picasso didn’t just create art — he reimagined how people could see and understand it, co-creating cubism.
How do I start my second home journey with Pacaso?
"I'm 61 with 16 grandkids. Instead of downsizing, we bought a bigger vacation home to finally make family trips work."
Top 20 luxury vacation home markets of 2024
In this year's Top Vacation Home Markets Report, we unveil the top 20 luxury vacation home markets of 2024. “The destinations on this year’s list really capture the breadth of the luxury vacation home market,” said Pacaso CEO and Co-Founder Austin Allison.
2024’s top luxury vacation home markets
To identify the top U.S. markets for 2024, Pacaso analyzed second home mortgage rate lock data alongside growth trends in pricing and transaction volume. These 20 counties stand out for their significant increases in second home activity, proportion of second homes to primary homes, and demand for properties priced above $700,000.
Jersey Shore prevails: Cape May County, New Jersey, takes the top spot among the best vacation home destinations for 2024, with a proportion of second homes to primary homes exceeding 150%.
Florida’s panhandle grows in popularity: During the pandemic years, snowbirds flocked to Florida for sunshine. Counties like Palm Beach, Lee, Broward, and Collier with established vacation home markets became a magnet for home buyers driven by migration trends, the desire for more space, and Florida's favorable tax environment.
Manhattan resurgence as second home destination: New York County, the most densely populated county in the United States, is redefining perceptions of second home markets in 2024, with second homes making up more than 33% of properties compared to primary homes.
Legacy destinations maintain popularity: Markets like Cape Cod (Barnstable County, Massachusetts), home to the Kennedy Compound—also known as the "Summer White House"; Newport, Rhode Island; Maui, Hawaii; and Naples (Collier County, Florida), continue to dominate the second home market.
Read more about the top vacation home markets
Equitable hiring vs. diversity hiring: Understanding the differences
At Pacaso, we are committed to creating a culture where all Crew members feel like they belong, are empowered to make an impact and have an opportunity to be successful. To achieve this goal, we need a diverse and inclusive Crew —
Talent has no boundaries: Being a fully distributed company is core to our strategy of building a diverse team.
Read more about equitable hiring initiatives
2024 Annual Earnings Call
Listen as discussed on the call, you can still
'"Surprise and delight' moments: Meet the Pacaso home managers"
Enjoying family time should be easy. Part of what makes the Pacaso experience stand out is our dedicated team of home managers.
Read more about our home managers
Pacaso's global expansion + investment opportunity
Join CEO Austin Allison and Vice President of Europe Joey Byrne as they dive into Pacaso’s international expansion and what it means for the future of second home ownership.
Read more about global expansion
Own a slice of paradise: South Carolina’s newest retreat
Get your questions answered live as Erica walks you behind the scenes through the hidden gems of Kiawah Island.
Luxury living in Cabo
Get your questions answered live as Pedro walks you through the hidden gems of Fundadores, Puerto Los Cabos.