DENVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–November 26, 2013–
With more than 4,100 private equity real estate funds in the world, Occasio Funds announced today it is the first fund to focus exclusively on luxury residential resort real estate, capitalizing on the growing $24 billion villa rental industry by partnering with world-class brands to lease and manage properties as nightly vacation rentals.
“We are pioneering a new asset class and a new way to invest in residential real estate,” says Ben Rule, CEO and founder of Occasio (which is Latin for “opportunity” or “favorable moment”) Funds. “We believe the real estate market – particularly luxury resort real estate – has reached its bottom and that professionally operated resort real estate presents a new, powerful opportunity to diversify and strengthen investment portfolios.”
While residential real estate has become an increasingly popular investment strategy in recent years, Occasio Funds is the only professionally managed, institutional investment-level private equity firm focused solely on acquiring luxury vacation homes in top-tier real estate markets.
“We are acquiring the best possible properties in the most central and coveted resort locations,” says Rule. “It’s these properties at established top-tier resorts that have the highest nightly rental demand and the best long-term appreciation prospects. And through our unique relationships with the largest and most successful operators, we have the ability to effectively and efficiently manage these assets in a way that has never been done before.”
The firm has already established a pipeline of more than $1 billion in potential deals through proprietary relationships and industry expertise established over the past 10 years. To capture the best of these opportunities, the firm’s first commingled fund, Occasio Growth Fund I, is targeting a $100 million raise, and is open to accredited and institutional investors.
Travel research firm PhoCusWright describes the villa rental industry as a “$24.3 billion opportunity in the U.S. alone.” A 2012 Companies & Markets report depicts the luxury travel market as the travel industry’s fastest growing segment.
By partnering with world-class luxury destination clubs, exchange operators and private residence clubs and applying the proven nightly lease model of hotel investment and management to residential properties, “we are uniquely positioned to benefit from the growing consumer trend of renting private homes while on vacation, as well as acquiring irreplaceable properties at very reasonable prices,” says Rule.
About Occasio Funds
Occasio Funds LLC is an innovative private equity firm capturing timely opportunities in today’s luxury vacation real estate market. Based in Denver, Colo., and led by a team of experienced real estate investment professionals, the firm acquires high-quality homes in the world’s top resort destinations. With a nightly lease model and premium property management partners, Occasio Funds aims to capitalize on the growing trend in vacation home rentals. For more information, please visit www.occasiofunds.com.
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