A trend in real estate is making second-home and investment-property ownership more affordable: fractional or co-ownership.

In short, homebuyers can purchase a share of a property instead of the whole thing.

The main audience for fractional ownership is those interested in a property that's not their primary residence — whether it's a vacation home or an investment property. Buyers have the ability to purchase a share of a vacation home and enjoy the property as much as their respective percentage allows or buy a portion of a property and earn passive income when it's rented out to tenants.