Key Takeaways
- • East Chop Capital has deployed $15 million across the luxury vacation rental market through its Getaway Society brand, with founders Calvin L. Butts, Jr. and Carrington M. Carter building an initial portfolio of approximately $3.5 million in real estate over five years beginning in 2014.
- • The firm has raised a second fund totaling $11 million focused exclusively on luxury vacation rental homes, targeting properties near lakes, beaches, and mountains, positioning itself to capitalize on projected 17% industry growth reaching $112 billion by 2030.
- • East Chop Capital operates with a network of approximately 250 investors and has distributed $1 million in returns from vacation rental market investments, with the fund tracking toward 27% annual returns.
- • The private equity strategy targets the intersection of real estate appreciation, travel recovery post-pandemic, and hybrid/remote work trends, with specific geographic focus on high-demand leisure markets including Martha's Vineyard and Hilton Head.
Summary
East Chop Capital is a Black-owned private equity firm investing at the convergence of real estate, travel industry recovery, and evolving work patterns. Founded by Calvin L. Butts, Jr. and Carrington M. Carter, the firm specializes in luxury vacation rental homes and operates through its Getaway Society brand. The founders' entry into the sector traces to 2014, when they constructed a 6-bedroom, 2,800 square-foot mountain chalet in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains after recognizing market potential during group ski trips. The concept gained traction as platforms like Vrbo and Airbnb scaled, prompting expansion to Martha's Vineyard and Hilton Head Island within five years, accumulating approximately $3.5 million in real estate holdings.
The firm subsequently formalized as a private equity vehicle to accommodate investor demand. East Chop Capital has deployed $15 million across luxury vacation rental properties with a network of nearly 250 investors. The firm's second dedicated real estate fund closed at $11 million, with additional distribution of $1 million to existing investors, tracking toward 27% annual returns. Investment strategy emphasizes geographic diversification across high-demand leisure destinations including mountains, beaches, and lakes.
The timing positions East Chop Capital within a expanding market. The global vacation rental industry is projected to surge 17% through 2030, reaching valuations exceeding $112 billion, driven by consumer preference for privacy, bespoke design, and flexibility. The firm's geographic selections—particularly Martha's Vineyard's historical significance as an African American enclave—reflect both market fundamentals and wealth-building objectives for its investor base. The dual focus on property appreciation and operational rental income, coupled with secular shifts toward remote work adoption, differentiates the strategy from traditional real estate vehicles.
The firm subsequently formalized as a private equity vehicle to accommodate investor demand. East Chop Capital has deployed $15 million across luxury vacation rental properties with a network of nearly 250 investors. The firm's second dedicated real estate fund closed at $11 million, with additional distribution of $1 million to existing investors, tracking toward 27% annual returns. Investment strategy emphasizes geographic diversification across high-demand leisure destinations including mountains, beaches, and lakes.
The timing positions East Chop Capital within a expanding market. The global vacation rental industry is projected to surge 17% through 2030, reaching valuations exceeding $112 billion, driven by consumer preference for privacy, bespoke design, and flexibility. The firm's geographic selections—particularly Martha's Vineyard's historical significance as an African American enclave—reflect both market fundamentals and wealth-building objectives for its investor base. The dual focus on property appreciation and operational rental income, coupled with secular shifts toward remote work adoption, differentiates the strategy from traditional real estate vehicles.
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