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Two Days That Can Move Your Real Estate Business Forward
Spend two days with people who are actively investing, solving problems, building partnerships, and sharing what is working in today’s market. Walk away with stronger connections, better insight, and strategies you can apply to grow your portfolio and improve ROI.
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If your goal is to expand your network, think more strategically, and find new opportunities to move deals and partnerships forward, MREIC is worth making time for.
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April 27–28, 2026
DeVos Place | Grand Rapids, Michigan
Hear Why Attendees Keep Coming Back
Past attendees do a better job explaining the value of MREIC than we ever could. Hear what they had to say about the education, the networking, and the relationships that keep paying off long after the event ends.
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At MREIC, attendees come to:
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connect with real estate investors, housing providers, lenders, and industry professionals
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build relationships that can lead to referrals, partnerships, and future deals
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hear practical insight from people active in today’s market
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step back, think strategically, and focus on what is next
"Any new investor should come here 100%...the people who are here can give you advice that is priceless...it's like a mentorship."
— Ramond
“This was my exposure to real estate. I signed up for membership here, took classes all year, and now I’m back recognizing people and networking. This is the best place to network—this is where everyone is.”
— Kristina
Why Attend MREIC 2026
MREIC is built for real estate investors and housing providers who want more than general inspiration. It is two days of practical insight, valuable networking, and real-world strategy designed to help you make better decisions, build stronger relationships, and create momentum in your business.
Practical Insight
Hear what is working from people who are actively investing, operating, and adapting in today’s market.
Deals and Opportunities
Be in the room where conversations start, ideas get shared, and new opportunities can take shape.
Valuable Networking
Meet real estate investors, housing providers, lenders, vendors, and service providers from across the Midwest.
Portfolio
Growth
Take away ideas, perspective, and strategies that can help you strengthen and grow your portfolio over time.
Partnerships and Relationships
Build connections that can lead to referrals, partnerships, vendor relationships, and future opportunities.
Strategy and ROI
Walk away with practical takeaways you can use to make sharper decisions, improve performance, and focus on what moves your business forward.
Join Us in Grand Rapids
Join real estate investors, housing providers, and industry leaders in Grand Rapids for two days of strategy, connection, and practical market insight.
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Meet the featured speakers helping shape MREIC 2026.
Steve Brown
OPENING KEYNOTE
AI Futurist and Former Executive at Google DeepMind & Intel
Steve Brown is a technology strategist and former executive at Google DeepMind and Intel who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations understand how emerging technologies affect operations, decision-making, and long-term strategy. He has worked with Fortune 100 companies, startups, and public-sector organizations, and is also co-founder of the Provenance Chain Network and Jump Partners, with a focus on applied AI, secure data systems, and practical innovation. As a keynote speaker, he is known for cutting through hype and helping leaders think clearly about how technology can create real operational advantage.
Dr. Paul Isely
CLOSING KEYNOTE
West Michigan's Leading Economic Voice and Associate Dean, GVSU
Dr. Paul Isely is Associate Dean and Professor of Economics at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business, where he has served on the faculty since 1995. Known for translating economic data into practical insight, his work focuses on regional economic performance, labor markets, entrepreneurship, and the connection between local conditions and broader state and national trends. A frequent media source on the West Michigan economy, Paul helps business leaders and organizations understand how larger economic shifts affect real-world decision-making.
John Burley
Private Equity Real Estate Investor · $600M+ Raised · Bestselling Author
John Burley is a private equity real estate pioneer with over 40 years of investing experience, thousands of completed transactions, and more than $600 million raised. Trained on Wall Street, he founded his own private equity firm in 1989 and remains an active, full-time investor today. A #1 international bestselling author, John specializes in raising private capital and running real estate as a true business—focused on risk reduction, capital protection, and repeatable systems.
Mark Kohler
Tax & Legal Strategist · CPA & Attorney · Senior Partner, KKOS Lawyers
Mark J. Kohler, CPA, is a nationally recognized tax and legal strategist, bestselling author, and Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers. With more than 25 years of experience and 10,000+ client consultations, he helps real estate investors and business owners reduce taxes, protect assets, and structure wealth strategically. Mark’s insights have been featured in major national media outlets, and he is widely known for simplifying complex tax and legal concepts into actionable strategies.
Anthony Chara
Apartment Investor & Syndicator · 2,000+ Multifamily Units Nationwide
Anthony Chara is a veteran apartment investor and educator with more than 30 years of experience in real estate investing and property management. Since going full-time in 2004, he has owned, partnered in, or syndicated over 2,000 multifamily units across the U.S. and internationally. As Managing Member of Apartment Mentors, Anthony is known for his practical, numbers-driven approach to analyzing deals, increasing cash flow, and scaling apartment portfolios responsibly.
Zachary Beach
CEO/Partner, SmartRealEstateCoach.com · Bestselling Author
Zachary Beach is the CEO/Partner of SmartRealEstateCoach.com, a 3x Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company focused on helping W2 employees become creative financing real estate investors. He’s also a partner in Original Real Estate, Watch Street Properties, and Propsperity.io, and an Amazon Bestselling Author of Real Estate on Your Terms, New Rules of Real Estate Investing, and Sell with Authority for Real Estate Investors.
Paul Moore
Founder, Wellings Capital · Commercial Real Estate Investor & Author
Paul Moore is the founder of Wellings Capital and a seasoned commercial real estate investor with more than 100 completed investments and exits. His background includes residential rehabs, multifamily development, hotel projects, and large-scale commercial assets. A two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and bestselling author, Paul focuses on institutional-quality real estate and long-term wealth preservation.
Nathan Biller
Real Estate Investor & Infill Developer · ADU Specialist · Co-Founder, MI Backyard Build
Nathan Biller is a real estate investor, ADU Specialist, and infill developer based in Grand Rapids. He co-founded MI Backyard Build after completing his own ADU projects and now works with homeowners and investors to add housing through small-scale, zoning-aligned development. Nathan brings a practical, operator-focused perspective shaped by a decade in finance and active involvement in local housing policy and planning.
BREAKOUT SESSION AND PANEL SPEAKERS
Jeremy Garcia
Real Estate Investor and Operator; Co-Owner, J&M Rentals
John D. Lindley, IOM
​President & CEO, Michigan Manufactured Housing Association and Michigan Association of RVs & Campgrounds
Dan Sundberg
Residential Real Estate Agent and Multifamily Investor
Sarah Glidewell
Interior Designer and Short-Term Rental Investor
Donny Nguyen
Business Advisor and Real Estate Investor; Founder, VanderWinn Property Management and VanderWinn Consulting
Brad Ward, Esq.
Vice President of Public Policy and Legal Affairs, Michigan Realtors®
Brian Hamrick
Moderator; Founder, Hamrick Investment Group; Host, Rental Property Owner & Real Estate Investor Podcast
Jordan Painter
Owner, Keystone Home Group Realty; Co-Founder, Book N Gather
Tabitha Zimny
Partner and Government Affairs Specialist, Karoub Associates
Charlie Kao
Investor, Entrepreneur, and Real Estate Professional
Frederic SaintAmour
Commercial Loan Executive, Boathouse Commercial Funding Group
KEYNOTES AND MAIN SESSIONS
The State of AI and What It Means for Your Business — Opening Keynote
AI is not a trend. It’s a capability shift that is already changing how companies operate, market, hire, and make decisions. In this keynote, Steve Brown delivers a clear, grounded view of what’s happening in AI right now, what’s accelerating next, and what leaders should do to stay competitive without chasing hype.
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Steve brings deep, real-world AI credibility and an operator’s lens. Expect practical examples, sharp filters for separating signal from noise, and a clear framework for where AI creates leverage today.
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Presenter: Steve Brown​
2026 Economic Outlook and Market Forecast — Closing Keynote
In a cycle like this, the economic story matters, but the noise is constant. Paul Isely is a well-respected regional economist and a crowd favorite because he doesn’t do drama. He explains what’s actually happening, what indicators tend to lead the cycle, and what the outlook means for decision-makers who need clarity.
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This keynote will give you a smarter read on where we are, what to watch next, and how to translate the macro picture into practical decisions with more confidence.
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Presenter: Dr. Paul Isely
The Secrets of Raising Private Money
Private money is often the difference between an investor who finds deals and an investor who can actually close them. In this class, Burley breaks down a repeatable system for raising private capital—what to say, who to say it to, and how to structure terms—so funding stops being the bottleneck in your real estate business. Attendees will walk through the “Burley Model,” the key talking points that unlock private funding conversations, and practical structures including lower-rate capital and owner financing.
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Presenter: John Burley
Building Generational Wealth with Apartments
Apartments and multi-family properties can accelerate wealth-building when the deal fundamentals are right and the strategy is clear. In this class, Anthony Chara shares a practical, step-by-step framework for apartment investing—starting with the current market landscape and moving through sourcing, underwriting, funding, and exit planning. Attendees will leave with a clearer process for evaluating opportunities and making confident decisions on multi-family acquisitions.
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Presenter: Anthony Chara
Secrets to Creating 3 Paydays®
Zachary teaches a creative-finance approach called the 3 Paydays® System, built around structuring a single deal to generate multiple profit opportunities—instead of relying on one exit strategy.
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In this session, you’ll learn how investors control properties using deal structure and terms rather than large cash down payments, and how they design transactions to create predictable monthly income and additional “paydays” along the way. Zach will also walk through how his team approaches today’s tougher market and how to build a real investing business that doesn’t depend on the next flip.
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Presenter: Zachary Beach
The Boring Investor: Grow Your Real Estate Wealth by Applying Lessons from the World’s Greatest Investors
Many investors spent the last decade chasing what looked exciting, especially in multifamily. It worked until it didn’t. Now, with paused distributions, capital calls, dilution, and distressed assets, the focus is shifting back to strategies that hold up.
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In this session, three-time real estate author and fund manager Paul Moore shares practical, cycle-resistant ways to evaluate deals, reduce downside risk, and build a portfolio designed to perform with less drama in any market.
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Presenter: Paul Moore
Navigating ADU Development in 2026
In this session, developer Nathan Biller shares a clear roadmap for planning, designing, and building ADUs with the numbers in mind. Drawing from firsthand builds and his experience contributing to local ADU policy conversations, he’ll break down what drives ROI, the pitfalls that derail timelines and budgets, and the shortcuts that legitimately reduce friction. You’ll also get a practical view of how zoning frameworks are evolving and how to evaluate whether an ADU is the right move for your property and strategy.
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Presenter: Nathan Biller
The Top 5 Tax and Legal Strategies Every Real Estate Investor Should Know
In this session, Mark J. Kohler (CPA and attorney) breaks down five high-impact tax and legal strategies that real estate investors use to protect assets, reduce tax drag, and build a cleaner, more scalable operating setup.
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Using his “Trifecta” framework (operations, assets/passive income, and estate/legacy), Mark connects entity strategy, rental tax planning, family payroll governance, and self-directed retirement structures into a coordinated plan you can actually implement.
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Presenter: Mark Kohler
BREAKOUT SESSIONS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Thriving Through Change: Resilience in Real Estate — Panel Discussion
Thriving through change requires more than patience. It takes adaptability, clear thinking, and the ability to respond well when conditions shift. This panel will explore what resilience looks like in real estate today and how investors can stay steady, strategic, and forward-moving in uncertain times.
Speakers: Jeremy Garcia; Paul Moore
Additional speakers to be announced
How to Fund Deals Workshop (Presented by Boathouse Commercial Funding Group) — Breakout Session
Get a clear, lender-side view of what it takes to fund real estate deals in today’s market. Boathouse Commercial Funding Group, the Presenting Sponsor of MREIC 2026, will break down common financing paths for investors, what lenders look for in a strong borrower and deal, and how to avoid the mistakes that slow approvals or derail closings. Expect practical guidance, real scenarios, and time for Q&A.
Presenter: Fred SaintAmour — Commercial Loan Executive, Boathouse Commercial Funding Group
Housing Policy Update: What Investors Need to Know — Panel Discussion
Housing policy continues to shape the operating environment for real estate investors and housing providers. This panel will examine recent policy developments, legislative trends, and regulatory issues affecting the industry, with discussion focused on what these changes could mean for investment decisions, property operations, and long-term planning.
Speakers: Dawn Crandall; John Lindley; Brad Ward; Tabitha Zimny
How to Do Your First Real Estate Deal — Panel Discussion
Your first deal can shape how you think, evaluate risk, and move forward as an investor. This panel will explore how new investors can assess opportunities more carefully, avoid common mistakes, and build the confidence to take action when the right deal appears. Attendees can expect a practical conversation around first-deal thinking, early decision-making, and what it takes to move from interest to execution.
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Speakers: Jordan Painter; Dan Sundberg; Brooke Veltkamp
Moderator: Donny Nguyen
Short-Term Rental Investing in Today’s Market — Panel Discussion
The short-term rental space has changed quickly, and real estate investors need to think carefully about market selection, operations, regulation, and long-term viability. This panel will examine the realities of short-term rentals today, with discussion focused on challenges, opportunities, and what it takes to operate successfully.
Speakers: To be announced
Deal or No Deal: When to Buy and When to Walk Away — Panel Discussion
Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. This panel will explore how investors evaluate deals, weigh risk, and decide when to move forward or walk away. Attendees can expect a practical discussion on decision-making, red flags, and the judgment it takes to avoid costly mistakes.
Speakers: Donny Nguyen; Dan Sundberg; Jeremy Garcia
Moderator: Brian Hamrick
Ready to Join Us?
If you want practical insight, valuable networking, and two days with people active in today’s market, this is the time to secure your spot.
Still deciding if MREIC is the right fit?
​Hear directly from investors and housing providers who have attended MREIC and experienced the value of being in the room.
“This is my absolute favorite event of the year. I fly back specifically for this conference—to learn what’s new, reconnect with people, and feed off the energy. This group is incredible for sharing ideas, collaboration, and even forming partnerships.”
— Kathy
“It’s an opportunity unlike any other. You’re learning from real people who are actually doing the work. The networking is amazing—it’s a must-do conference.”
— Justin
