.png)
Build a Smarter Strategy in Two Days
Sessions Built to Improve Your Next Move
If you want your next move to be cleaner, faster, and less guesswork, start here. MREIC sessions are built to help you make better investing decisions, execute with more clarity, and build relationships that actually move deals forward. Expect practical frameworks on capital, deal structure, underwriting, and risk control that hold up in today’s market, taught by operators who do the work.
OPENING AND CLOSING KEYNOTES
Steve Brown
AI Futurist and Former Executive at Google DeepMind & Intel
OPENING KEYNOTE
The State of AI and What It Means for Your Business
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.
​
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.
​
You’ll walk away with:
• A clear view of what matters most in AI right now
• High-impact ways to apply AI in real operations and decision-making
• A practical starting point for using AI without overcomplicating it
Dr. Paul Isely
West Michigan's Leading Economic Voice and Associate Dean, GVSU
CLOSING KEYNOTE
2026 Economic Outlook and Market Forecast
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.
​
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.
You’ll walk away with:
• The key economic signals shaping 2026, explained clearly
• What to watch next in rates, inflation, labor, and demand
• A framework for turning the outlook into better decisions, not more guesswork
FEATURED SPEAKER SESSIONS
John Burley
The Secrets of Raising Private Money
Learn a practical framework for raising private capital and structuring terms so funding doesn’t stall your deals. Built for investors who want repeatable access to money, not one-off asks.
Key outcomes:
-
What to say (and how to say it) to raise private money
-
How to structure terms to fit the deal
-
How to build a repeatable capital-raising process
Mark Kohler
Top 5 Tax and Legal Strategies Every Investor Should Know
Learn how to structure your real estate business more strategically so you can protect assets, reduce unnecessary tax exposure, and build a setup that supports long-term growth.
​
Key outcomes:
-
How to align entities, assets, and estate planning into one coordinated strategy
-
When S-corps and other structures can help reduce tax drag
-
How to use family payroll and self-directed accounts more intentionally
Anthony Chara
Building Generational Wealth with Apartments
A step-by-step framework for evaluating multifamily opportunities, underwriting confidently, and choosing the right hold vs. sell strategy.
Key outcomes:
-
How to read local and national apartment market conditions
-
A practical underwriting workflow to validate the deal
-
How to decide between long-term cash flow vs. a faster exit
Zachary Beach
Secrets to Creating 3 Paydays®
Learn how deal structure can create multiple profit opportunities within one transaction, including predictable monthly income and additional “paydays.”
Key outcomes:
-
How to control properties using terms, not big cash down
-
How to design deals for multiple exits and income streams
-
How to operate with a repeatable framework in tighter markets
Paul Moore
The Boring Investor
A risk-first approach to building a durable real estate portfolio. Learn how disciplined underwriting and sponsor evaluation reduce downside surprises.
Key outcomes:
-
How great investors think about downside first
-
How to spot “shiny” deals vs. durable deals
-
Underwriting habits that reduce capital call and dilution risk
Chad Benson
Affordable Housing and Development
A focused look at affordable housing development and the policy, financing, and underwriting decisions that shape which projects move forward.
Key outcomes:
-
How affordable housing projects are evaluated
-
What real estate investors should know about underwriting and funding
-
How housing policy is shaping development opportunities
Nathan Biller
Navigating ADU Development in 2026
A practical roadmap for evaluating ADU feasibility and ROI, and executing a build without the common permitting, budget, and timeline traps.
Key outcomes:
-
How to evaluate whether an ADU truly pencils
-
The real roadmap from feasibility to build completion
-
Pitfalls to avoid and execution shortcuts that actually help
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
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 — Breakout Session
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.
​
Presenter: 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: Jordan Painter; Dan Sundberg; Brooke Veltkamp
Moderator: Donny Nguyen
These sessions are designed to help you sharpen your strategy, pressure-test assumptions, and leave with clearer next steps. If you’re still deciding whether the conference is the right fit, review what attendees come for and what you can expect to walk away with.
When you’re ready, compare ticket options to choose the experience that matches your goals.