Join the Most Influential Voices in Real Estate. BPCON is the leading real estate event of the year for investors, and we gather the most prominent figures in the industry for captivating interviews and presentations, educational workshops and engaging breakouts. Take a look at this year’s all star lineup!
Click on the speaker's name to learn more about them!
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Description
Founder and CEO of Contrarian Thinking one of the fastest growing financial media businesses with 6
million followers and 100 million monthly views. Founder of Contrarian Thinking Capital, a venture capital
firm, and Main Street Holding Company with 25+ small or what we call “boring businesses.” Think car
washes, laundromats, property management companies etc.
She is a former partner at one of the largest cannabis investment firms, where she invested in 65+
companies. Her specialty is in the roll-up, turnaround and add-on space. She built First Trust’s $1 billion+
AUM Latin America business and held leadership positions at Goldman Sachs, State Street, and Vanguard.
She started as a journalist where she won the JFK award and Howard Buffett Foundation grant for border
conflict. Sanchez is a pundit on CNBC, Fox, Forbes, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, People en Español,
Business Wire. She was listed as a 25 Most Innovative Leader in Cannabis, The Cannabis Disruptor by MG
Retailer, and a Top Young Investor by Forbes. She has an M.B.A. from Georgetown University, a master’s from
ESADE and Fundação Getúlio Vargas, and a B.A. from Arizona State University. She sits on the board of
Permian Capital Hedge Fund, Magma Partners Chilean Venture Fund, and E-commerce Fuel Investment
Fund.
Description
Lauren Saidel-Baker, CFA, is a speaker and economist at ITR Economics. She provides consulting services for small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries.
Since joining ITR Economics, Lauren has brought enthusiasm and in-depth insight to our analysis of various industry trends. Her expertise captivates audiences, and her experience in the financial industry supports her extensive knowledge of the applicability of ITR Economics’ programs.
Lauren graduated with honors from Wellesley College, double majoring in economics and religion. She has also earned her MBA at Boston University Questrom School of Business. She has also been featured on the Financial Sense Newshour podcast, in Floor Covering Weekly magazine, and in tED magazine’s online publication.
Description
As a successful entrepreneur and nationwide speaker, James is a sought-after industry expert who is frequently featured on BiggerPockets, a leading online resource for real estate investors. He also co-hosts the popular BiggerPockets podcast series "On the Market". James has founded numerous real estate companies over the past 18 years, including Heaton Dainard Real Estate, a brokerage that has facilitated over a billion dollars in direct sales to investors, Intrust Funding, a Washington State-based hard money company that provides short-term capital to investors, and Buck Buys Houses, an off-market wholesale business that has sourced over 1,000 off-market deals for investors. In addition, he has established several other investor-related service businesses, including PROJECT RE an education company to help new investors succeed in their home markets, two property management companies, and Easy Button Leads, a call center geared towards helping investors connect with off-market sellers.
Despite his extensive business endeavors, James remains an active real estate investor, with over 1,000 rental properties throughout the Pacific Northwest, and a successful track record of stabilizing and building over 1,000 units. He resides in Bellevue, WA with his wife and two children.
Description
Dave Meyer is the Head of Real Estate Investing at BiggerPockets, where he is responsible for analyzing housing data, economic trends, and investing tactics to help investors make informed decisions. He regularly shares his findings as the Host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast, the On The Market podcast, and across BiggerPockets’ various media channels. He is the Author Of Real Estate by the Numbers, Start with Strategy, and The Real Estate Strategy Planner.
With over 14 years of experience in real estate investing and data analytics, Dave is passionate about making analytical investing simple and approachable. He is an expert on the residential housing market, investment analysis, and portfolio strategy. Dave holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Rochester, and a M.S. in Business Analytics from The University of Colorado Denver. Dave currently lives in Amsterdam Netherlands, and loves to ski, travel, and eat sandwiches.
Description
Henry Washington is the founder of Independence Realty Group and the co-host of the BiggerPockets On the Market podcast. Henry built his rental portfolio and achieved financial freedom in just three and a half years. Now an investor of seven years, he has done more than 200 deals—a wide variety that includes buy-and-hold rental properties, fix-and-flips, mobile home parks, and commercial properties. Henry has been featured in numerous online and television publications, where he enjoys showing others the power of real estate investing and financial freedom. He has over 200,000 followers across social media, including 40,000 on TikTok @thehenrywashington. Born and raised in California, he now lives and invests primarily in Northwest Arkansas.
Description
Ashley Kehr is the co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Rookie podcast, the author of Real Estate Rookie: 90 Days to Your First Investment, and a real estate investor of eight years. She purchased her first rental property in 2014 and has since grown her buy-and-hold portfolio to more than thirty units. Ashley has experience in multiple real estate strategies with buy-and-hold being her foundation. With a dual degree in public accounting and finance, her specialty is creating systems to work efficiently and remotely. Ashley left accounting to pursue real estate full-time by leveraging partnerships and creative financing. When Ashley isn’t behind the mic as a podcast host, she is raising three boys on a dairy farm in rural Buffalo, NY.
Description
Scott Trench is CEO of BiggerPockets, co-host of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, a real estate investor, real estate broker, and bestselling author. Through a solid understanding of money management, calculated risks, and a lot of hard work, he has created financial freedom for himself as well as a successful real estate business in just three years after graduating college. In his bestselling book, Set for Life, he shares the knowledge that he has acquired so others will have the tools they need to repeat his results in just 3–5 years, giving them the option to go anywhere they want in the world, work any job, start any business, or finish out the journey to financial independence and retire young. Scott currently lives in Denver, Colorado and enjoys skiing, rugby, craft beers, and terrible punny jokes.
Description
Avery Carl is the CEO and founder of The Short Term Shop, a real estate sales team that specializes in helping investors locate, analyze, and acquire profitable short-term rentals in the most stable markets in the country. As a Wall Street Journal Top 100 Agent, she has helped more than a thousand clients close on short-term-rental deals. Avery has personally invested in more than forty deals, including short-term rentals in three different markets as well as buy-and-hold single-family and multifamily properties. In her free time, Avery enjoys collecting vintage guitars, running marathons, and, most important, hanging out with her family. She splits her time between Destin, Florida, and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
Description
Devon Kennard is a 9 year NFL Veteran who has spent the last 10 years building a passive real estate portfolio consisting of SF properties, small multifamily properties as well as syndications and private lending. He is the author of It All Adds Up: Designing Your Game Plan For Financial Success and his NEW book with BiggerPockets.
Description
David Greene is the host of the BiggerPockets Podcast and a real estate investor with more than ten years of experience. He has bought, rehabbed, and managed more than 50 single-family rental properties, and he owns shares in three large multifamily apartment complexes, notes, triple-net, and short-term rental properties. He runs the top-producing David Greene Team with Keller Williams and also owns "The One Brokerage,” an award-winning mortgage company with a nationwide presence. David is the author of five books—including the best-seller titled Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat (BRRRR)—and his books have sold half a million copies combined. David loves basketball, Batman, being an uncle, and helping people achieve total financial freedom through real estate investing.
Description
"Chris Lopez is a Colorado-based real estate investor, entrepreneur, and host of the Denver Real Estate Investing Podcast. In just a few short years, Chris went from no network, only one property, and just $10,000 in the bank to an impressive portfolio of nine properties and businesses generating over $100 million in sales annually. Chris has facilitated transactions worth over $300 million, helping hundreds of clients build wealth in real estate.
Chris is passionate about teaching investors how to maximize their return on equity, which he believes is the key to achieving financial freedom faster. To help investors manage their portfolios more efficiently, he co-founded Property Llama, which provides a streamlined approach to tracking and benchmarking rental property performance.
Over the past few years, Chris has been extensively featured on BiggerPockets, hosting several shows, including the Multi-Family Mentors Show, the Real Estate Ride Along Show, and, most recently, a series of content focused on portfolio analysis and optimization. When Chris isn't helping clients grow their real estate portfolios, you can find him spending time with his wife and three daughters or kayaking with a cold beer."
Description
Luke Carl, a real estate professional that began his career buying short term rentals in vacation markets in order to use the cash flow to purchase long-term rentals. Luke is the proud owner of the longest running “Airbnb” in the Smoky Mountains, and has hosted over 4000 stays in his career. He owns hundreds of units with no partners -including multi-family, single-family long terms, and of course, short term rentals.
Description
"Chad Carson (aka Coach Carson) is an author, investor, podcaster, and life-long learner who used real estate investing to reach financial independence in his 30s. With a portfolio of thirty-plus houses and small multifamily properties, Chad's primary real estate strategy is buy-and-hold rentals—but he has also used private lending, wholesaling, fix-and-flips, and creative financing. His current passion is teaching other investors how to build a small and mighty rental property business so they can get out of the financial grind and do more of what matters.
Based in Clemson, South Carolina, Chad and his family have also lived abroad in other countries, including 17 months in Cuenca, Ecuador and 12 months in Granada, Spain. When not writing about himself in third person, vying for the silliest dad award, or playing pick-up basketball, Chad enjoys volunteering with a local non-profit he co-founded to create a network of walking and bike paths in his hometown."
Description
Kathy Fettke is a buy-and-hold real estate investor, syndicator, real estate agent, and former mortgage broker. Kathy is also the CEO of real estate syndications company Grow Developments and cofounder of RealWealth, a real estate investment company that helps its members build wealth through income-generating property in the nation's fastest-growing markets. She is a podcast host on The Real Wealth Show, Real Estate News for Investors, and On the Market, as well as author of the best-selling book Retire Rich with Rentals. A frequent guest expert on outlets such as CNBC, CNN, ABC, and Fox, Kathy shares her insights on the real estate market and economy.
Description
Rich Fettke is the author of The Wise Investor and Extreme Success. He is a real estate broker, investor, and cofounder of RealWealth, a real estate investment group that helps its 70,000+ members improve their financial intelligence, secure passive income, and obtain financial freedom. A pioneer in the field of business and personal coaching, Rich is a former vice president of the International Coaching Federation, and his work has been featured across media including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Entrepreneur magazine. A passionate, adventurous athlete, Rich lives with his wife, Kathy, in Malibu, California where they invest, work, and play together.
Description
Amanda Han of Keystone CPA specializes in creating tax-saving strategies for real estate investors. She is certified by the CA State Board of Accountancy and is a member of the prestigious American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) with clients across the nation. As a real estate investor of more than ten years, she combines her passion of investing with her tax expertise to help others supercharge their wealth and keep more of what they make.
Description
Nick Gray is an entrepreneur and best-selling author living in Austin, Texas. With a track record of launching and selling two successful companies—Flight Display Systems and Museum Hack—Nick's entrepreneurial prowess is widely recognized. His TEDx talk on why he holds disdain for most museums has garnered over 75,000 views. He wrote "The 2-Hour Cocktail Party," a comprehensive guidebook that illustrates how to cultivate meaningful connections through intimate gatherings. He’s been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine called him a host of “culturally significant parties.”
Go to Nick’s Website: https://nickgray.net/
Connect with Nick:
IG: @nickgraynews - https://www.instagram.com/nickgraynews/
Twitter: @nickgraynews - https://twitter.com/nickgraynews
https://www.facebook.com/newfriend
https://www.youtube.com/@nickgray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgraynews/
https://www.tiktok.com/@nickgraynews
Description
Matt MacFarland is a CPA of more than 20 years that specializes in tax strategies for real estate, self-directed investing, and individual tax planning. He has also invested in real estate for more than 10 years with a focus on long-term hold residential and multi-family assets. As both a tax strategist and real estate investor, Matt focuses on the development of tax strategies for real estate investors across the nation—including retirement investing, entity structuring, expense maximization, and income offset strategies to help reduce the investor’s tax burden.
Description
Tony Robinson is a co-host of the BiggerPockets Real Estate Rookie podcast and founder of Robinson Equity, a real estate firm focused on the acquisition of vacation rental properties. Though he's only been actively investing in real estate for three years, he's already built a portfolio of more than thirty short-term rentals. He attributes the speed at which he was able to scale to the partnerships he made along the way. Other than being an investor and educator in the real estate space, he's also a loving husband and father, an amateur competitor in NPC Men’s Physique, and an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan. Tony currently lives in Ontario, California.
Description
Youtuber & STR operator with a vision for FUN designs, and has helped scale her company's portfolio by leveraging the power of social media & networking at events!
Description
Craig Curelop is a real estate investor, author, and a huge believer in the Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement. He started with a negative net worth in 2016, but between sleeping on the couch and renting out his personal car, he was able to save the money he needed to invest in two Denver house hacks and a BRRRR property in Jacksonville. He officially reached financial freedom in 2019, yet he continues his search for ways to optimize his life from a time and money perspective. As seen in The Denver Post, BBC, and his own book The House Hacking Strategy, Craig hopes to inspire the masses to grab hold of their finances. He currently lives in Denver, CO, where he enjoys biking, snowboarding, and hanging out with friends and family.
Description
Known as one of the few lawyers that actually speaks English, Mauricio helps real estate
syndicators, stay out of jail by ensuring full compliance with Federal and State securities laws.
With over 22 years of securities experience, Mauricio is the premier real estate syndication
attorney in the country.
Mauricio was recently featured on the cover of the Top 100 Magazine as a Top 100 Attorney and
has previously been recognized as one of the top California attorneys under 40 by Super
LawyersÒ magazine.
As an educator at heart, Mauricio regularly travels around the country speaking to real estate
investors on how the legal regulatory piece fits into the overall syndication and capital raising
puzzle.
Mauricio acts as legal advisor to KenMcElroy.com (Rich Dad Advisor and owner of 10,000
Units) and represents many well-known real estate syndicators, like Robert Helms (host of The
Real Estate GuysTM Radio Show and Brandon Turner (former host of the Bigger PocketsÒ
podcast).
A graduate of The University of California at Berkeley, Mauricio lives in Southern California
with his wife Heidi, and their little angels, Adelina and Alessandra.
Description
Mindy Jensen has been buying and selling homes for more than twenty years. Currently, she’s working on her ninth live-in flip—she buys ugly houses, moves in, makes them beautiful, sells them, and starts the process all over again. She is a licensed real estate agent in Colorado, co-host of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast, author of How to Sell Your Home, and the Community Manager for BiggerPockets.com, where she helps new and experienced investors learn the best real estate investing techniques to build wealth. When you can get her to stop talking about real estate, you can find her on her bike or adventuring in the beautiful mountains of Colorado.
Description
Dan Sheeks is the owner and founder of SheeksFreaks LLC, an online community dedicated to helping young people live their best lives by making smart money decisions. He has been a high school business teacher in Denver, Colorado, for eighteen years, and he’s passionate about teaching teenagers personal finance, passive income, real estate investing, and early financial freedom strategies. Dan and his wife own fifteen units and have enjoyed success with multifamily, short-term rentals, and the BRRRR strategy. In his free time, Dan likes to run, bike, cross-country ski, and attend bluegrass music festivals.
Description
Grace Gudenkauf quit her engineering job in 2021 to go all-in on real estate, and she's now a full-time investor who owns and self-manages 20+ units in eastern Iowa. Grace has since relocated to Tucson, Arizona, and she leverages a small in-house team to expand her investing from a distance. Her expertise lies in BRRRRs, medium-term rentals, and creative financing. Her passion lies with Women Invest in Real Estate (WIIRE), a community she co-founded that hosts retreats, podcasts, and other resources.
Description
Leka is a real estate developer and broker based in Seattle, WA. She is the President of Rehabit Homes, Inc., a company focused on residential and commercial redevelopment. Leka has spearheaded hundreds of transactions, totaling over $100 million in real estate development.
With nearly a decade of experience in repositioning distressed assets, Leka brings a unique blend of vision, strategy, and execution to every project she undertakes. Her expertise lies in revitalizing properties, breathing new life into communities, and creating lasting value.
Beyond her achievements in the real estate industry, Leka is a sought-after speaker. She has emceed prominent conferences such as BiggerPockets and MFIN and has also been featured on numerous podcasts and other media including Business Insider and Fox News. Committed to giving back to her community, she hosts the popular networking mixer ""Real Estate At Work,"" bringing together industry leaders and aspiring professionals to foster connections and knowledge sharing.
Leka moved to the U.S. from India 17 years ago. Before her foray into real estate, she honed her skills in merchandise strategy and financial planning at Nordstrom Corporate.
Description
Tiamo Wright is the Director of Product, Marketplaces at BiggerPockets. She has a passion for innovation and enhancing a user's experience by understanding the real ‘job to be done’. Alongside her amazing team, she helps craft tools and features that empower users to solve their unique real estate challenges with ease during their investing journey.
As a real estate investor herself, she has dabbled in live-in flip, mid-term rentals and now owns a long term rental and is always looking for a good next opportunity in and outside of real estate.
Outside of work she finds joy in a diverse set of interests. An avid conversationalist, she loves discussing the intricacies of finance and money management, encouraging others to take control of their financial destinies. Also equally driven by a wanderlust spirit, Tiamo finds solace in exploring new destinations and immersing herself in different cultures. You can often find her and her husband hiking through new counties sampling exotic cuisines or marveling at seeing her detailed spreadsheet come to life on a trip.
Both personally and professionally she embraces every adventure with enthusiasm and curiosity to cultivate a life rich of purpose and authenticity.
Description
Natalie is an IRS Enrolled Agent, national tax educator, and co-founded the Certified Real Estate Tax Strategist™ credential. With over a decade of experience, her focus is creating unique tax strategies for those building wealth through real estate.
Description
Amelia McGee is a full-time real estate investor who self-manages a portfolio of over 35 doors consisting of long-term, medium-term, and short-term rental properties. Since beginning her investment journey, she's utilized multiple strategies to attain financial freedom through real estate, including private money borrowing, private money lending, flipping, BRRRR, creative financing, and partnerships. Amelia is also passionate about encouraging other women to begin investing in real estate and co-owns the business WIIRE (Women Invest in Real Estate) with Grace Gudenkauf. Together they host real estate retreats for women, have created multiple real estate investing courses, and have a weekly podcast. She currently lives in
Description
Niti Jamdar is a founder and owner of Open Spaces Capital and Open Spaces Women. After working for 20 years as an Executive in Product Strategy and Finance for a Fortune 100 company, Niti made the shift to investing and entrepreneurship in 2020. With proficiency in strategy, leadership and scaling, Niti spends his time working on growing Open Spaces Capital by acquiring real estate all over the US. His expertise includes buying and renovating single family homes, small multi-family, and large apartment buildings. He is passionate about helping corporate professionals break the golden handcuffs through the power of real estate investing.
Description
Palak Shah is the founder and owner of Open Spaces Capital and Open Spaces Women. An engineer by trade, after the birth of her two kids, Palak decided to make the move to entrepreneurship to be able to spend more time with her children. She brought her knowledge and 17 years of experience in building systems, processes, and scaling from her corporate career in engineering leadership to fast track her real estate investing journey. In her first three years investing full-time, she purchased, renovated, rented, and refinanced properties creating an almost $5M rental portfolio and generating $1M in annual revenue. It is now her passion to empower other investors to pursue entrepreneurship through real estate investing to live an empowered and financially free life without taking undue risks or over-leveraging through her coaching program Open Spaces Women
Description
Whitney Elkins-Hutten is the founder of Ash Wealth Consulting and Director of Investor Education at PassiveInvesting.com. She hosts the Passive Investing Made Simple podcast and is a partner in $800M+ of real estate assets—including 6,500+ residential units, 2,200+ self-storage units, and more than $5M in fix-and-flipped properties. After hitting a home run with her first rental property and nearly losing it all on her second deal, Whitney turned to wealth-creation strategies to build sturdy financial freedom for herself and her family. Whitney is now on a mission to help families implement sound financial principles to create passive income and long-term wealth for generations to come. Whitney currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, and she enjoys trail running, traveling, photography, craft beers, and playing board games with family and friends.
Description
Rob Abasolo has been a real estate investor in the short-term rental space since 2017. In 2021, he quit his full-time job in advertising to pursue a career in real estate and content creation. In January 2020 he started the Robuilt YouTube channel—where he showcases his tiny houses and unique spaces to an audience of over 270,000 subscribers. Rob is also the co-host of a little known podcast called Bigger Pockets As of today, Rob’s portfolio consists of over 40 properties ranging from short-term rentals to tiny homes to boutique hotels (and everything in-between).
Description
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Garrett Brown is a seasoned real estate professional with over seven years of experience in the industry. A proud graduate of the University of Houston Hilton College of Hospitality, Garrett has built a successful career as both a real estate agent and investor. To date, he has facilitated over $5 million in real estate transactions and manages a portfolio of income-producing assets valued at over $1 million.
Garrett’s passion lies in leveraging his real-world experiences to guide others on their journey to financial freedom. Known for his honesty and realistic approach, he avoids empty promises and focuses on the hard work and dedication required for success.
Outside of his professional life, Garrett enjoys spending time with his dogs, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and exploring the best coffee shops in town.
Description
Krista Fettke grew up immersed in the world of real estate, thanks to her parents, Rich and Kathy Fettke, who are both successful investors. She kicked off her career as the Social Media Strategist for RealWealth, a leading real estate investment club, where she had the chance to work closely with her parents.
After college, Krista spent two years traveling across Europe and Asia, where she stumbled upon the hidden gem of international real estate investing. She was amazed by the beautiful, affordable homes in these areas and realized that while Europeans had been investing in these markets for years, many Americans were missing out.
Determined to bridge this gap, Krista co-founded Gateway Investors, a firm dedicated to connecting American investors with prime real estate opportunities in coastal markets worldwide. By collaborating with industry experts, developers, and legal and tax professionals, Krista and her team have successfully streamlined the process of overseas investing, making luxury living more accessible while generating substantial cash flow for investors.
Description
Derek Sherrell is a real estate investor, infill housing developer and ADU builder with 30 years experience in the building trade.
Today, Derek consults with homeowners and investors on how to plan, design, finance, and build ADUs. In 2022, Derek founded ThatADUGuy.com and began an open-source video series designed to guide homeowners through the process of building their own ADUs.
As a pioneering ADU developer, builder, and investor, Derek brings one of the most comprehensive skill sets to any ADU discussion or instruction. He spends his days running, skiing, talking about ADUs with homeowners, policy makers, builders, and anyone else who will listen.
@ThatADUguy
youtube.com/thatADUguy
Description
Sarah Weaver is a coach, speaker, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and business owner. Nothing thrills Sarah more than helping real estate agents and investors design the life of their dreams, whether that is making more money or working fewer hours (or both!). As an investor herself, Sarah now owns 19 units with a wide variety of strategies, including medium-term rentals, short-term rentals, and traditional rental properties—all of which she self-manages from afar. When Sarah isn't analyzing deals, you can find her looking up her next flight since she is a digital nomad who works 100% remotely from anywhere in the world. She has traveled to 44 countries and has been fully nomadic since January 2019.
Website
https://www.easystreetcap.com/?utm_campaign=BPCON2024&utm_source=website
Contact Name
Easy Street Capital
Description
Robin Simon is a Partner of Easy Street Capital, overseeing the EasyRent platform, which provides long-term “DSCR” loans for residential investment properties up to 10 units, with a specialty in financing Short Term Rentals, Medium Term Rentals, and BRRRR strategy investors.
Experience
Robin has an extensive background in investment real estate financing, previously servicing as a Manager in EY’s structured finance consulting group focusing on CMBS (Commercial-Mortgage-Backed-Securities) securitizations and as Chief Investment Officer of Stronghill Capital, focusing on the origination and portfolio management of small balance commercial and investment residential loans.
In addition to BiggerPockets, he frequently shares insider insights on investment real estate lending through weekly articles on Easy Street Capital’s Industry Insights blog, numerous podcast interviews and active participation on social media. Robin is passionate about sharing transparent and actionable insights “behind the curtain” on the financing process for investment properties to help people achieve financial freedom through real estate investing.
Education & Involvement
Robin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics & History from Vanderbilt University and Master in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a licensed CPA and active in the Austin real estate community, servicing on the Leadership Development Council (2020-2021) and membership committee (2018-Present) of the Real Estate Council of Austin (RECA).
Follow @RobinSimonESC
Description
Zeona McIntyre has been an Airbnb host since 2012. After ten years of being a short-term rental property manager and consultant, she has transitioned to selling real estate to investors who are looking to house hack or live for free. She is an avid real estate investor who owns and manages a double-digit portfolio, and she teaches listeners how to achieve financial freedom through real estate on her podcast, Invest2FI. She has been featured on BiggerPockets, Mr. Money Mustache, NPR, and has been a guest on more than fifty podcasts. Zeona has been to 47 countries—she spends half the year in Boulder, Colorado and the other half traveling the world as an international pet and house sitter.
Description
John Bowens is one of the most sought-after and respected educators in the self-directed IRA industry, partly due to his unique ability to take a complex issue and break it down into simple-to-understand terms. As Director, Head of Education and Investor Success at Equity Trust Company, John draws from his 15 years in the real estate industry and his experience as an active real estate investor. In his travels across the U.S. and virtually, he has taught 70,000 investors during more than 300 workshops and classes, spreading the message about the power of building tax-free wealth and leaving a lasting legacy by investing in what you know best.
John contributed to the book “Self-Directed IRAs: Building Retirement Wealth Through Alternative Investing” with Equity Trust Company Founder Richard Desich, Sr., and has appeared on several national real estate and finance-related radio shows, including the Rich Dad Radio Show.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Ohio University.
Description
Matt Faircloth is the co-founder and president of the DeRosa Group, a real estate investment company that specializes in buying and renovating residential and commercial properties. Matt and his wife, Liz, started investing in real estate in 2004 with a $30,000 loan. They founded DeRosa Group in 2005 and have since grown the company to managing more than 370 units throughout the east coast. DeRosa has completed more than $30M in real estate transactions involving private capital—including fix-and-flips, single-family home rentals, mixed-use buildings, apartment buildings, office buildings, and tax lien investments. He is the author of Raising Private Capital, has been featured on the BiggerPockets Podcast, and regularly contributes to BiggerPockets’ educational webinars. Matt, Liz, and their two adorable kids currently live in New Hope, PA.
Description
Liz Faircloth co-founded the DeRosa Group in 2005 with her husband, Matt. The DeRosa Group, based in Trenton, NJ, is an owner of commercial and residential property with a mission to “transform lives through real estate." DeRosa has raised tens of millions of dollars, works with hundreds of passive investors, and controls thousands of residential and commercial assets throughout the east coast.
Liz is the co-founder of The Real Estate InvestHER® community, a platform to empower women to live a financially free and balanced life on their own terms. Combined Liz and Andresa have over 27 years of experience and a 130 Million portfolio. The InvestHER Community has over 50 Meetups across the US and Canada and an on-line community and membership that offers accountability and mentorship for women to take their business to the next level!
She is the co-host of the “The Real Estate InvestHER Show" and co-author of the Amazon Bestseller, “The Only Woman in the Room - Knowledge and Inspiration from 20 Successful Real Estate Women Investors!”
Liz has been interviewed for many articles and top-rated podcasts, including being a two-time guest on the top rated BiggerPockets Podcast and the Best Ever Show. On the personal side, Liz is an avid runner, has completed several triathlons and marathons, has two adorable children and is a New Yorks Mets fan.
Contact:
DeRosa Group Website: www.derosagroup.com
The Real Estate InvestHER Podcast: www.therealestateinvesther.com
Instagram: @therealestateinvesther
Description
Jim Pfeifer has dedicated his career to helping educate and advise people on personal finance and investing. As a full-time passive investor, founder and President of Left Field Investors, and host of the Passive Investing from Left Field podcast, Jim is passionate about empowering investors with accessible education and community networking opportunities. He holds a degree in Finance & Marketing from the University of Oregon and a Masters in Business Education from The Ohio State University. In his free time, Jim enjoys skiing, playing Ultimate frisbee, and cheering on the Buckeyes. He lives in Columbus, OH with his wife and kids.
Description
Heather Blankenship is an accomplished real estate investor and entrepreneur, managing a diverse portfolio valued at over $30 million. Specializing in RV Parks, Mobile Home Parks, Boutique Motels, and Section 8 Multifamily Properties, she brings over 13 years of invaluable experience to the industry.
Heather also worked at one of the largest commercial real estate brokerages. During her time there, she facilitated transactions totaling over $300 million, particularly in RV and Mobile Home Parks. She is also a former board member of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
Heather is also the visionary CEO and founder of The Society of Entrepreneurial Women, a community of hundreds of like-minded women passionate about business, investing, and self-improvement. Her ultimate goal is to expand The Society globally, empowering thousands seeking a supportive network of other women.
Description
Tom Higgins, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Terra, has established himself as a formidable force in the real estate sector. He has successfully developed and renovated over 2,000 multifamily units across the United States, handling projects as varied as suburban duplexes in Pittsburgh to a 1 Million Sqft Skyscraper in NYC's financial district. Prior to Terra, Tom's decade-long experience in real estate, at Rose Associates and Lennar saw him managing assets worth over $1.5 billion, honing skills essential for leading Terra’s top-tier investment teams.
At Terra, Tom has been instrumental in devising innovative real estate investment strategies, specializing in transforming sub-institutional SMF properties into lucrative, fully renovated portfolios. His approach combines rigorous protocols, detailed analysis, and advanced prop tech.
In addition to his role at Terra, Tom plays a significant part in his family business, co-leading Real Estate investment allocations and management for his mother, Barbara Corcoran's Family Office. His involvement brings a unique blend of personal insight and professional expertise to the forefront of real estate investment.
Tom is a graduate of Columbia University, holding a B.A. in Economics and Philosophy. Beyond his professional life, he is a devoted father, passionate about traveling, skiing in Utah with his family, and an enthusiastic Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
Description
CEO of uDirect IRA Services, LLC Kaaren Hall, is an entrepreneur with an indomitable spirit, whose journey exemplifies resilience, innovation, and success. In the face of economic turmoil during the recession and mortgage market collapse, Kaaren defied the odds and established uDirect IRA Services, LLC. Drawing upon her extensive background spanning over 20 years in mortgage banking, real estate, and property management, she unearthed a groundbreaking opportunity within the financial landscape - self-directed IRAs.
With uDirect IRA, Kaaren has pioneered a path for investors, unlocking the potential of self-directed IRAs to diversify their portfolios. Under her astute leadership, uDirect IRA has flourished, managing a portfolio exceeding $1 billion. Through her guidance, tens of thousands of Americans have discovered the power and flexibility of self-directed investing, forging a brighter financial future for themselves.
Beyond her groundbreaking work with uDirect IRA, Kaaren is also the visionary CEO and Founder of the Orange County Real Estate Investors Association (OCREIA). Established in 2012, OCREIA stands as a beacon within the real estate investment community, boasting over 3,000 members. This vibrant community provides invaluable education and resources for investors of all levels, covering an extensive array of real estate investing topics.
Kaaren Hall's story is one of determination, innovation, and empowerment. Her commitment to helping others navigate the complexities of investing and real estate has left an indelible mark on the industry. To learn more about Kaaren and her transformative endeavors, visit uDirectIRA.com and OCREIA.com. Join her in shaping a future of financial independence and prosperity.
Description
Lawrence Briggs is the Poverty Kid turned Real Estate Investor! In his first year as an investor, he purchased two rental properties within six months of each other. Before becoming a real estate investor and self-managing landlord, Lawrence oversaw marketing and leasing for two publicly traded Student Housing companies. A native of New Orleans and raised by a single mother, he is a Summa cum laude graduate of Nicholls State University.
As seen on the BiggerPockets Real Estate Rookie 90-Day Mentorship series, he expressed his mission of breaking generational poverty by investing in real estate. Lawrence enjoys networking and collaborating with others because he knows it takes a village to be a real estate investor. Follow Lawrence and his story on Instagram @Lawrence_Briggs and lawrencebriggs.com.
Description
Evan Miller got into real estate investing when he bought his first condo in 2016 after he arrived at his first Air Force duty station in Denver Colorado. Since then, he and his wife - Katie - have accumulated a total of 8 properties - 17 doors - which are a combination of long term, short term and medium term rentals in Denver, Omaha, and the 30A area of Florida. Meanwhile Evan finished his commitment to the Air Force and became a Certified Financial PlannerTM, and welcomed his daughter - Pia - into the world. Evan went full-time into real estate in 2023 and started flipping homes in Denver. He has since flipped 6 single family homes and has three more in-progress ranging from small cosmetic jobs all the way to full-guts of historic homes. Evan is also passionate about optimizing personal finances and loves watching how that can go hand in hand with real estate investing. For fun Evan loves spending time with his family - Katie and Pia, and playing volleyball, skiing, or pretty much anything that will competitively challenge him.
You can find him on instagram @simplefellowfinance
Description
Caeli CHaY-Lee Ridge: Caeli Ridge is the President and CEO of Ridge Lending Group and is a real estate investor herself. She has been an established real estate investor for over 20 years, holding as many as 42 investment properties across the United States at one time.
Caeli has worked with tens of thousands of real estate investors and homeowners all over the country, helping more families realize their dreams of homeownership as real estate investors than any other mortgage lender in the country. She is also the host of the podcast ""Calling All Real Estate Investors"".
When she is not running RLG, Caeli is a sought-after speaker and can be found providing insight and education to investors at events across the country. Located in Portland, Oregon, Caeli is also a wife, mother of two and devoted friend to many.
Description
Dominique has been investing in real estate for the past 8 years and has built a successful real estate investment company in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has over 100 deals under her belt and her specialty is flipping houses out of state. Dominique currently lives on the road, traveling the US full time, while running her flipping business completely remote! She is an expert at building and managing a team remotely, developing relationships that produce a steady stream of acquisitions, and completing renovations from afar. In her free time, Dominique loves doing anything outdoors, and creating new memories with her husband and family.
Description
Beth Pinkley Johnson is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Flynn Family Lending—a private lending business based in Washington—and she has transacted on more than $100 million in private loans. A self-described “private money matchmaker,” Beth prides herself in offering passive income opportunities to investors while providing innovative lending products to active real estate investors across the state. She began her own real estate investing career in 2004 with flipping houses and wholesaling before eventually delving into private lending. She has since grown her own portfolio of buy-and-hold multifamily properties and currently owns forty units. In her spare time, you can find Beth enjoying time with her blended family of five, running, traveling, and playing poker. She currently lives in Renton, Washington.
Description
At just 19 years old, Krystle got into commercial and multifamily financing, and she’s been doing it ever since. Over the course of her career she discovered that in order to do business the way she wanted she needed to embrace her entrepreneurial side and become a broker. Now, with 16+ years of personal and professional real estate investment and financing experience under her belt, Krystle thrives on helping her clients secure the best financing solutions possible.
Krystle is unique in that she has explored every aspect of the real estate industry: investing, rehabbing, property management, and all types of financing. With so much personal experience, she can easily relate to (and find financing solutions for) any property or project her clients bring to the table, all while educating them on the industry and process.
Beyond Pacific Shore Capital, Krystle brings this passion for education and multi-family real estate investing to her podcast Get in the Cashflow Game with K&K, which she hosts with her husband, Kenny. Each episode combines personal development with current trends and expert guidance, educating listeners on how to create financial freedom and generational wealth.
Always the doer, Krystle embodies the word hustle and loves being busy with her work! But she also understands the importance of intentionally creating space for the things that matter most in life: her husband, Kenny, and their two young daughters, Harlo and Harper. You can regularly find her out for a kid-free Thursday date night with Kenny or on a spontaneous weekend getaway with the entire family.
Description
From growing up in a one stoplight town, to building a real estate empire, Tyler Watts is
the definition of, if you have enough passion and the right team, anything is possible!
Tyler began his career in engineering and after 7 years, decided he didn’t want to work for the
man, he wanted to be the man. An opportunity in 2017 from a development group looking to
expand, allowed Tyler to join and the rest is history. They began purchasing multiple apartment
complexes on the east coast, and by implementing the BRRRR strategy, racked up hundreds of
apartments that they still currently own and manage. After a highly successful 3-year run, 2020
came and the entire model changed for Tyler and his group. As apartment & construction
prices were soaring, they knew they needed to pivot their direction to continue to grow, and
boy did they ever! Fast forward to July 2022, the development group purchased an 82 acre tract
of raw land, and built a destination camping resort that was crowned 2023 Small Park of the
Year by the Outdoor Hospitality Industry (OHI, a nationally recognized award). Tyler and his
group continue to use the BRRRR strategy, alongside now with making a huge impact in the real
estate hospitality industry. As it’s been coined before, watch out for these country boys, they’re
showing up and showing out!
Description
Sarah Guth Sala is the CEO of Lincoln Asset Management, a successful fix-and-flip business in Denver that also holds rental properties in both Denver and Mexico purchasing, designing, and completing more than 25 flips in the last 4 years. Capital raising and community building are her biggest REI passion, having raised over $3 million in 3 years and spearheading a free, Denver-based Mastermind for new investors. She is fluent in Spanish, which comes in handy in the construction industry, has traveled to 49 states, and skis any chance she gets; though her most important job and passion is being mom to her two sons, wife to her partner in business and life, Jose.
Description
Jose Sala is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, where he served as the Chief of Staff of the mayor of Caracas and worked on award-winning development projects. Once in the United States, he launched a short-term rental business, followed by a full dive into fix-and-flipping and the founding of his company, Lincoln Asset Management. He has flipped 25+ homes in the last 4 years, and is passionate about rejuvenating historic properties, like his current project of turning a convent into residences. He is deeply committed to building up his local community through his free Mastermind for new investors. Jose is dad to two very active boys, who keep him feeling young and entertained, and husband to Sarah, his partner in business and life.
Description
Joe Coleman is the Manager of Strategy and Business Development for BiggerPocket's Marketplace of Real Estate Professionals. He previously managed relationships with all lenders on BiggerPocket's Lender Marketplace.
He also created the BiggerPockets Investor Concierge Service, which has successful matched thousands of investors with lenders on BiggerPockets to fund their deals.
Description
I started my real estate investing journey in May 2021 purchasing a SFH with the intention to house hack. I was able to cover my mortgage payment, cash flow a few extra dollars, and save on a strict budget for one year. In June 2022, I purchased my second SFH with the same intention to house hack, but this time using the BRRRR method. I will finish up a few more projects by the end of 2024, and assess a strategy to scale with the equity from the market in my first home and the forced equity of my second home!
When I'm not working or talking about real estate, you can find me playing volleyball, hiking with my husky Nicki, or cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles!
Description
Raised in a real estate family--I've been around the industry my whole life. Professionally I've worked for lenders, builders and real estate brokerages since 2003 in Missouri, Ohio & Washington DC. I've processed loans, built houses, run operations, sold real estate, and trained real estate agents for the majority of my career...and loved every minute of it.
Description
Ty Lewis is a dynamic leader making a significant impact in the world through speaking, coaching, and mentoring. Ty was the former Director of Emerging Leaders and the African American Leadership Society at United Way Quad Cities, Ty has helped invest $100,000 to support BIPOC academic success and launched an Emerging Leaders program for young professionals. He has also led advisory committees, hosted major events, and raised substantial funds.
In 2023, Ty received the Quad Cities Outstanding Young Philanthropist Award and was selected for the St. Ambrose Alumni Association Board. He has attended transformative conferences, helped launch a young professionals group, and was a top 5 finalist for the United Way One Young World Summit.
Ty graduated from St. Ambrose University with a B.A. in Finance, serving in multiple leadership roles and winning national competitions. He has spoken for various organizations, including John Deere, NABA, and the Quad City Chamber of Commerce.
Ty is also a real estate investor who currently owns 2 multi-family units and is currently developing single-family homes.
Description
Danielle Daly is the Senior Account Manager at BiggerPockets and leads the charge of BPCON sponsorship sales. In 2021, Danielle moved across the country to pursue her role at BiggerPockets and left behind her career in hospitality management. Just one year later, she decided to begin investing in real estate in the Denver metro and has been house hacking ever since. Danielle recently purchased her second single family home and now self manages both properties along with 10 tenants. Danielle plans to continue investing in real estate as she pursues financial freedom. She enjoys snowboarding, hiking, tennis, yoga and traveling.
Description
Building Success, Embracing His Journey: Andy Gil
Andy Gil, a neurodiverse (ADHD) entrepreneur with a thirst for knowledge, leverages his unique perspective in the worlds of real estate investing and contracting. A dedicated husband and father, Andy's path has been anything but linear, filled with the grit and resilience.
More than accolades, Andy values the lessons learned from every twist and turn. His curiosity and problem-solving skills have been the engine driving his success in contracting and the strategic acquisition of real estate. He's been an integral part of designing, permitting, and building or renovating hundreds of residential and commercial projects. Industry recognition followed, including Builder of the Year in Eastern Connecticut and a place among Professional Builder Magazine's top 40 builders under 40. He can also be heard on episode 803 of the BiggerPockets Podcast.
Andy's story is one of embracing neurodiversity and turning it into a strength, leaving his mark on the built environment while building a fulfilling life.
Description
I am mortgage broker with C2 Financial and have been in the business for 20 years. I have funded over $1.5 Billion in loans and have had the opportunity to help 5000's of clients along the way. If you are a first-time home buyer, in the military using your VA loan, self employed with income challenges or an experienced real estate investor my team and I are the best. We pride ourselves on educating our clients on loan options, rates, terms, cost and we work very hard to deliver the best rates and service. What makes us great is the experience we bring to the table and also being a very active real estate investor myself and my background in real estate only benefits our clients.
My wife has been a commercial mortgage broker for 20 years as well and has funded over $1.5 Billion in loans as well. Together we are a 1 stop shop and a rarity due to our experience in the real estate business. We used to manage 1475 units in San Diego ( sold that business in 2018) , turned over 2000 units, rehabbed 500 + units, rehabbed inside and out over 20 + larger building and have done $100 Million in personal real estate investment deals ourselves. We have helped many clients build portfolios in San Diego, build wealth and generate cash flow. Now we just focus on our 2 girls, mortgage business, our growing pod cast "get in the cash flow game with K&K, delivering educational content daily to clients and our community, buying a building a year with our own money in San Diego, personally own 50 + units with a net cash flow of $350K +. We are also partner in 300 + units as well.
Description
• My Moto: Love Everybody Always! ---> I love helping people, reading, building businesses, real
estate, and sports!
• Always "learning & growing" by "educating & networking" with experienced professionals who excel in their fields.
• Entrepreneur with an abundance growth mindset focused on "Us & we, not I & Me".
• Real estate managing broker, investor, developer, and general contractor.
• Led Operations for a Prop-tech startup focused on maintenance & rent collection to series A round
of funding
• Construction Engineer with a decade of experience on residential, commercial, and water projects;
as well as heavy-civil projects including complex underground utilities, concrete structures,
highways, bridges and tunnels.
Description
Dean "GOGS" Valentini became Financially Free at 33 shortly before separating from Active Duty US Air Force at the end of 2023 in order to dedicate more time to building wealth through Acquisition Entrepreneurship and Real Estate Investing, and helping others do the same. Following 10+ years of experience as a Flight Test Engineering Officer and Project Manager, he continues to serve part-time in the AF Reserve as an Instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School in addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits. Dean's journey to Financial Freedom began in 2017 with an "accidental house hack" in Fort Walton Beach, FL and since then he has acquired several more house hacks in Denver, CO and a small multifamily portfolio in Dayton, OH, in addition to running several other successful businesses.
He is an avid technologist who enjoys leveraging his Computer Engineering background to nerd out on the implementation of systems and automation for his own and other businesses.
GOGS is also extremely passionate about fitness & longevity, his Aussie-mix Bulleit, community, intentional living, and sharing lessons learned with the goal of helping others rapidly achieve financial independence!
Description
In 2019, Kasey purchased her first house hack and discovered her passion for real estate. Soon after, she obtained her real estate license, rented out her first property, and acquired her second investment. Today, Kasey is an active investor and leads a real estate team, ROI Realty Partners, in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Description
Diego Cardenas is a seasoned real estate expert based in Denver, renowned for his deep-rooted connection to the vibrant city where he was born and raised. Specializing in working with investors, Diego excels in facilitating the buying and selling of fix-and-flip properties, managing short-term rentals, and listing homes throughout the greater Denver metro area. Remarkably, the majority of Diego’s business consists of off-market transactions, with an average of more than 40 off-market deals completed annually on top of his traditional real estate transactions.
When not immersed in the real estate market, Diego is an avid traveler, often exploring new destinations with his wife and their cherished 13-pound Chihuahua, Remy. His passion for travel enriches his perspective, allowing him to bring innovative ideas and fresh insights to his work. As a dedicated foodie, Diego revels in discovering unique culinary experiences wherever his adventures take him. Diego also enjoys performing improv comedy, a hobby he feels enhances his real estate skills by preparing him to handle any unexpected situations with ease and creativity.
Balancing his time between Denver and San Diego, Diego ensures he remains attuned to the diverse needs of clients on both coasts. Whether you are looking to invest, buy, or sell property, Diego is committed to providing personalized service and insider knowledge to help you achieve your real estate goals. Connect with Diego to turn your real estate dreams into reality.