Bay Area Meetups: Where have you been? Favs? Not? Why?

[J. Martin]

What meetups have you been to in the San Francisco Bay Area, what are they like, and why do you like them or not like them? Please post below. Include your opinion, and a link if possible!

I've hosted a lot of meetups, more as a networking event, and I understand most RE meetups are hosted by someone selling something, and there's usually a speaker, and less networking.. But I think all of them can be valuable in different ways. I'm just starting to schedule dates at other meetups to check them out..

So I want all of your opinions about the various RE meetups in the Bay. I've listed some I know about below.. I know there are probably many more..

"Non-BP Meetups by BP Members": Oakland, SF
http://www.meetup.com/SF-Bay-Area-Real-Estate-Netw...

@Sarah Lam had a meetup in SF back in Nov or Dec of 2013, which inspired me to start holding monthly meetups in the East Bay (link above). @Johnson H. also has meetups in SF, with the next on 6/19. 
https://beta.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/1...

I still can't believe no one has set up regular meetups in the South Bay, but I plan on hosting one down there sometime this month or early next month. All have been free so far, that I can remember. We may need to start doing food minimums to get more private spaces where we can hear each other.. I did this appetizer-style with a private, reserved room in Sacramento, and it worked really well. The space was much more conducive to networking. And everyone could hear each other..

Bay Area Wealth Builders - Mill Valley:

I got some feedback from @Amit M. already that it's mostly a speaking event, and little networking. About $20 for guests, but good speakers sometimes. Interest may depend more on the particular subject matter of that particular date. I'm tentatively planning on going next week, but not super excited about the subject matter.. hmm..

San Jose REI:
http://sjrei.org/

Geraldine Barry leads this REIA, one of the biggest/most active in the Bay. They have some pretty big-name CA speakers come through, such as Bruce Norris, local politicians and business people from the Silicon Valley, and a range of other guests. Also have not had a chance to get down there, but plan to in the next month or two.. Cost ranged from $25-40ish+ depending on event..

Buy and Hold Meetup Group - In-State: (Sunnvale)
http://www.meetup.com/Bay-Area-Real-Estate-Buy-Hol...

@Bruno Tavares just introduced me to a buy and hold meetup group in Sunnyvale. I haven't been there yet, but plan on going soon to check it out. Focused on in-state buy and hold.

Out of State Meetup Group: (Mountain View) 
http://www.meetup.com/svreig/

Bruno also introduced me to this group in Mountain View, which has A LOT of members (not sure how many active.) Focused on out-of-state investing, and has many speakers come through.. 

Silicon Valley REI Club & East Bay REI Club
http://www.meetup.com/EBREIC/events/172496202/

Dani Biet-Or heads up this meetup group, which I've heard about before, and will be going shortly. Don't know much about it.. 

Gonna hit some local cities:

San Francisco, Oakland, Fremont, Palo Alto, Mountain View, San Jose, Silicon Valley, Bay Area, SF Bay, SF, SF Bay, 

[Jeff Pollack]

I've been to a few of Joe Metz and Dean Higa's Meetups.  They typicaly have a good speaker and opportunities to network.  Cost is $10.  They meet the third Wednesday of every month in Sunnyvale and the third Thursday of every month in Fremont.

http://www.meetup.com/Sunnyvale-Buying-Houses-For-...