My Highlight Reel from BPCON2024

[Jonathan Greene]

For those that didn't or couldn't make it, and for those that did to add theirs in the comments:

Beyond all of the relationships built, bolstered, and buffered, these are some of my highlight reels from this year's event in Cancun (in no particular order).

1. The Opening Keynote with Codie Sanchez. Almost nothing motivates me beyond myself, but when Codie Sanchez finished this presentation, I was amped. She knew her audience and fed it what it needed with one hard truth and honest insight after another. She is exactly as she is on social media and even more impressive in person because there is no room for BS in what she says. Also, her newsletter is the best in the business, hands down.

2. The Economic Keynote with Lauren Saidel-Baker. Before I get to the content, when she said, "I am an automaton," I knew she was one of my people. The breakdown of the economy and the next ten years was fantastic, with graphs, charts, and data for the nerds like me. When you listen to people speak on stage, you want to be sure they know their material, which couldn't have been more apparent. Every question asked she had an answer (even when it wasn't the answer someone wanted).

3. The ADU Breakout Session with Derek Sherrell. His name is ThatADUGuy, so you should expect a high bar. Derek always jumps over the bar and does a front flip. When I talk ADUs with him or listen to him present, I want New Jersey to get on the ADU bus yesterday. If you aren't following him on Instagram and YouTube, you are missing out on content that could change how you invest and live (I have a DADU at my house, over my detached garage, that my daughter lived in for two years).

4. How to Use and Understand the Macro-Environment and Market Research to Drive Your Investments with @Dave Meyer. Hands up for the data nerds! Dave always delivers and has a way of taking complex data and turning it into a narrative about your future. There was so much good stuff in this presentation, I will be reviewing the slides repeatedly.

5. How BiggerPockets, @Alexandra Hughes Pailet, and @Katie Miller went with the flow as the weather threatened (and did) to disrupt all of our outdoor events, travel, and transportation. Every time the weather pulled a new one, their team adjusted and made all of the conference goers forget what was going on outside and focus on all of the networking and learning inside. Next year's in Vegas, so get ready.

What were your favorites if you went?

[Jay Hinrichs]

Quote from @Dan H.:

I liked the reduced crowds more intimate event than especially last year’s event.  Orlando had way too many people for me.  San Diego was bigger than this year, but a good size. 

I felt this year was the most unorganized conference I have been to. The cevent app at the previous 2 BPcons was better than the plethora of means to get information. Also the email distribution was flawed. My wife was getting emails that I was not and vice versa. I attended the highest signed up Sunday workshop. Only a dozen or so made it to the workshop which was without doing the math around 15% of those who had paid for it. It was nice to have a virtually private workshop with 3 experts, but I am certain most people who paid wanted to attend. I suspect poor communication was a reason that such a low percentage of people who paid $300 atrended (in San Diego I attended the STR workshop and room was full - this syndication workshop we sat around one table).

I have heard Codie present and she is as good as you indicate but not an RE person. one of her lines is something like there are a lot of millionaire RE investors but not a lot of billionaire RE investors and I want to be a billionaire.  Lauren predictions per her data make her worth listening to but 1) again not a RE expert 2) was significantly more entertaining and funny when she presented at pervious BPCon (I think it was BPCon2022 in San Diego).  I really have enjoyed @david Greene  keynotes in the past (his market is similar to mine so we have similar mindset) but I suspect that may not happen again (he was at the BPCon).  I would like at least a majority of the keynote presenters to be RE related presenters.

I got more from the scheduled targeted guided networking events than I expected, but these are usually additional subject presentations. Not sure of my preference   Just different.

No one can predict storms, but if you schedule in hurricane season you have better chance of hurricane than if you schedule outside hurricane season.  Also while BP pivoted well, the restaurants could not.  The restaurant I initially went to was accepting no walk ups.  Of course when an event was planned with food, why would I make a reservation?  When they cancelled the BP social event, combined with the resort closing early (9pm) to get employees home safely (both understandable) it created restaurant impacts.

I had two different somewhat severe room issues. One they fixed (AC not working), the other they got to a barely acceptable state (hot water and pressure).

My favorite part related to the conference was on shuttle to the airport. @Scott Trench introduced himself to my wife as Scott a BP employee (was he trying to be modest or be incognito). She did not recognize him.   In fairness to her, he was not looking like CEO material. I was back a few rows in the shuttle and she asked me if I knew Scott who worked at BP.   I said he more than works at BP (I did not say he was CEO).  That is when 2 others recognized him; he may have gone incognito if wife had not asked if I knew Scott who worked at BP.  He thanked me for my bp contributions as he exited the shuttle.  all my interactions with Scott have been positive (forums and in person).

Final item is as is traditional they announced location of next BPCon after final keynote.  BPCon2025 is in Las Vegas (@jay Hinrichs). Jay has advocated for Vegas.   It certainly is a destination.

It may seem like this post has a lot of complaint but this was my favorite BPCon.  I really liked the smaller size.  I liked the targeted networking sessions.  I fear Las Vegas will be similar to the size or BP2023 in Orlando.  Wife has already indicated that she may not attend.

I really recommend everyone working RE or wanting to work RE should attend at least one BPCon.   They are motivational, informative, crazy networking opportunity, and fun.

I plan to be at BPCon2025.  It is 5 or 6 hour drive from my house.  Hope to see some of you there. 

well it helps that I have a home there LOL.. so it will be my first one.. Looking forward to it.
Scott is a hands on down to earth CEO I really like him.