On Monday we have a conference that is a few hours long so we go to that and expenses we have for us on that day are deductible but not the ones for our kids.  

Join local real estate investment groups, attend industry conferences, and seek out mentors with extensive experience in foreclosure properties.

It was fantastic for networkingI don’t know for sure, but it seems like at around the same time that BiggerPockets started hosting its own conferences and advertising boot camps and such that it became harder and harder to find where on the website that you could find local meetups.This morning I searched the website to try to find where local meetups were posted on the website and it took me between 5 and 10 minutes to find it.

Here are some markets to consider, along with some general advice on how to connect with people in these areas:Promising Markets in TennesseeChattanoogaKnoxvilleMemphisClarksvilleJohnson CityKingsportClevelandCookevilleJacksonFranklinConnecting with Local Investors and ProfessionalsJoin Local Real Estate Investment Groups: Look for local REI meetups or groups on platforms like Meetup.com and BiggerPockets.Attend Real Estate Conferences and Seminars: Events like the Tennessee Apartment Association's annual conference or local real estate expos can be valuable for networking.Contact Local Real Estate Agents and Brokers: Reach out to agents and brokers who specialize in multifamily properties in your target markets.

Do you go to conferences, yes, but when I see their ads for their courses, books etc. to me that is a HUGE red flag.

Don't focus on how you'll behave during an after-game press conference as a WNBA star when you haven't even played your first pickup game.Buy a property, learn how to manage it well, and see if this is the right investment vehicle for you.

@Marco Santarelli I may be able to miss a part of the Conference that weekend and come up.Sunday works best for us, so long as it is after 2pm.Saturday could also work if it was in the morning or evening, but not the afternoon.As for location... preferably something in the South end but I do not know Calgary well enough to name anything besides Tim Horton's.

If they are hosting quarterly conferences to bring in new clients and running ads constantly for their educational course, they have likely learned that the education world is far more lucrative then they were able to be in real estate.  

@Sharma ParthThe best way to find mentors in your area is to attend local meetups and conferences.

Every time I go to a conference, more people are wanting to know more about what I know.