Real Estate Meetups: Worth Your Time?

'Honey, I'll be a couple of hours late tonight, I'm going to a real estate meetup.'

'What the heck is a real estate meetup?' was my lovely bride's response.

Good question. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a meetup is 'an informal meeting or gathering.'

It would stand to reason then that a real estate meetup is an informal gathering of people interested in real estate.

Easy enough. Real estate agents are (in theory at least) interested in real estate — and interested in people that are interested in real estate. As in prospects and potential clients, the very people you want to add to your sphere of influence.

It's a networking thing. A group of people with a common interest get together and talk about that interest. Real estate meetup groups range from niche subjects like rehabbing and flipping to broader subjects such as real estate investing. There are even meetups on how to buy and sell a home.

Benefits of attending

When presented with an opportunity to meet and get to know people, real estate agents tend to focus on the bottom line — clients and commission checks. That's understandable, and it's definitely a possible outcome. But direct business is not the only reason to attend a real estate meetup.

Meetups are terrific learning and sharing opportunities. When you share what you know without having a sales agenda, you come across as genuine and helpful. People like those who are genuine and helpful. And you know what often happens as a result? They'll want to do business with you, and they'll refer others to you as well.

Think about that.

How to find a meetup

The definitive website for locating, and starting, meetups is meetup.com. Enter 'real estate' in the search box and see what comes up for your area. You might be surprised by how many established real estate meetups there are. For example, there are 51 real estate meetups within 25 miles of Seattle.

Don't see a real estate meetup in your area? Start one! Just click Start a Meetup Group in the top menu bar and follow the directions. There is a small monthly fee to start a meetup; it's how Meetup makes its money. Think of the fee as an opportunity to network — find someone to sponsor your meetup.

Important: Before you attend an established meetup for the first time, be sure to read the meetup description. Some real estate meetup groups don't allow real estate agents to join. Why? Probably because they don't want to get the hard sell. Don't say, 'but I'm different!' It doesn't matter. Just find a meetup where you will be welcome.

Make connections

No matter what type of meetup group you join, avoid the hard sell. Attend regularly, get to know the people there and offer to help in a way that doesn't come across sales-y. Over time, and likely not that much time, you'll win the favor of those in the group. Members will get to know you and see that you're a professional who knows your stuff. Building a connection based on trust and mutual respect can lead to a long-term business relationship. Meetup members will naturally go to you when they are ready.

Are they worth your time?

If you enjoy meeting new people, learning new things and sharing what you know with others, then yes, I'd say real estate meetups are well worth your time. If the only reason you attend is the potential for a commission check, then probably not.

Join a meetup to meet people, learn and share. Business can come from that. In fact, it usually does.