If there’s one thing that’s consistently pushed your real estate career forward, from expanding your network to tightening your systems, it’s been conferences.
You’ve probably walked into an event thinking you’d just pick up a few tips… and walked out with game-changing strategies, lasting friendships, and career-defining opportunities. Sometimes, one session or conversation is all it takes to shift everything.
In this episode of the podcast, you sat down with longtime friend and real estate events pro Ricardo Bueno to unpack why conferences matter more than ever, and how you can use them to level up your business.
Table of Contents
How Ricardo Went from Loan Officer to Conference Architect
Ricardo’s story starts in the lending world. As a loan officer trying to build agent relationships, he took an unconventional approach: blogging. He wrote two to four posts a week about mortgage rates, market conditions, and the economic calendar, years before that kind of content strategy was popular.
One of his blog posts got the attention of the National Association of Realtors, which invited him to speak at an event. That opportunity opened the door to a whole new world: real estate tech, training, and event production.
Over the next 15 years, Ricardo worked with companies like Real Estate Tomato, Endeavor Solutions, and West at WFG Title, always focused on helping agents build digital presence and brand authority. Eventually, he joined Follow Up Boss as the face of their events and customer education strategy, which led to the launch of FubCon, one of the most highly anticipated events in the industry.
How FubCon Became a Must-Attend Event
FubCon wasn’t about profit. As Ricardo says, “You don’t make money at these events. They’re loss leaders.” The real return was in brand equity and customer loyalty.
The first FubCon was pulled off in just 15 weeks. The theme was Mastery, and everything from the sessions to the speakers reflected that. There was no fluff. Just clear, tactical takeaways from top producers and operators. It set a new bar for what a real estate conference could be.
We talked about the importance of creating FOMO, a reason for people to say, “I can’t miss this.” FubCon did exactly that. It wasn’t just another tech vendor event. It was an experience, a reunion of top minds who were generous, energized, and execution-focused.
What Makes a Real Estate Conference Worth It
There are hundreds of events out there. So, how do you decide which ones are worth your time (and budget)? Ricardo and I broke it down into a few key factors:
Tactical vs. Conceptual
Some events are great for big-picture inspiration. Others give you step-by-step strategies you can implement right away. Look for events that fit your current stage — whether that’s building your brand, scaling your team, or tightening your systems.
Who’s in the Room
The real magic often happens between sessions. I’ve learned just as much — if not more — from hallway conversations and dinner meetups than from any keynote. That’s why I love events where I can connect with people outside my local market. They’re not my competitors, so they’re more willing to share openly.
Be Intentional
Ricardo recommends reaching out to five people before the event and scheduling a meetup. It turns passive attendance into a purposeful connection. Every time I’ve done this, I’ve left the event with actual relationships, not just business cards.
Make Sure You Execute After the Event
We all know the feeling, you leave a conference buzzing with ideas, only to get swallowed up by daily life back home.
That’s why it’s so important to debrief right away:
- Review your notes and pick 3–5 key takeaways
- Meet with your team and delegate ideas
- Find someone to hold you accountable for implementation
You won’t be able to do everything. But even executing one thing well can change the trajectory of your business.
Ricardo’s New Chapter: Building Events That Drive Results
Ricardo recently launched his own event company, where he partners with real estate teams, brokerages, and tech companies to create high-impact, content-rich experiences.
He’s currently producing:
- Conversion Clinics with Real Geeks
- The Video Blueprint with Katie Day and Tim Macy
- Private masterminds and retreats for real estate companies
Every event he creates focuses on actionable value, not just theory. From marketing to CRM setup to lead conversion, it’s all about helping agents actually implement the tools they’re paying for.
Conferences We Recommend
Here are some of the top events I’ve attended (or plan to):
| Event | Why It’s Great |
|---|---|
| FubCon | Tactical, community-first, and extremely well produced. Hoping it returns soon. |
| Ylopo Summit | Focused on lead gen, follow-up, and operational growth. |
| Inman Connect | Best for national-level networking and future trends. |
| 1000WATT | Smaller, brand-focused, and thoughtfully curated. |
| RealtyHack Summit | Our own event returns in January 2026, stay tuned. |
If you’re new to the scene, start by choosing one national event and one local or niche event. That’s often enough to move the needle, without overwhelming yourself.
Your Next Move Starts with Showing Up
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you step into the room.
Some of your biggest breakthroughs come from just being present — listening to someone a few steps ahead of you, getting honest about what’s not working, or hearing a speaker put words to the exact problem you’ve been stuck on for months.
That’s the magic of a great conference. It’s not just the playbooks you take home. It’s the clarity, the confidence, and the connections that remind you: you’re not doing this alone.
Pick the event that feels aligned with where you want to go.
Block the time. Buy the flight. Start the conversation.
Because momentum doesn’t come from more planning, it comes from action.
🎧 Want to Learn More? Listen to the Full Podcast Episode
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why attending the right real estate conference can fast-track your growth
- How to maximize every event, from networking to note-taking
- What goes into curating powerful conference content and experiences
- The real ROI behind events (and why they’re rarely about profit)
- How to be intentional with mentorship, accountability, and follow-through
🎙️ Tune in now to learn how Ricardo is helping agents, teams, and brands turn live events into career-defining moments, and how you can show up with purpose, connect with the right people, and grow faster by investing in the right rooms.
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