The value of networking: What real estate professionals want from industry events

A packed agenda, a room full of industry leaders, and a calendar of meetings. But what really makes an industry event worth attending?

For real estate professionals, conferences offer more than a chance to catch up on market trends. They provide opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships, and discover new business opportunities. With time away from the office and travel costs to consider, however, attendees want to know they're getting something meaningful in return.

With eight IMN events taking place in October, we asked our LinkedIn community what they value most about attending industry events. The results revealed a clear preference for networking experiences, prompting a closer look at what makes conferences worthwhile.

What do attendees value most?

We asked our LinkedIn audience: What makes an IMN event worth it for you?

Unique networking experiences came out on top, with 64% of respondents choosing this option. Back-to-back meetings followed at 29%, while 7% selected exclusive panel speakers. No respondents chose making the next deal as their top priority.

The results suggest attendees value the opportunities around an event as much as the formal agenda. But what makes these experiences so valuable, and how can professionals get more out of their next conference?

Networking: The value of connecting beyond the conference floor

With almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents choosing unique networking experiences, the results highlight the importance of creating opportunities to connect beyond scheduled sessions.

In real estate, relationships can play a significant role in identifying investment opportunities, finding business partners and understanding different corners of the market. Yet building those relationships takes time. Informal conversations give professionals the chance to exchange perspectives, establish trust and discover shared interests without the pressure of a formal meeting.

The setting can make a difference, too. Networking receptions, off-site activities and smaller group discussions offer alternatives to traditional conference formats, creating opportunities for more natural conversations.

IMN's Real Estate Private Funds Summer offers opportunities to connect through its sailing excursion, welcome reception, and waterfront lobster clambake, giving attendees time to get to know fellow real estate professionals outside the conference room.

The benefits extend beyond immediate business opportunities. A conversation with someone facing a similar challenge or working in a different market can offer a fresh perspective that proves useful long after the event.

Making meetings count: Quality over quantity

Next up, 29% decided to prioritize back-to-back meetings. This highlights a different side of networking: making connections with a clear purpose.

For professionals attending an event with specific business objectives, preparation can make a significant difference. Identifying relevant contacts, researching companies, and arranging meetings in advance can help ensure that time away from the office is productive.

Events such as Single Family Rental West bring together investors, owners, operators, homebuilders and service providers from across the single-family rental sector. For attendees, this creates opportunities to meet people who understand their market and may share their business priorities.

However, a full calendar doesn't necessarily translate into a successful event. Scheduling too many meetings can leave little room to explore an unexpected opportunity or continue a promising conversation. The real value lies in identifying the right people to meet and giving those conversations time to develop.

Setting clear objectives, leaving space between meetings, and following up afterward can help turn brief introductions into lasting professional relationships.

Expert speakers: Turning insight into action

Although exclusive panel speakers received 7% of the vote, expert insight remains an important part of the conference experience.

Real estate professionals operate in markets shaped by changing financing conditions, investment strategies, regulations, and operating costs. Hearing directly from experienced industry leaders can provide context, challenge assumptions, and reveal how businesses are responding to emerging challenges.

Across IMN, events cover a broad range of topics and bring together leaders with first-hand experience of the market. At Build-to-Rent Spring, speakers have included Sheryl Palmer, CEO of Taylor Morrison, bringing a senior homebuilding perspective to discussions about the future of rental housing. Meanwhile, SFR/BTR Property Management has featured Patrick J. Anderson, Head of Asset Management at Arrived, and Chris Clothier, Partner and CEO of REI Nation, sharing perspectives on investment, property operations, and portfolio growth.

For attendees, these discussions offer the chance to learn from professionals navigating the same market challenges, gain fresh perspectives, and identify ideas to take back to their own businesses. They also provide common ground for conversations with other delegates, helping turn a useful session into a broader exchange of ideas.

The value of a speaker session doesn't end when the presentation finishes. An insight can inform a decision weeks later, while a question raised during a panel might lead to a valuable conversation during the next networking break.

Making the next deal: Why outcomes take time

Perhaps the most surprising result was that 0% of respondents selected making the next deal as their top priority. In an industry where investment, capital raising and transactions are central to many business strategies, this might initially seem counterintuitive.

However, the poll asked participants to identify their single top priority, not everything they hoped to achieve. The result doesn't mean deal-making is unimportant. Instead, it raises an interesting question about the steps that lead to a successful business outcome.

A deal rarely begins and ends with one conversation. It may start with an introduction, develop through several meetings and depend on building trust before both parties are ready to move forward.

Not every conversation will lead to an immediate transaction, and that doesn't make it unsuccessful. A new contact may become relevant months later, while a discussion that offers a different perspective can help inform future decisions.

What makes an industry event worth attending?

The October poll offers a useful snapshot of what our LinkedIn community values most. With 64% prioritizing unique networking experiences and 29% choosing back-to-back meetings, the results highlight the importance of meaningful connections. Expert speakers provide another source of insight, while business opportunities can emerge from the relationships developed along the way.

Ultimately, the most worthwhile events bring these elements together. They offer access to relevant expertise, create opportunities to meet people with shared interests, and leave room for conversations to develop naturally.

For attendees, getting the most from that experience means arriving with clear objectives, remaining open to unexpected connections and making time to follow up afterward.

The value of an industry event isn't measured by how full your calendar is, but by what you learn, who you meet and what those connections make possible long after the event ends.

Where to make your next connection

Mortgage Servicing Rights Fall | November 2–4, 2026 | New York, NY

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Residential Ground-Up Construction Fall | November 19–20, 2026 | Atlanta, GA

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Single Family Rental West | December 7–9, 2026 | Scottsdale, AZ

Winter Real Estate Private Funds | January 20–22, 2027 | Laguna Beach, CA