After a few sunny days in San Diego, one thing was clear: Inman Connect wasn’t just another conference, it was a reset.
San Diego Made Everything Better
The coastal breeze, the walkability, and the laid-back energy all made this one of the most approachable events we’ve been part of. Conversations didn’t feel scheduled, they found you.
Between panel sessions and street tacos, there was space to talk, to think, and to listen. Even the tsunami warning couldn’t shake the vibe. (It didn’t happen, but we were all ready to float.)
Add in concerts from Beck on the water and Teddy Swims at the ballpark, plus a home stand for the Padres, and it was like someone planned a music festival inside a real estate summit.
Collaboration Was Everywhere
Across sessions and sidebars, the theme was: How can we help each other?
AI talks weren’t obsessed with the future, but on what’s useful today. Broker leaders weren’t defending their turf, they were sharing their playbooks. Even the M&A chatter had less to do with dollars and more to do with fit.
What are you working on? What’s next? Where could we team up?
Less theater, more campfire.
Positivity is Pushing Past the Drama
There’s been a lot of noise in the industry lately with lawsuits, finger-pointing, and policy shifts. But in San Diego, there was a noticeable effort to rise above it.
We’ve got real challenges. But also real tools, real people, and real momentum. Optimism wasn’t naive. It was earned. And it felt like a room full of people hoping for the same thing. Let’s build what’s next, together.
Vibe Conferencing
We didn’t leave fired up by one specific session or speaker or stat. We were fired up by the vibe.
Real estate is still a people business. And when the people show up with curiosity and a willingness to collaborate, the future starts to feel not just possible, but exciting.
Rick Rubin said that when artists are in flow, his job isn’t to add anything, it’s to remove what’s in the way of their true expression. That’s what this felt like. The best moments in San Diego weren’t forced or polished, they were unblocked. It was great to see Brad Inman present and in the mix too.
Let’s keep creating space for the good stuff to happen.
RetroRate helps agents, buyers, and sellers unlock the power of assumable loans and make homeownership more affordable today.
By Greg Fischer
Head of Growth
20yrs of startup grit, enterprise tech, and real estate brokerage. Navy Veteran.
Greg Fischer on LinkedIn
