For real estate investors seeking to expand their knowledge and network in the Pacific Northwest, Tacoma offers a vibrant calendar of events throughout 2025. Whether you’re exploring traditional property acquisition or considering innovative approaches like fractional real estate investment through platforms like Ark7, the city’s diverse event landscape provides valuable opportunities to connect with industry professionals and stay informed about market trends. From investor education meetups to high-level commercial real estate conferences, Tacoma’s real estate community actively supports both newcomers and seasoned professionals.
New to passive real estate investing?
Explore Ark7 Opportunities1. Tacoma REIA (Real Estate Investors Association)
As one of the most active investor education groups in the region, Tacoma REIA meets bi-monthly to provide valuable insights for real estate investors at all experience levels.
Meeting Schedule and Location:
- When: Third Thursday of every other month, with a holiday break from mid-November to January
- Where: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Tacoma, view meeting location (1425 E 27th St, Tacoma, WA 98445)
- Cost: Free for members; guests pay $30-35
What Sets Them Apart:
Tacoma REIA follows a strict “no sales pitch” policy, creating a genuine learning environment focused on practical investment strategies. The organization is part of the larger REIA Washington network, which holds main meetings in Bellevue on the second Monday of each month.
Event Structure:
- First hour dedicated to networking
- Second hour features educational speakers and workshops
- Topics cover wholesaling, fix & flip, buy & hold strategies, creative financing, and negotiation
Membership Benefits:
- Annual membership costs $169 and includes access to classes
- Active discussion groups including Wholesalers Round Table, Commercial Deal Makers, and Master Mind Group
- Free carpools to Seattle-area events through member forums
For investors considering alternatives to traditional property acquisition, REIA events provide excellent opportunities to learn about various investment strategies, including how fractional ownership platforms like Ark7 can complement an investor’s portfolio with passive income from rental properties.
2. REAPS (Real Estate Association of Puget Sound) – Fife/Tacoma Events
REAPS represents Washington’s largest real estate investor association, established in 1983, with a strong presence in the Tacoma and Fife areas.
Meeting Details:
- Location: The Poodle Dog Ballroom, view venue details (1522 54th Ave East, Fife, WA 98424)
- Cost: Free for REAPS members; $30 pre-registered guests; $35 at door
- Frequency: Part of 50+ annual events across the Puget Sound region
Upcoming November 2025 Event:
- “Investor’s Design Hacks” on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
- Featured speakers include Joanne (certified mortgage planner) and Kristel Daugherty (real estate broker and Army veteran)
- Topics focus on creative deal structuring and design strategies for investment properties
What Makes REAPS Stand Out:
REAPS members automatically become National REIA members, expanding their networking potential beyond the local market. The organization offers a first meeting free with registration, making it accessible for newcomers to explore before committing to membership.
Event Coverage:
- Monthly meetings in Fife (Tacoma), Bellevue, Everett, Bremerton, and Bellingham
- Comprehensive topics including wholesaling, fix & flip, buy-and-hold, creative financing, lending, short-term rentals, and property management
- Active investor community testimonials like “Finally found my tribe” highlight the supportive environment
For investors interested in building wealth through real estate without the landlord responsibilities, REAPS events provide valuable context about market trends that can inform decisions about both traditional and fractional real estate investments.
3. NAIOPWA South Sound Events
NAIOP Washington State (Commercial Real Estate Development Association) hosts premium networking and educational events specifically for commercial real estate professionals in the South Sound region.
2025 Confirmed Events:
2025 Economic Forecast [South Sound]
- Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2025 (SOLD OUT)
- Venue: Tacoma Convention Center, event information (1500 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA 98402)
- Cost: $80 Members | $110 Non-members (individual)
- Keynote: Matthew Gardner, Principal, Gardner Economics
Sips by the Sound at Tacoma Yacht Club
- Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
- Time: 4:00 – 6:00 PM
- Venue: Tacoma Yacht Club, venue details (5401 Yacht Club Rd, Tacoma, WA 98407)
- Cost: $70 Members | $85 Non-Members | $40 Student Members
- Format: Summer evening networking in a relaxed waterfront setting
Industrial Market Luncheon [South Sound]
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Focus: South Sound industrial market trends and substantial networking
What Makes NAIOPWA Unique:
These events attract high-level commercial real estate decision-makers, including representatives from major firms like Kidder Mathews, Panattoni Development Company, and the Port of Tacoma. The Economic Forecast event features panels with industry leaders discussing market trends and economic projections.
Target Audience:
- Commercial real estate developers
- Investors
- Brokers
- Lenders
- Public officials
For accredited investors considering diversification through alternative assets, NAIOPWA events provide valuable insights into commercial real estate trends that can complement residential investments like those available through Ark7’s property shares.
4. Tacoma Rising Events
Tacoma Rising organizes distinctive commercial real estate and business networking events that blend professional development with engaging activities.
2025 Event Lineup:
The UWT Challenge 2025
- Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
- Location: William Phillip Hall, UWT Campus, event details (1918 Commerce St, Tacoma, WA 98402)
- Format: Fast-paced redevelopment workshop where interdisciplinary teams reimagine “The Swiss” building redevelopment
Golf Tournament 2025
- Date: September 11, 2025
- Venue: Oakbrook Golf Club
- Registration: Email stayconnected@tacomarising.com
- Features: Full day of golf, competitions, and a winners’ sunset cruise on Commencement Bay (September 26, 2025)
March Madness 2025 Networking Event
- Date: March 20, 2025
- Location: UrbanWork, registration information (950 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402)
- Activities: Pop-A-Shot competitions, golf challenges, raffles, and networking
What Sets Tacoma Rising Apart:
These events attract top landlords, developers, and business leaders in commercial real estate, creating an environment conducive to deal-making and partnership formation. The UWT Challenge uniquely combines academic rigor with real-world application, bringing together students and professionals to solve actual redevelopment challenges.
Sponsorship Ecosystem:
- Over 25 major sponsors including J Squared Investments, Chicago Title, and Bellevue Capital Group
- Events designed to facilitate meaningful connections rather than superficial networking
For investors seeking to understand the broader real estate ecosystem, Tacoma Rising events provide valuable context about development trends and market dynamics that can inform both traditional and fractional investment decisions.
5. UW Tacoma – Milgard Center for Financial Wellness
The University of Washington Tacoma’s Milgard Center for Financial Wellness offers free educational workshops focused on financial literacy and homeownership, making real estate education accessible to everyone.
2025 Homebuyer & Real Estate Events:
First-Time Homebuyers Workshop
- Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
- Time: 12:30 – 1:20 PM
- Format: Lunch & Learn
- Cost: FREE (open to UWT students, staff, and public with registration)
How to Buy Your First Home Workshop
- Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
- Co-host: Sound Credit Union
- Topics: Mortgage pre-approval, budgeting for down payments, and understanding the real estate process
“Build Financial Confidence” Series
- Instructor: Dan Wickens (author of “Healthy Dough”)
- Dates: Multiple sessions in November-December 2025
- Topics: Budgeting, financial literacy, and homeownership preparation
What Makes UWT’s Program Unique:
These free workshops provide foundational knowledge for prospective homeowners and investors alike. The Center for Financial Wellness offers hands-on learning opportunities and access to financial labs, creating an inclusive environment for financial education.
Target Audience:
- First-time homebuyers
- Young professionals
- Students
- Community members seeking financial literacy
For those considering real estate investment but lacking the capital for traditional property acquisition, UWT’s workshops provide valuable context about building financial foundations, which can include alternatives like Ark7 rental properties through platforms like Ark7.
6. Tacoma Urban League – First-Time Homebuyers Class
The Tacoma Urban League provides comprehensive homebuyer education and counseling services designed to make homeownership accessible to underserved communities.
Program Details:
- Location: program information (2550 S Yakima Ave, Tacoma, WA 98405)
- Contact: Jasmyn Jefferson – jasmyn@thetacomaurbanleague.org
- Cost: FREE
- Frequency: Monthly classes throughout 2025
First-Time Homebuyers Class Curriculum:
- Mortgage basics and pre-approval processes
- Down payment assistance programs
- Credit building and repair strategies
- Home search strategies and working with real estate professionals
Pathways to Homeownership Program:
- Education and counseling services
- Financial counseling
- Access to assistance programs
- Community support networks
What Sets the Tacoma Urban League Apart:
The organization employs HUD-certified housing counselors and real estate brokers certified to teach WA State Housing Finance Commission courses, ensuring participants receive accurate, up-to-date information. Their Pathways to Homeownership Program provides comprehensive support from initial education through successful home purchase.
Additional Services:
- Homeownership classes for current owners (monthly)
- Focus on equity building and wealth generation
- Estate planning education
For community members seeking to build wealth through real estate but facing traditional barriers to entry, the Tacoma Urban League’s programs provide essential education that can include awareness of alternative investment options like fractional real estate investing.
7. Tacoma Pierce County Association of REALTORS® (TPCAR)
TPCAR serves as the professional association for real estate agents and brokers in the Tacoma and Pierce County area, offering continuing education and networking opportunities.
2025 Key Events:
2026 Installation & Awards Gala
- Date: January 23, 2026
- Venue: Downtown Tacoma Marriott
- Purpose: Installation of 2025 Board and special award recognition
Washington REALTORS® Legislative Days
- Dates: January 29-30, 2025
- Venue: Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, WA
- Focus: Legislative advocacy for housing policy
2025 Fair Housing Conference – Beyond the Basics
- Date: April 2025
- Focus: Fair housing education and anti-discrimination compliance
What Makes TPCAR Unique:
As the local chapter of the National Association of REALTORS®, TPCAR provides essential continuing education for licensed professionals while also hosting events that address broader industry issues like fair housing and legislative advocacy.
Ongoing Programming:
- Monthly professional development events
- Continuing education (CE) sessions
- Industry panels and networking mixers
- Quarterly Peninsula Wildcard Meetings for members from Gig Harbor and Kitsap Peninsula
Target Audience:
- Licensed real estate agents and brokers
- REALTOR® affiliates
- Industry service providers
For investors working with real estate professionals, understanding the educational requirements and ethical standards maintained by organizations like TPCAR provides confidence in professional relationships and transaction integrity.
Making the Most of Tacoma’s Real Estate Events
When evaluating which events to attend, consider your investment goals and experience level:
For New Investors: Start with free or low-cost educational events like Tacoma REIA or REAPS meetings. These provide foundational knowledge without significant financial commitment.
For Commercial Real Estate Professionals: NAIOPWA South Sound events and Tacoma Rising gatherings offer high-level networking with industry decision-makers.
For First-Time Homebuyers: Free workshops through UW Tacoma and the Tacoma Urban League provide essential education about the homebuying process.
For Portfolio Diversification: Consider how both traditional and alternative real estate investments like Ark7’s rental property shares can complement each other in building long-term wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find real estate networking events in Tacoma?
The most active networking opportunities occur through Tacoma REIA (meeting bi-monthly) and REAPS (hosting 50+ events annually across Puget Sound). Both organizations welcome guests to initial meetings, with REAPS offering a first meeting free with registration.
Are there any professional development courses for real estate investors in Tacoma?
Yes, Tacoma REIA offers full-day classes including Wholesaling Class sessions and workshops on negotiation and seller financing. REAPS also provides comprehensive educational programming covering topics from property management topics.
What types of business events are relevant to the Tacoma real estate market?
NAIOPWA South Sound hosts premium commercial real estate events including the Economic Forecast and Industrial Market Luncheon. Tacoma Rising organizes unique events like the UWT Challenge redevelopment workshop and high-level networking through their annual Golf Tournament.
How often are major real estate conferences held in Tacoma?
While Tacoma doesn’t host massive annual conferences like some larger cities, it offers consistent programming throughout the year. Commercial real estate professionals can attend 6+ NAIOPWA South Sound events annually, while investors have access to 60+ educational opportunities through REIA and REAPS networks.
Can I learn about fractional real estate investing at Tacoma events?
While traditional fractional real estate investment platforms like Ark7 may not be specifically featured at most Tacoma events, the investor education provided through REIA and REAPS meetings offers valuable context about real estate markets and investment strategies that can inform decisions about both traditional and alternative real estate investments.
