Navigating the Columbus, GA real estate market shouldn’t mean going it alone. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just starting your journey toward building wealth through property, connecting with local professionals and fellow investors can accelerate your success. While traditional real estate investing requires significant capital and hands-on management, platforms like Ark7 have revolutionized access by allowing you to invest in rental homes share by share, starting from just $20. Before diving into investments, attending local events provides invaluable market insights, networking opportunities, and education to inform your strategy.
New to passive real estate investing?
Explore Ark7 Opportunities1. Columbus Spring Home Expo
Date: April 24-26, 2026
Venue: Columbus Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: Free admission
The Columbus Spring Home Expo brings together over 100 vendors across real estate, construction, home improvement, and design industries. This major event offers direct access to local contractors, remodelers, and real estate professionals who can help you evaluate and improve investment properties.
What Makes It Valuable for Investors:
- Face-to-face meetings with property improvement vendors crucial for rental property maintenance
- Opportunity to compare renovation costs and quality across multiple contractors
- Access to real estate professionals familiar with the Columbus market
- Educational seminars on home buying, renovation, and property management
For investors considering physical property ownership, this expo provides essential connections. However, those seeking a more passive approach might explore Ark7’s rental properties, which offer professional management and monthly cash distributions without the hassle of contractor coordination.
2. Columbus Fall Home Expo
Date: November 14-16, 2025
Venue: Columbus Convention and Trade Center, 801 Front Ave, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: Free admission
The biannual counterpart to the spring event, the Columbus Fall Home Expo features similar vendors and opportunities but with seasonal timing that aligns with year-end investment planning. Many investors use this event to prepare properties for the following year’s rental season.
Investor Benefits:
- End-of-year networking with property service providers
- Seasonal promotions from contractors and vendors
- Market trend discussions with local real estate professionals
- Opportunity to plan renovations during winter months when contractor availability may be higher
Like its spring counterpart, this expo connects you with the operational side of real estate investing. For those seeking to bypass these operational complexities entirely, Ark7’s professionally managed properties handle all maintenance, tenanting, and property management responsibilities.
3. Greater Columbus Apartment Association (GCAA) Vendor Trade Show – Casino Night
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 5:30pm – 8:00pm
Venue: Midland Common Lifestyle, 6801 Midland Commons Boulevard, Columbus, GA 31909
Cost: Registration required
This specialized event caters specifically to multifamily housing professionals, representing over 20,000 apartment units across Columbus, LaGrange, Albany GA, and Phenix City/Smiths Station AL. With 115+ apartment locations and 50+ vendor members, it’s the premier networking opportunity for multifamily investors.
What Sets It Apart:
- Focused exclusively on multifamily property operations
- Direct access to property management solutions
- Vendor connections specifically for rental property operations
- Casino Night theme creates a relaxed networking environment
For investors interested in the multifamily sector, this event provides targeted insights. Alternatively, those seeking fractional ownership in single-family rentals can explore Ark7’s property shares, which offer similar passive income benefits without the operational responsibilities.
4. Real Estate Investors Training
Date: Multiple dates throughout 2025 (including April 12, January 24, and ongoing Saturday sessions)
Format: Virtual and In-Person Options
Cost: Free to low-cost registration
This recurring educational series teaches core real estate investing strategies, including tax advantages, deal structuring, and passive income creation. Sessions cover how to complete your first deal within 12-24 weeks and increase ROI up to 5x current success rates.
Key Learning Topics:
- Tax strategies: Paying 2/3 less in taxes through strategic real estate investments
- Investment for lifestyle enhancement, not just retirement
- Creative deal-making and transactional engineering
- Passive income and long-term wealth creation
While this training focuses on active investing strategies, many attendees discover that fractional platforms like Ark7 offer a complementary approach—allowing them to implement passive strategies alongside their active investments.
5. Columbus Investors Club Monthly Meetups
Frequency: Monthly in-person networking events
Recent Example: September 25, 2025
Venue: Ohio Brewing Company and other Columbus locations (varies)
Cost: Free (registration required via Meetup)
This monthly gathering brings together real estate investors, realtors, wholesalers, contractors, and vendors for networking and education. Topics range from deal-making and funding strategies to market trends and wholesaling techniques.
Why Attend:
- Local deal sourcing opportunities
- Partnership development with other investors
- Funding connections with private lenders
- Market intelligence from active local investors
For those building their Columbus investment network, these meetups are invaluable. Newcomers often discover that while networking provides deal flow, platforms like Ark7 offer immediate access to vetted properties without waiting for the right connection.
6. Columbus Board of Realtors (CBOR) Professional Development Events
Frequency: Ongoing seminars throughout 2025
Venue: Columbus Board of Realtors Office, 2512 Warm Springs Rd, Columbus, GA 31904
Cost: Varies by event (member discounts available)
CBOR offers GREC-approved continuing education seminars, certification courses, and networking opportunities for licensed professionals. Their ongoing seminars focus on practical, compliance-driven education for real estate professionals.
Program Offerings:
- 6-hour CE courses like “You Can’t Fix Stupid”
- Certification programs for specialized expertise
- Networking luncheons and annual awards banquets
- Community outreach programs
While primarily serving licensed agents, these events provide investors with insights into contract standards and market practices. Understanding these professional standards helps investors evaluate whether to pursue direct ownership or leverage platforms like Ark7 that handle all legal and compliance requirements.
7. NeighborWorks Columbus Homebuyer Education Workshops
Format: Online self-paced + potential in-person sessions
Address: 345 6th Street, Columbus, GA 31901
Cost: $50 for eHome America online course
As the only HUD-approved homebuyer education provider in the Columbus area, NeighborWorks offers certification required for down payment assistance programs. Their curriculum covers budgeting, credit, mortgage options, and home maintenance.
Program Benefits:
- HUD-approved certification valid for 12 months
- Required for Sweet Home Columbus program participants
- Serves Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, and Muscogee counties
- Down payment assistance program information
While focused on owner-occupants, these workshops provide valuable market context for investors. Understanding buyer education requirements helps investors evaluate the potential buyer pool for future property sales, complementing long-term strategies like those offered through Ark7’s buy-and-hold properties.
8. Keller Williams Realty River Cities Career & Training Events
Recent Event: “Real Estate Unlocked: The Keys to a New Career” – November 11, 2025
Venue: Keller Williams Realty River Cities, Columbus, GA
Cost: Free pre-licensing training through KSCORE program
Keller Williams offers comprehensive training for aspiring agents, including their KSCORE® program providing free 100% digital pre-licensing curriculum. Their December 2025 sessions continue this educational focus with multiple training opportunities.
Training Components:
- Free state-approved pre-licensing education via Kaplan
- KW Prep®: 17-module career coaching program
- Post-licensing business fundamentals training
- Command training sessions for business systems
For investors considering obtaining their real estate license, these programs provide a clear pathway. However, many discover that fractional investing through Ark7 allows them to participate in real estate without the time commitment and regulatory requirements of licensure.
9. Columbus State University Real Estate Pre-Licensing Course
Course Dates: January 26 – April 27, 2026 (Monday/Thursday 6:00pm-9:15pm)
Format: In-person classes
Address: Columbus State University, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907
Cost: Course fees apply
This 75-hour intensive course prepares students for the Georgia Real Estate Salesperson exam. The university also offers exam proctoring services for $60, providing a complete pathway from education to licensing.
Program Features:
- State-approved 75-hour pre-licensing curriculum
- Real estate exam proctoring services
- Continuing education courses (subject to availability)
- Both computer-based and paper-based exam options
For serious students pursuing licensure, this university program provides academic rigor. However, investors seeking immediate market participation without the 75-hour commitment might prefer Ark7’s accessible platform, which requires no specialized education to begin investing.
10. Georgia Association of Realtors (GAR) Member Connect Summit – Albany
Date: April 24, 2025
Location: Albany, GA (approximately 90 miles from Columbus)
Cost: Registration fees apply
This regional networking and education summit connects real estate professionals across Southwest Georgia. While located in Albany, it’s the nearest GAR event to Columbus, making it accessible for local investors willing to travel.
Event Highlights:
- Regional networking with Southwest Georgia professionals
- Market insights specific to the region
- Professional development sessions
- Legislative updates affecting real estate
Columbus investors benefit from this broader regional perspective, especially when evaluating market trends that might affect their investments. For those preferring to focus exclusively on Columbus opportunities, Ark7’s property listings include detailed local market analysis for each investment.
11. HousingClub: PropTech & Construction Networking
Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2025, 5:00pm EDT
Format: Virtual Event
Cost: Registration via Eventbrite
This virtual networking event focuses on property technology and construction innovations, connecting professionals across these forward-looking sectors.
Discussion Topics:
- Property technology solutions for management
- Construction innovations affecting investment properties
- Future-focused real estate technology trends
- Industry networking in a digital format
The virtual format makes this event accessible to all Columbus investors, regardless of schedule constraints. Many discover that while PropTech promises operational improvements, platforms like Ark7 have already integrated these technologies into their end-to-end property management systems.
12. Georgia Real Estate Investors Association (GaREIA) Events
Primary Location: Atlanta, GA (approximately 100 miles from Columbus)
Frequency: Quarterly “Big Meetings,” monthly Saturday Investors sessions
As Georgia’s largest real estate investor association, GaREIA offers high-level networking, education, and deal sourcing opportunities. Their quarterly meetings attract hundreds of attendees, while monthly Saturday sessions feature hands-on rehab project tours.
Association Benefits:
- Georgia’s largest investor network
- Quarterly “Big Meetings” with hundreds of attendees
- Hands-on rehab project tours (2nd Saturday monthly)
- Commercial and multifamily investor subgroups
While primarily Atlanta-based, these events are accessible to dedicated Columbus investors. However, many find that Ark7’s transparent platform provides similar networking benefits through investor communities and detailed property information, without the travel requirements.
Making the Right Choice for Columbus Investors
When evaluating which events to attend, consider your investment goals and experience level:
For New Investors: Start with the free Real Estate Investors Training sessions and Columbus Investors Club meetups to build foundational knowledge and local connections.
For Experienced Investors: The GCAA Trade Show and GaREIA events offer advanced networking and deal sourcing opportunities worth the travel investment.
For Passive Investors: While all events provide valuable market insights, platforms like Ark7 complement event attendance by providing immediate investment opportunities that implement the strategies discussed at these gatherings.
The Columbus Advantage: Why Events Matter
Columbus, GA’s real estate market benefits from strong multifamily presence, with the GCAA representing 20,000+ apartment units across the region. This creates significant investment opportunities, but also highlights the operational complexity of direct ownership.
Modern fractional platforms like Ark7 address this complexity by offering professionally managed properties with transparent operations. While Columbus events provide essential market intelligence, they often reveal that many investors lack the time or expertise for hands-on management—making passive alternatives increasingly attractive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of real estate events are typically held in Columbus, GA?
Columbus offers diverse real estate events including trade shows like the Columbus Spring Home Expo, investor networking through the Columbus Investors Club, professional development via the Columbus Board of Realtors, and specialized gatherings like the GCAA Vendor Trade Show. These events serve different segments of the real estate community, from active investors to licensed professionals.
How can attending real estate networking events benefit my investment portfolio?
Networking events provide local deal sourcing opportunities, partnership development with other investors, funding connections with private lenders, and market intelligence from active local investors. The Columbus Investors Club specifically facilitates these connections through monthly gatherings. For those seeking immediate investment opportunities without waiting for networking results, Ark7’s platform offers instant access to vetted properties.
Are there events in Columbus, GA, for beginners interested in real estate investing?
Yes, the recurring Real Estate Investors Training sessions specifically target new investors, teaching fundamental strategies including tax advantages and deal structuring. The Columbus Investors Club also welcomes beginners alongside experienced investors. For those preferring to start investing immediately while learning, Ark7’s fractional shares require minimal initial knowledge and provide hands-on experience with real estate investing.
What are the benefits of fractional real estate investing compared to traditional methods?
Fractional investing through platforms like Ark7 offers several advantages: lower capital requirements (starting from $20), professional property management eliminating landlord responsibilities, monthly cash distributions, and portfolio diversification across multiple properties. Traditional ownership requires significant capital, hands-on management, and concentrates risk in single properties. Columbus events often highlight these operational challenges, making fractional alternatives increasingly attractive to attendees.
How can I stay updated on upcoming real estate events in the Columbus area?
Monitor the websites of key organizations including the Columbus Board of Realtors, Greater Columbus Apartment Association, and NeighborWorks Columbus. Join the Columbus Investors Club on Meetup for monthly event notifications. Eventbrite also lists recurring investor training sessions. For those preferring digital investment updates, Ark7’s mobile app provides real-time property and market information.