Back in the old days when when smart phones were so dumb they only had one camera and most tablets required a pencil instead of a battery, a different kind of event debuted in San Francisco. July 2008 marked the very first, Real Estate Barcamp or reBarcamp.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, I suggest starting at the barcamp.org web site, and while it’s in need of an update and a little TLC, rebarcamp.com can give you some insight as well. Since that first event in ’08, hundreds of rebc’s have taken place in markets of all sizes and in some cases, internationally.

Andy Kaufmann, an awesome re professional in the SF bay area came up with the idea to put a real estate angle to the idea of “user generated” conferences. A great group of people rallied around Andy to organize, including your’s truly. It was an out of the park homer. It was so much fun watching people mill around before the event. Most had confused looks of concern that perhaps they were in the wrong place. They asked one another questions and posited what it was they were about to experience. At the end of the day they were very different people. Energized, empowered with shared ideas and the feeling of accomplishment that comes with breaking out of your comfort zone and sharing with others. Ready to take on all comers.

One of the biggest perception issues with reBarcamp is the notion that they are technology events that speak to nothing but the latest and greatest thing that buzzes, whirs or beeps. The topics discussed at the events vary considerably. A good example of that variety came in the form of a real estate consumer that showed up at the 2nd event in Houston. He read about, understood the concept and felt compelled to share some unique insight to financing that many of the mortgage professionals in attendance were unaware of.

Literally or figuratively, the agenda for reBarcamp isn’t owned by anyone and that’s as it should be. The downside to that has allowed some events to be nothing more than table top trade shows with traditional conference sessions. In some cases the brand was just hijacked to create events with paid attendance and expensive sponsorships.

By and large, reBarcamps are a big success for the local organizers, companies and attendees that take the time to do it right. Tell us about your experiences with REBC.