It’s calling. Will you answer?

Escape the Hustle Trap, Reclaim Your Purpose & Join the One Room Where Clarity and Real Momentum Begin

Dealmaker Catalyst Conference, 2026 | Richmond, VA
(Honoring Leon Johnson — the heart behind this year’s theme)

It’s Time to Start Leveraging People Over Property

Because That’s What Community-Powered Wealth Looks Like

The last cycle taught us something ugly:

Too many investors were chasing doors, units, and deals at any cost.
They hustled, they borrowed, they stacked leverage on leverage—
And when the market shifted, that “success” turned into sleepless nights.

That’s the overleveraged hustle game.

And it’s killing peace, killing freedom, and killing dreams.

“With deflation in rent and the inflation of expenses, housing providers are being hit with a double whammy.”
 – Jeff Watson, Attorney, Mentor & Deal Maker


If you’ve felt that squeeze, you’re not alone.
But here’s the truth: you don’t have to play that game anymore.

At Deal Maker, we believe in a different playbook:


Quality over quantity.

Connection over isolation.

Building wealth without sacrificing your sanity.

“To be around the right people to help you through, is really almost everything.”
 – Dr. David Phelps, Economist, Mentor & Dealmaker

2026 is about radical intention.
It’s about designing a business that serves your life, not the other way around.

“How you do real estate matters.”
  – Leon Johnson, Mentor & Dealmaker


As one of our most trusted voices, Leon inspired this year’s theme and his message gets you to ask yourself:

“Why own 100 doors if the right handful of properties can give me security, cash flow, and the life I actually want?”

This is your moment to get out of the hustle trap, get clear on your “why,” and join a community that won’t let you burn out or go broke.

A Message From Your Host
Jim Ingersoll

The last few years were wild.
The market was so hot it bailed out bad deals and sloppy debt.

Those days are gone.

Now, the cracks are showing—and many investors are facing the hard truth that comes when the tide goes out.

But for those who pay attention, this isn’t a time to panic. It’s a time to pivot.

That’s why this year, I wanted to ground Deal Maker in the wisdom of one of our community’s most trusted mentors, Leon Johnson.

Leon built his entire business around a simple but powerful filter:

“Will this bring me more freedom and peace—or disrupt it?”

That one question changes everything.

It forces us to slow down. To lead with integrity in every deal—with sellers, lenders, and borrowers alike.


It also reminds us that no number of doors or dollars is worth the cost of missing moments with your family.

That’s why the Dealmaker Catalyst Conference 2026 is focused on intentional investing—the kind that builds both wealth and a life worth living.

Our keynote speaker, Eddie Wilson, embodies this perfectly.
 He owns thousands of doors and over 35 companies, yet the real story isn’t what he’s built—it’s how he built it.

Eddie’s entire philosophy centers on time as our most precious commodity. He’ll show you how to build a business that serves your life—not the other way around.

When we invest with purpose, freedom and peace we all win.

Not-To-Miss Sessions

Leon Johnson

Peace & Freedom Dealcraft: Seller Financing That Serves People (and Profits)


How to structure win-win owner-finance deals—from kitchen table to closing—without joining the over-leveraged hustle game.

When markets stop bailing out sloppy debt, only structure, integrity, and relationships remain. Leon shows how to replace “more doors at any cost” with better terms, safer deals, and lasting peace of mind—for you and your sellers.

What you’ll learn:

Mindset over mechanics: Shift from borrower (beggar) to buyer (problem-solver) so sellers want to finance you.

Where the deals hide: Spot imperfect-market tells (tired landlords, out-of-state owners, tax-delinquent, long-vacant, free-and-clear).

Kitchen-table questions that unlock “yes”: What to ask (and never say) to earn trust and design terms sellers love.

Structure that cash-flows: 30–40 year amortization, low fixed rates, no balloons (“balloons are for clowns”), substitution of collateral, ROFR on the note, non-recourse, no due-on-sale.

Tax-smart framing sellers understand: Plain-English use of Installment Sales (IRS Pub 537) and §121 to beat “take all-cash now.”

Second bites of the apple: How to turn one deal into multiple wins (advance-payment discounts, note tweaks, land/mobile home trades).


Perfect for:

Newer investors who want safe entry points, seasoned investors tired of lender hoops, and anyone ready to trade hustle for peace & freedom.

Wendy Coles

Hope & Resilience: Turning Storms into Strength (and Deals)
From teen mom and jail at 18 to buy-and-hold investor, lender, and global wheelchair mission volunteer (Chair the Love), Wendy’s story is a masterclass in grit. She’ll share how getting uncomfortable, finding community, and serving first became her unfair advantage—in real estate and life.

What you’ll learn:

A practical “Storm Protocol”: the 5 habits Wendy uses to stay calm, decisive, and cash-flow focused when life (or the market) hits hard.

How service and community (showing up, asking better questions, giving first) compound into real deal flow.

Mindset reframes for overleveraged times: move from panic to plan, from isolation to “in the room.”

Simple, repeatable actions to rebuild momentum in 30 days.


Peace & Freedom aren’t just outcomes—they’re skills. In a noisy market, resilience is the edge that safeguards your portfolio, your reputation, and your sanity.

“You don’t look like your goals—you look like your habits.” — Wendy Coles

Dr. Anthony Duncan

A.I. Agents & What’s Next: Emerging Trends Every Investor Should Know
From sourcing to underwriting to follow-up, A.I. “agents” are quietly reshaping how deals get done. Dr. Anthony Duncan will show you what’s working right now—and how to use these tools to scale your business without drowning in busywork.

What you’ll learn:

How to deploy A.I. agents for sourcing, comping, and follow-up

Automate underwriting tasks with smart guardrails in place

Real-world agent use cases: maintenance, rent rolls, and more

Spot hype vs. ROI: focus on what actually moves the needle

“If it’s not saving time or improving NOI, it’s not the A.I. you need.”.

—Dr. Anthony Duncan

Michael Robertson

Dirt Simple, Data Smart: Flipping Land Anywhere, Anytime
No repairs. No contractors. No drama. Michael Robertson shows how to use data—not demo crews—to flip land remotely and build serious momentum. If you’re burned out on rehabs, this is your off-ramp.

What you’ll learn:

How to find undervalued land across the U.S.

Assess lot value without ever leaving your house

Close fast with no permits or renovations

Common land-flipping traps that kill profits

Land is quiet, overlooked—and wide open. Michael’s strategy makes it simple, scalable, and surprisingly profitable.

250+ land deals later, he’s still skipping the hammers

Major Hillard

The Hidden Goldmine: Mobile Home Parks & the Future of Affordable Housing
Mobile home parks are resilient, high cash-flow, and deeply needed—but only when run right. Major Hillard, a vertically integrated operator with a portfolio across the Southeast, shares the blueprint.

What you’ll learn:

How to spot mobile home parks with massive upside

What makes MHPs so recession-resistant


Creative financing and value-add strategies

The power of owning the entire stack: management, sales, lending

Cash flow meets community impact. Major’s method unlocks both—and proves affordable housing is still a wealth builder.

From his first park in 2013 to $9M exits, he’s done it all.

Bonuses That Expand Your Vision (and Your Toolkit)

Every Dealmaker comes with surprises—and this year, we’re going beyond swag. We’re giving you real tools that you can start using right away to gain clarity, raise capital, and build smarter deals.

The Private Capital Playbook

Get a crystal-clear understanding of how to work with private lenders the right way. This 40-page guide walks you through the core principles, documents, and conversations that help build trust-based capital relationships. If you’ve ever wanted to stop relying on hard money and start raising funds like the pros, this is the foundation you need.

The Private Capital Playbook

Get a crystal-clear understanding of how to work with private lenders the right way. This 40-page guide walks you through the core principles, documents, and conversations that help build trust-based capital relationships. If you’ve ever wanted to stop relying on hard money and start raising funds like the pros, this is the foundation you need.

The AI Lending Studio

Get a crystal-clear understanding of how to work with private lenders the right way. This 40-page guide walks you through the core principles, documents, and conversations that help build trust-based capital relationships. If you’ve ever wanted to stop relying on hard money and start raising funds like the pros, this is the foundation you need.

Real Stories. Real Results.

Three Lives Changed by Dealmaker

Book Your Room & Stay Close to the Action

We’ve secured a special room block at Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa/Short Pump. Room blocks often go fast—reserve early to ensure you’re right where the networking magic happens.

Be in the room where peace and freedom meet opportunity.

All Rights Reserved 2025. Elite Deal Maker

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