2026 Roadmap to Real Estate Wealth: KREIA's January Main Meeting

Will this be the year you lock in on your financial goals?

Whether you're a brand-new real estate investor who needs a path into Kentuckiana's changing market and best practices for navigating it – or you're an experienced investor who could use a course correction – you'll find three pathfinders leading the way at KREIA’s first main meeting of the year: 2026 Roadmap to Real Estate Wealth.

** REGISTRATION AT KREIA.COM REQUIRED **

These three investors – Erik Hitzelberger, Anthony Silver, and Katie Crotzer – have been rehabbing houses and building substantial rental portfolios for years. And they are expert guides for helping us navigate the new normal. They've seen a market cycle or two, and they'll give you their opinions on how to react to what's trending toward a buyer's market.

We don't have the super-low interest rates of a few years ago, and it's not as easy to BRRRR your way into a rental portfolio. (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) Or to pull off high-profit flips. But real estate is still the best path to financial freedom.

Be sure to take lots of notes as Erik, Anthony, and Katie describe their plans and strategies for 2026.

Meet Erik Hitzelberger

Erik is a Louisville-based real estate investor, educator, and recovering engineer, who has been investing since 2006 and a member of KREIA since 2008.

Over his career, he has rehabilitated hundreds of single-family homes and built a substantial rental portfolio. Through his company, Freedom Property Group, Erik helps investors acquire turnkey rental properties designed to generate passive income, leverage long-term appreciation, and reduce the time and complexity typically associated with real estate investing.

Today, Erik's primary focus is education — teaching investors how to think beyond individual deals and cash flow to build portfolios that support financial freedom, intelligent use of leverage, and long-term time ownership.

Erik is a past president of KREIA, has served for many years on its board, and is the most recent recipient of KREIA's Ed Melton Award.

Meet Katie Crotzer

Katie got her first investment and rehab property at the age of 21. Then she took off like a rocket!

Katie does everything there is to do in real estate. And today she works mostly outside of Jefferson County. Based out of Shelby County, she considers Lexington and the Bluegrass Parkway as her "farm area."
She's shifted focus in her career, and she says she spends most of her time in consulting, helping other investors with their investment strategies. She also is active in new construction, resort development, zoning changes, historical restoration, and land use — figuring out the highest and best use for a tract of land.

Katie joined KREIA in 1991, has served on KREI's board, and is a recipient of KREIA's Ed Melton Award. When not working real estate, she's riding horses or working with non-profits.

Meet Anthony Silver

Anthony takes distressed West Louisville houses and shines them into diamonds. Even properties from Louisville Landback's recent $1 house sale.

Some say it can't be done — turning houses that distressed into profitable, high-quality rehabs — but Anthony is doing it with his company, Red Door Properties Group. He also knows his way around Louisville's lien forgiveness programs and Opportunity Zones. And he's known for helping get new buyers into truly affordable housing.

Anthony is a living, breathing example of a quote we like to use to describe KREIA members: He's "improving neighborhoods one house at a time."

Follow him on Facebook for video walkthroughs of his down-to-the-studs projects — and the stunning renovated homes they become. Ask him about his mentoring program.

Early Meeting: Got questions on how you can save big bucks on rehab materials at Home Depot using your special discounts as a KREIA member? (Including volume pricing and up to 20% on paint and cabinets!) We will have two Home Depot representatives on hand to answer your questions.

Meeting Agenda
5 p.m. – Doors open at Woodhaven
5:30 p.m. – Early Meeting with Home Depot representatives
6 p.m. – Member Orientation
6:15 p.m. – The buffet line opens! Also, at the microphone, there will be announcements, property pitches and sponsor pitches
7 p.m. – Our featured speakers take the stage

Remember Your Lanyard!
If you've been to a KREIA main meeting lately, you've probably picked up one or more color-coded lanyards that identify what kind of investor you are. Please remember to bring your lanyards with you to our main meetings!

Color Key Reminder: Blue = Buy-and-Hold Investor; Orange = Flipper; Yellow = Real Estate Agent; Red = Wholesaler; Green = New Member; Purple = KREIA Sponsor; Black = Board Member