There were many great books published in 2017, but it seems every industry guru has a book nowadays, which can make choosing a good read overwhelming.
As a real estate author, avid reader and life-long learner, I’ve made a habit of purchasing each new real estate book that manages to make it to the “Top 100” on Amazon.
While reading, I’m often reminded of the same principles we’ve all heard over and over, but occasionally I gleam additional insights. I often judge a book by the notes I’ve written in the margins and how frequently I’ve dog-eared a page.
Here are the top ten that made the cut:
1. How to be a Great Salesperson by Monday Morning (March 2017)
Author David Cook teaches you how to be a great salesperson by mastering various rapport building and closing techniques.
This book is perfect for real estate agents, SaaS vendors and pretty much anyone in sales regardless of experience level. It’s currently still rated one of the top books in “real estate sales” on Amazon.
Score: 5 out of 5
2. Listing Boss: The Definitive Blueprint for Real Estate Success (April 2017)
This book was written by national sales coach, Hoss Pratt, and as the title suggests, it provides a blueprint for success in real estate.
Early chapters help form a foundation for success around mindset and identifying tactics, and the second half of the book is focused on prospecting and strategies for working with buyers and sellers.
Score: 5 out of 5
3. Secret Agents: How the top real estate agents list more, sell more & dominate the market! (April 2017)
Australian author Lisa B. explains strategies for staying top of mind, demonstrating your expertise online and generating online leads.
The concepts explained in this book are solid, however, it does tend to repeat itself. I recommend this book to anyone who is newer to the business and wants to learn more about creative ways to market yourself online.
Score: 4 out of 5
4. The Million Dollar Real Estate Team: How I went from Zero to Earning $1 Million after Expenses in Three Years (June 2017)
Top agent Chris Watters walks you through his exact path to netting $1,000,000 in only three years. This book is filled with real life examples with actual dollar figures for each step of the way.
As a team leader myself, I was fascinated to learn more about different team structures, systems and marketing tactics. The book did not disappoint — I was even able to reach him for additional commentary on a chapter I found very interesting.
Score: 5 out of 5
5. #GetSocialSmart: How to Hone Your Social Media Strategy (April 2017)
There is no doubt that Katie Lance has established herself as the queen of social media within the real estate industry. Her book #GetSocialSmart is great for real estate agents, affiliates and basically any small business regardless of skill level.
The book covers various social media platforms, best practices for engagement, content creation and re-purposing. I shared a copy with an executive of a local non-profit, and this person was able to quickly learn and apply the tactics.
Score: 5 out of 5
6. The Road to Recognition: The A-to-Z Guide to Personal Branding for Accelerating Your Professional Success in The Age of Digital Media (May 2017)
I’ve sung my praises of Seth & Barry’s book before, so if you haven’t picked up a copy, I recommend you do so now. It’s perfect for anyone trying to establish themselves as a brand, whether they’re just out of college or starting a second career. The information is insightful and easy to implement
Score: 5 out of 5
7. Mindset, Model & Marketing!: The Proven Strategies to Transform and Grow Your Real Estate Business (June 2017)
(Not to be confused with Mindset, Methods & Metrics, which came out in 2016)
Top real estate sales coach Tom Ferry’s newest book covers proven mindset, systems and marketing tactics that work for real estate agents today.
If you’re a fan of Ferry’s YouTube videos, inspirational articles or have seen him speak on stage, this is a great book for you. I would have liked a deeper dive into numbers and conversion rates, but he did a great job of covering the fundamentals and motivating the reader.
Score: 5 out of 5
8. Secrets of Top Selling Agents: The Keys To Real Estate Success Revealed (July 2017)
Joe Sesso and the team at Homes.com have re-purposed their webinar, “Secrets of Top Selling Agents,” into a book for agents that continues to be a best seller to this day.
Each chapter highlights an industry expert, including Barbara Corcoran, Dave Liniger, Gary Keller, Chris Smith, Leigh Brown, Jay Baer and Jimmy Mackin. With all that brainpower combined into one place, you’re sure to pick up a nugget or two of quality information.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who wants to grow their real estate business.
Score: 5 out of 5
9. Find Your Unique Value Proposition, In Principle and Practice: To Dominate Your Real Estate Market (Oct 2017)
Author Rowena Patton, a top agents with Keller Williams, shares how agents can leverage their unique value proposition (UVP) to compete against the giants and stand out in their local market. Understand what a UVP is vs. what is considered a given in the market place; and identify your own UVP and how to use it to set yourself apart.
There are also 12 example UVPs that agents have used in their markets, which may spark ideas you can implement on your own.
I recommend this book for established agents who are trying to define their niche.
Score: 5 out of 5
10. The Politically Incorrect Real Estate Agent Handbook: A Serious How-to Manual with a Sense of Humor (October 2017)
Full of step-by-step how-to articles, biting commentary and engaging photographs, this book is the ultimate reference/field manual for new agents.
All the basics are covered, including prospecting, presentations, agency, valuation and contracts. Plus, it has flow charts on the transaction process, cross-referenced to detailed pages within. This book is a great gift idea and a good resource for brokers to share with their agents.
Score: 5 out of 5
There are many paths to success in real estate — but before setting off to figure it out on your own, take a moment to learn from those who have already achieved success. Books are a great way to learn about various marketing methods, and get ideas you can implement in your own business.
Brandon Doyle is a Realtor at Doyle Real Estate Team — Re/Max Results in Minneapolis and co-author of Mindset, Methods & Metrics – Winning as a Modern Real Estate Agent. You can follow him on Twitter.
