What are some good books and other resources to read in order to learn more about the CRE industry?
I am a college graduate getting ready to start an entry level job. Eventually I want to move to CRE after I have some work experience and money saved up. In the mean time, what are some good resources for me to explore in order to learn more about the industry?
[{"id": "clmlhyq", "text": "Wondering the same thing.  I most recently purchased \"How to Succeed in Commercial Real Estate\" By John L. Bowman. Looking for some other good reads when I have down time.", "replies": [{"id": "clmlkvq", "text": "I'll have check that one out ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "clmp9f1", "text": "Been in it for 3 years. When you find that book let me know! I worked as an intern for 4 months out of college to get a basic understanding. Best of luck. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "clmujhu", "text": "The best resource to succeed in commercial real estate is someone with a lot of experience that is genuinely interested in your success. You need a mentor. I don't know if these stats are still accurate, but when I started in the business 10 years ago 50% of CRE brokers where not in the same job 1 year after they started, and 80% were gone in 5 years. That's because it's next to impossible to succeed unless you have a mentor. Many CRE agents hire young people to develop a few leads for them. They aren't really interested in spending their time (which, in the business, is basically the only asset a broker has) holding someone's hand. So, in summation, find someone who won't chew you up and spit you out, and work really, really hard. I spend my first +/-3 years working 12 hour days and making 50 calls a day. Now I work 4-5 hours a day and have a book of business that should keep me in the top 5% of national annual income for the rest of my career. And that's really because I was taught how to do this by good people. ", "replies": [{"id": "clmun36", "text": "So you're talking about working under a broker? I interviewed with a few small firms last spring but they seemed unwilling to take on a new hire with little to no experience in the industry. I guess a follow up question is how did you find such a mentor and break into the industry?", "replies": [{"id": "clmv7jz", "text": "I was introduced to a broker through a mutual friend. This is going to sound really \"old boys club,\" but we were tennis players. We played together. He wanted a runner, and he hired me. I worked my tail off and made a billion cold calls, and 11 years later we are still working together.\n\nHere's what I would recommend. 1) Get your license - nobody is going to hire someone that isn't licensed. The test is not hard at all. 2) Decide what type of brokerage you want to do - office tenant rep? investment sales? industrial? There are stereotypes for all of these niches. If you polish your shoes every night and wear pocket squares, you might be a good office tenant rep broker. If you are a whiz with numbers and Argus runs, perhaps investment sales. 3) find out who the top agents are in that field. 4) Cold call them, and keep doing so until someone is looking to hire.\n\n", "replies": [{"id": "clmvbio", "text": "Thank you for all of the advice", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}, {"id": "clstle7", "text": "Curious, do you mentor others and \"pay it forward\"?\n\n", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "clnc4c2", "text": "http://astudentoftherealestategame.com/\n\nThat site is a good reference point for people getting into the industry from a young person's perspective.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]