The Real Estate Recipe

In the late 1990s, as my children were finishing high school and we were planning their future, I wanted to equip them with a skill I believed would always hold value: an understanding of commercial real estate. Whether they pursued it as a side venture or a full-time career, I knew that a strong foundation in real estate would help them along.

To start, I created a series of index cards covering the basics of how to make older commercial buildings more profitable while also improving the living experience for residents. What started as a personal teaching tool for my children gradually took on a life of its own. In 2003, a friend looked over my stack of index cards and said, “You should write a book!” Well, that’s exactly what I did!

I headed to Barnes & Noble and picked up a copy of Writer’s Market, a comprehensive guide for authors, and began the process of turning those index cards into a manuscript. By early 2004, I had completed the first draft of what I titled, The Real Estate Recipe and sent it to about ten editors. To my delight, two of them responded positively, and by summer the book was in production.

But just as the book was being finalized, life took an unexpected turn. In late 2004, I suffered a brain bleed that required immediate surgery. While the book was being printed, I was left unable to read, write, or speak in the way I once could. When the publisher sent me sample copies and a schedule for book signings, I had to decline. I simply wasn’t able to participate in the way I had hoped. That’s why The Real Estate Recipe never gained the traction it deserved and why a second edition—one that would have reflected the growing role of technology in the industry—never came to be.

The rise of technology has streamlined and accelerated operations for landlords and drastically changed how residents assess their properties. Today’s renters have instant access to rent comparisons, pricing, and reviews and because of that, they are more informed and critical than ever before.

Yet, even in this tech-savvy age, the core principles of apartment ownership and management remain unchanged. That’s why The Real Estate Recipe continues to be a valuable resource. The fundamentals laid out in this book are as relevant today as they were when I first wrote them.

If you’re looking to better understand the fundamentals of commercial real estate in apartments—or just want a resource that stands the test of time—The Real Estate Recipe is for you.