Every year, dozens of newly published commercial real estate books claim to reveal the secrets to CRE success — but which ones are actually worth a read?

In this article we’ve rounded up seven of the best titles that can help you up your game, whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the industry.

If you do a quick search for “real estate” on Amazon, you’ll soon find an abundance of “how-to” books claiming to offer the formula to striking it rich in CRE.

While some are simply selling the next get-rich-quick scheme, others are truly useful guides from industry leaders that can help commercial real estate brokers, appraisers, and investors establish or grow their careers.

Alongside long-respected works that still hold their value, there are many new titles discussing the changes in the business following the 2008 market crash.

Best Commercial Real Estate Books

Below is our selection of seven must-read titles that can help you gain a competitive edge in commercial real estate.

Best Overall

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller

A national bestseller, this book is extremely popular among both new and seasoned professionals in the CRE industry — and for good reason.

The author reveals the concepts and their step-by-step implementation that can help real estate agents turn a simple sales job into a profitable business. The book can teach you how to achieve your greatest potential both in your professional and personal life.

Best for Understanding the Industry (And Where You Fit Into It)

How to Succeed in Commercial Real Estate by John L. Bowman

As the straightforward title implies, this is a great handbook for professionals just entering the industry or with limited experience under their belt.

There’s a lot of practical information packed in, but where this book stands out is in its discussion on how to position yourself for maximum success.

From choosing the firms that might be the best fit for new commercial real estate brokers to evaluating the pros and cons of independent brokerage, this read can help you determine your personalized path to success.

Best Book for New Brokers

Brokers Who Dominate: 8 Traits of Top Producers by Rod Santomassimo

If you’re at the beginning of your CRE career and you believe that the best way to learn is from the pros, then this read is perfect for you.

The book rounds up the knowledge and experience of top North American brokers and shares their strategies, tactics, and approaches to different parts of the industry. It spotlights the experts and defines the traits that have gotten them to the top.

Best Book for Experienced Brokers

Value Added: Successful Strategies for Listing & Selling Investment Real Estate by Brad Umansky

Industry veteran Brad Umansky uses his own experiences — failures included — to help readers learn about the real estate investment business. Written primarily for his peers, the book shares the actions and strategies for successfully selling various commercial real estate assets.

The result is a biographical read that can help you succeed as an investment sales broker.

Best Book for New Investors

The Commercial Real Estate Investor’s Handbook: A Step-by-Step Road Map to Financial Wealth by Steven D. Fisher

This book takes a comprehensive look at commercial real estate investing across a number of income property types. It can teach you how to discover lucrative opportunities, and how to negotiate, finance, manage, and flip your investment assets.

With step-by-step instructions, Fisher offers a road map to success for investors with any level of experience in the industry.

Best Book for Seasoned Investors

The Real Estate Game: The Intelligent Guide to Decision Making and Investment by William Poorvu

A professor at the Harvard Business School and a seasoned real estate developer, Poorvu shares his expertise in the property investment field along with the stories of other individuals in the industry.

Comparing real estate to a game, he uses simple and relatable language to explain the variables that come into play in every investment deal. He also shares with the reader financial analysis techniques for evaluating potential opportunities in various investment classes.

If you like this read, check out Poorvu’s second, broker-focused book, Creating and Growing Real Estate Wealth.

Best Book for Developers

The Complete Guide to Developing Commercial Real Estate by Robert Wehrmeyer

For those interested in understanding what goes into developing a commercial property, this is the book for you.

Wehrmeyer gives time to each stage of development — from the first seed of an idea to the unveiling of a building years in the making — and outlines how developers can set themselves up for big picture success.

Platforms like Reonomy offer investors, brokers, and appraisers real-time access to the commercial real estate data points that define properties — debt history, zoning, building ownership, sales history, and more.