NAREE's Annual Bruss Real Estate Book Competition
NAREE is pausing the Bruss Book Awards Program for 2024. A panel for real estate journalists who have recently written a book or are in the process of writing one is being created by NAREE Board Member, Ronda Kaysen, an award-winning reporter for The New York Times who is also an award-winning author. You can view Ronda’s #NAREE2023, Book Writing panel discussion in Members Only. Details about the panelists are in the Las Vegas conference program book, also in Members Only.
Check back on NAREE’s home page or Events page for further information on details on sessions to help prospective and veteran authors. Details expected to come in March.
NAREE Announces Winners of the 14th Annual Bruss Real Estate Book Awards at its Miami Journalism Conference
Miami – (December 9, 2021) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has named the winners of the 14th Annual Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Awards Competition. The awards recognize excellence in books published in 2020 covering the broad field of real estate. NAREE President Jeff Collins of the Orange County Register presented the awards during NAREE's 55th Annual Real Estate Journalism conference held in Miami, Fla., in December. Here are the winners and the judges’ comments:
Author Ryan Dezember, who wrote “Underwater: How Our American Dream of Homeownership Became a Nightmare,” published by Thomas Dunne Books, won top honors, NAREE’s Gold Award.
Judges’ comment: "This book combines a journalist’s skilled storytelling with his personal and relatable saga. Valuable information for readers: The housing crash of 2007-08 gave investors a blank check as they got hungry for houses. They even built new ones to rent, because so many people could not afford to buy. Well-documented, such as statistics on homeownership at certain ages. Loved the comments: ‘bland as an egg inside and out.’ And ‘They never sing songs about a pile of rent receipts.’”
Jamie Gold took NAREE’s Silver Award for her book "Wellness by Design" – Tiller Press.
Judges’ comment: “The author is a space designer versus a real estate professional, and she has produced a lovely eye-candy book – could be coffee-table material yet happens to be loaded with wisdom. She gives a good examination of emerging trends geared toward younger readers, with lots of emphasis on spaces for workouts for athletes, while including information valuable to seniors and people with disabilities.”
The Bronze Award went to Brian Burke for "The Hands-Off Investor: An Insider's Guide to Investing in Passive Real Estate Syndications" – BiggerPockets Publishing.
Judges’ comment: “Valuable tool for passive investors. Good starting place and helpful reference for those with more experience.”
Conor Dougherty, who wrote “Golden Gates: The Housing Crisis and a Reckoning for the American Dream” - Penguin Books, has tied for the Leigh Robinson First-Time Author Award, with co-authors Ronda Kaysen and Michelle Higgins, who wrote "The New York Times Right at Home: How to Buy, Decorate, Organize and Maintain Your Space” - Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers.
Judges’ comment for Dougherty: "Important and hugely readable. America’s housing crisis is broad and complex. The author explores it with a skilled reporter’s storytelling. He looks at how we got here."
Judges’ comment for Kaysen and Higgins: "This book is nearly perfect for a new would-be homebuyer. It’s clear, thorough, and highly readable. Although it covers well-trodden ground, it’s rich with contemporary tips like writing letters to sellers to win out in a bidding war and scoping out homes before they hit the market.”
NAREE's esteemed panel of judges has many decades of experience as editors. Allen Norwood is a freelance writer and former editor of the Charlotte Observer.
Stephanie Murphy-Lupo is the author of several books and a former newspaper editor, columnist and writer for the Palm Beach Daily News and Boca Raton News.
June Fletcher is a former reporter, editor and author who wrote for the Wall Street Journal, Builder magazine and the Naples Daily News. Her book “House Poor” was published by HarperCollins.
NAREE's Bruss Book Awards program is named for the late Robert Bruss, a former syndicated real estate columnist, prolific writer, and longtime NAREE leader. Bruss wrote reviews of realty books. The Bruss Book Awards are sponsored by NAREE past presidents, including the late Leigh Robinson, founder of Express Publishing and author of "Landlording," and Brad Inman, founder of Inman News.
NAREE's Annual Robert Bruss Book Awards program was open to all authors who have written hardcover and paperback books and e-books on real estate-related topics. Books about home buying and selling, mixed-used development, urban and suburban redevelopment, green building, architecture, international real estate, finance, and mortgage lending, among others, were eligible.
Past winners have included full-time authors, journalists, thought-leaders from academia, real estate economists, and home and urban design-world visionaries.
NAREE, a nonprofit association celebrating 92 years of service to real estate writers, editors, columnists, reporters, and producers, was founded in 1929.
Contact NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball at mdkimball@naree.org and/or 561-391-1983.
NAREE Announces 13th Bruss Real Estate Book Award Winners during 2020 Virtual Conference in December
NAREE.org – (December 9, 2020) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has named the winners of the 13th Annual Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Awards Competition. The awards recognize excellence in books published in 2019 covering the broad field of real estate. NAREE President Catie Dixon, Bisnow Media, announced the awards during NAREE's 54th Annual Real Estate Journalism conference held virtually December 9 and 10, 2020. Here are the winners with judges’ comments:
Gold Award: Dror Poleg, “Rethinking Real Estate” - Palgrave Macmillan
Judge’s comment: "Poleg’s work shows extensive research over decades of study across four continents. Chapter 20 has a particularly engaging title: 'The Liberation of Things, People, and Cities.' Each section addresses the asset in context, the forces shaping it, and how to rethink the asset… His book is organized by segments: retail, office, housing and lodging, logistics and industrial." Another judge indicated that it is an excellent, easy-to-read, yet highly technical book. This judge believes Poleg realizes his goals of writing a book that brings readers up to speed on the possible impact of technology and what will govern the industry over the next three decades – highlighting practical strategies to identify risks and take advantage of emerging opportunities.
Silver Award: David M. Greene, "Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat" - BiggerPockets Publishing
Judge’s comment: "This book provides a surgically precise analysis of steps — some of which may have been addressed singly before — offering an exhaustive and compelling argument for a particular sequence of events: buying, rehabbing, renting, refinancing, and repeating, to achieve wealth as a real estate investor."
Bronze Award: Sheri Koones, “Downsize: Living Large in a Small House” - Taunton Press
Judge’s comment: “Definitely Koones’ best book... ‘Downsize' features 33 dwellings...at least one of which is a houseboat. … the bullet points and stats about the homes were consistent and useful.” The judge also indicated that “Downsize" reverses the old adage that "houses own people" because we are much less slaves to the caretaking of our stuff.
Leigh Robinson First-time Author Award: Paul Weideman, “ARCHITECTURE Santa Fe: A Guidebook” - Running Lizard Press
Judge’s comment: "Santa Fe offers unique, regional architecture as the book points out, but it’s a national treasure. This is a fascinating look at the forces — history, construction, design, — that came together to create the signature look and feel. Written with authority and affection."
NAREE Announces 12th Bruss Real Estate Book Award Winners in Austin
Austin – (June 28, 2019) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has named the winners of the 12th Annual Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Awards Competition. The awards recognize excellence in books published in 2018 covering the broad field of real estate. NAREE president Beth DeCarbo, Wall Street Journal, columnist, presented the awards at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency Austin during NAREE's 53rd annual real estate journalism conference.
Authors Stefan Swanepoel and Paul Hagey, who wrote, "2019 Swanepoel Trends Report,” published by T3 Sixty, won the top honors, NAREE's Gold Award.Judges' comments: “An interesting book about the latest industry disruptors,” said one judge. Another said, “Appeals to brokerage leaders who shape their firms’ business plans. For the rest of us who might want to know, say, how Realtors get paid and why they’re so loyal to some firms, this book has answers.”
Dave Van Horn took NAREE's Silver Award for his book, "Real Estate Note Investing" – BiggerPockets Publishing.
Judges' comments: “Goes beyond the usual real estate investing topics, to an advanced level for serious real estate investors,” commented one judge, while another said, “His tutorial is mesmerizing – beautifully written, quite convincing.”
The Bronze Award went to Doug Marshall, CCIM, for "Mastering the Art of Commercial Real Estate Investing: How to Successfully Build Wealth & Grow Passive Income from Your Rental Properties” – Morgan James Publishing.
Judges' comment: “Solid style. Author comes across as trustworthy and informed.”
Winner of the Leigh Robinson First-time Author Award was Alice Devine for “Suite Deal, The Smart Landlord’s Guide to Leasing Real Estate” – Learn Associates Publishing.
Judges' comment: ”Tightly focused and hits the target. Terrific tips, large and small, that would benefit any leasing agent.”
NAREE's esteemed panel of judges has many decades of experience as editors. Allen Norwood is a freelance writer and former editor of the Charlotte Observer. Christina Farnsworth, Cantadora, is a freelance journalist and former senior editor of both Builder and Professional Builder magazines. June Fletcher, is an author and retired journalist who worked for Naples Daily News, The Wall Street Journal and Builder magazine.
NAREE's Bruss Book Awards program is named for the late Robert Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist, prolific writer, and longtime NAREE leader. Bruss, who died in 2007, frequently wrote reviews of realty books. The Bruss Book Awards are sponsored by NAREE past presidents the late Leigh Robinson, founder of Express Publishing and author of "Landlording," and Brad Inman, founder of Inman News.
NAREE, a nonprofit association celebrating 90 years of service to real estate writers, was founded in 1929.
Contact NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball for more information at nareeprograms@gmail.com
or 561-391-3599. Cell: 561-391-1983.
NAREE Announces 11th Bruss Real Estate Book Award Winners in Las Vegas
Las Vegas -- (June 15, 2018) The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has named the winners of the 11th Annual Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Competition. The awards recognize excellence in books published in 2017 covering the broad field of real estate. NAREE president Dion Haynes, Washington Post real estate editor, presented the awards at a luncheon at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas during NAREE's 52nd annual real estate journalism conference.
Author Brian Murray, who wrote, "Crushing It in Apartments and Commercial Real Estate: How a Small Investor Can Make It Big," self-published by his company, Sackets Harbor Press, won top honors, NAREE's Gold Award.
Judges' comments: Expert advice from an award-winning small commercial investor. Includes a very extensive glossary. Was reminded of Leigh Robinson. Leigh started as a teacher who bought, remodeled and rented homes to supplement his teacher income. Author Murray entered the commercial real estate market to supplement his professor income and has, with hard work, succeeded. Really love how he threaded the story of the Solar Building through technical how-to chapters. It kept readers turning the pages to find out what happened to the roach-infested, foreclosed-upon but potentially attractive building... Great read. Great book.
David Green took NAREE's Silver Award for his book, "Long-Distance Real Estate Investing: How to Buy, Rehab, and Manage Out-of-State Rental Properties" -- BiggerPockets Publishing.
Judges' comments: One of the common caveats in real estate investing is to stay in your neighborhood or at least your city or your state. It is hard to supervise and manage real estate from a distance. This first-time author book turns that idea on its head. The book is a highly readable primer on how to be a successful long-distance investor from someone who has practiced what he preaches.
The Bronze Award went to Steve Beshara for "One Place: The Value of Placemaking and Placebranding" -- self-published.
Judges' comments: I can imagine this book being a valuable resource for more traditional professionals involved in city planning and development... The book offers lots of eye candy ... The Q&A with others in the field gives an additional layer of authenticity to the author's research.
Winner of the Leigh Robinson First-time Author Award was K. Kai Anderson for "Retire on Real Estate: Building Rental Income for a Safe and Secure Retirement" -- AMACOM, now. division of Harper Collins.
Judges' comments: Very readable. Quite engaging. One of the best explanations I've ever read of what happened to the three-legged stool of Social Security, pension and 401K savings, when the pension leg was taken away. Also like referring readers to the website with charts and forms to help readers analyze their options.
NAREE's esteemed panel of judges has many decades of experience as editors. Allen Norwood is a freelance journalist and retired homes editor of the Charlotte Observer; Christina Farnsworth is a freelance journalist with more than 20 years' experience covering the "green" shelter industry for publications including Builder and Professional Builder magazines; and Stephanie Murphy Lupo is the author of several books and a former newspaper editor, columnist and writer for the Palm Beach Daily News and Boca Raton News.
NAREE's Bruss Book Awards program is named for the late Robert Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist, prolific writer, and longtime NAREE leader. Bruss, who died in 2007, frequently wrote reviews of realty books. The Bruss Book Awards are sponsored by NAREE past presidents the late Leigh Robinson, founder of Express Publishing and author of "Landlording," and Brad Inman, founder of Inman News and Vook.
NAREE, a nonprofit association of writers celebrating 89 years of service to real estate writers, was founded in 1929.
Contact NAREE Executive Director Mary Doyle-Kimball for more information at nareeprograms@gmail.com or 561-391-1983.
Click HERE to download the PDF of the 10th Annual Bruss Book Award winners with judges comments.