NAREE's 4th Annual Bruss Real Estate Book Awards Winners

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 17, 2011) – The National Association of Real Estate Editors (NAREE) has named the 2011 winners of the Robert Bruss Real Estate Book Awards, recognizing excellence in recently published works.

Winning the first place Gold Award in the competition is: Sheri Koones for "Prefabulous + Sustainable," published by Abrams. NAREE Book Competition Head Judge Allen Norwood commented: "Authoritative and beautiful. Once again, Koones builds her case for pre-fab thoroughly, and presents it in a compelling, well organized package."

Winning the Silver Award was Galina Tachieva for "The Sprawl Repair Manual" published by Island Press. NAREE Book Competition Head Judge Allen Norwood commented: "Filled with interesting and innovative case studies."

Winning the Bronze Award is Ben Kinney with Jay Papasan for "Soci@l" published by Rellek Publishing Partners, Ltd. NAREE Book Competition Head Judge Allen Norwood commented: "One of the most timely -- and helpful -- examinations of the media transforming real estate. Belongs on every agent's desk."

NAREE's First-Time Author Award winner is Gregory Zuckerman for "The Greatest Trade Ever" published by Crown Business. NAREE Book Competition Head Judge Allen Norwood commented: "Detailed account - from perspective of one of the most important periods in the nation’s financial history and reads like a compelling novel."

Allen Norwood, a freelance editor of HGTV online, retired Homes Editor, Charlotte Observer, and past NAREE vice president judged the competition along with Judith Stark, freelance editor and writer, retired real estate and homes editor for the St. Petersburg Times and NAREE past president; and Byron Koste, executive director emeritus for the University of Colorado Real Estate Center.

The Gold Award winner received $1,000. The Silver Award was $500 and the Bronze was $250. The First-Time Author Award was $250.

This year's winners continue to exemplify NAREE's broad reach in real estate -- from green home design and urban planning to finance and the business of real estate. Books focused on home buying, selling, leasing, renting, mortgage finance, construction and other related topics were considered in the contest.

NAREE’s Bruss Book Awards program was started four years ago to recognize excellence by real estate authors. It is named for the late Robert Bruss, syndicated real estate columnist, prolific writer and a longtime NAREE leader. Bruss, who died in 2007, frequently wrote reviews of realty books.

NAREE, a non-profit association of writers celebrating 82 years of service, was founded in 1929. The awards were presented June 17 at NAREE’s 45th Annual Real Estate Journalism Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

The Bruss Book Awards are sponsored by NAREE president Leigh Robinson, founder of Express Publishing and NAREE past president Brad Inman founder of Inman News with a special gift from Art Michaels, Executor of the Bruss estate.