Industry Veteran Provides Practical, Humorous And Inspirational Advice For Fast-Growing Real Estate Profession
"21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me" Hits Dearborn Real Estate's Top Seller List

January 8, 2003 - Lured by the healthy housing market, relative ease of entering the business, job flexibility and entrepreneurial opportunity, more Americans than ever are entering the real estate industry. In fact, the number of real estate professionals nationwide is estimated at more than 1.6 million. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), which represents approximately half the industry, its membership now stands at more than 870,000, having increased by 14 percent (110,000) during the economic downturn of the past two years and more than 20 percent over the past five years.

But in a field with a dropout rate of more than one-third, what can aspiring agents do to learn the ins and outs of the industry and increase their chances of success? Veteran business reporter Frank Cook has answered these and other questions with his first book about the real estate profession, "21 Things I Wish My Broker Had Told Me," (Dearborn Real Estate Education, 2002) which has quickly become a hit among real estate professionals. An insider's look at what people can expect when they choose real estate for a career, and how they can survive those early days in the business, the book has received critical praise and was named one of the ten best real estate books of 2002 by the Chicago Tribune Syndicate.

"This book should be required reading for every new real estate sales licensee. It should be handed to each new trainee hired by a real estate brokerage. They should be told to take this book home and not come back until they've read it and written a two-page summary (just to be sure they really read it.)... On my scale of one to 10, this outstanding book rates an off-the-chart 12," writes real estate editor Robert J. Bruss of Tribune Media Services.

"21 Things" offers hands-on advice, opinions and guidance from real estate insiders and outsiders. A mixture of humor and serious insights, the book features interviews with both experienced producers and novice agents detailing their early experiences in the business, as well as conversations with real estate lawyers and educators, inspectors and state regulators.

While it doesn't hide the drawbacks of selling real estate, in fact Cook lays out cautions and warnings along the way, the book focuses on tips and paths for avoiding and overcoming potential pitfalls. Some key chapters include "How Did You Get Here?," "It's Your Money," "Family Matters" and "You and the Gurus of Salesmanship."

"My goal was to provide a realistic picture of the profession for the scores of new agents entering the field," said Cook. "It's crucial for them to realize that there are no shortcuts on the road to real estate success and that there is a lot of work involved. The good news is that there are no speed limits on that road either. The opportunity exists to go as far and fast as you can."

The book marks a debut effort for Cook, who has covered real estate for nearly 20 years, first as a columnist for United Press International and later in syndication. He is currently the publisher for Agency Law Quarterly/Real Estate Intelligence Report -- a newsletter dedicated to career real estate professionals.

About Dearborn Real Estate Education
Dearborn Real Estate Education, a Kaplan professional company, is the leading real estate content provider for real estate schools and associations, offering practical prelicensing and continuing education training materials on appraisal, home inspection, property management, brokerage, ethics, law, sales approaches, and contracts. Prepared by leading experts in the field, Dearborn's diverse lines of products are available in print, disk-based software, online, and PDA software.

Headquartered in Chicago, Dearborn has published the works of some of the best-known authorities in the industry, including nationally known consultant and economist John Tuccillo, sales trainer Terri Murphy and consumer advocate Julie Garton-Good. For more information, please visit www.dearbornre.com.

Press Contacts:

Karen Blass
212-974-6233
karen_blass@kaplan.com

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