Being a property manager requires a firm grasp of the real estate business. Moreover, property managers need to stay on top of every development in their field. In fact, this is the only way to remain competitive in this expanding market. We believe that one of the best ways to achieve this is to get your hands on the best property management books you can find. For this reason, we decided to compile a list of the best property management books.
The Characteristics of a Good Property Management Book
Before delving into our top 10, we must first outline the features that make property management books valuable. A good book on managing rental properties should cover several critical aspects of property management. This includes accounting, marketing, as well as the legal aspects of property management. On top of being factual, it also needs to be straight to the point and easy to read. You will be glad to know that all the property management books we reviewed satisfy these criteria.
Let’s take a look at some of the best property management books that are available on the market today.
Related: Real Estate Books vs Real Estate Blogs: Which Is the Best Resource?
1 – The Book on Managing Rental Properties by Brandon Turner and Heather Turner
This is without a doubt the gold standard when it comes to property management books. This bestseller is geared towards property managers of all levels of experience. Consequently, any beginner who’s in the process of figuring out how to become a property manager will find this book to be an easy and informative read. Expert property managers will also value the tried and proven concepts outlined here. Here are some of the good points that you can find in the book:
- An overview of fair housing laws
- Tips on how to make an investment property rent-ready
- The strategies that will allow you to attract ideal applicants
- A complete guide on how to manage tenants
- Basic guidelines for calculating rental income
Related: 10 Tips to Succeed as a Residential Property Manager
2 – The Property Management Tool Kit by Mike Beirne
The second spot on this list is reserved for this excellent book by Mike Beirne. The Property Management Tool Kit is surprisingly comprehensive and includes tips for every participant in the industry. This includes real estate investors, property management professionals, and experienced operators. Additionally, the book does a good job of identifying the common pitfalls of professional property management. Here are some of the tips that the book provides:
- How to increase the value of a rental property
- The strategies that can help you boost rental income
- How to resolve tenant issues
- How to handle cash flow and rent collection
3 – Property Management by Robert C. Kyle
This is one of the most extensive property management books on the market. It presents a lot of information in an easily digestible manner and relies on case studies and sample points to illustrate its main points. The book tackles the main concerns of residential property management and offers a set of best practices for good property management. Some of the issues explored in the book include:
- Property maintenance
- Accounting and finance
- Administrative and legal activities
- An up-to-date look at federal regulations
4 – Fair Housing: A Guidebook for Owners and Managers of Apartments by The Compass Group
Fair housing is one of the basic legal rights that every residential property manager should be aware of. The book explains a number of concepts relating to fair housing and provides extensive cross-references. In fact, this is one of the few books on property management that succeeds in simplifying every aspect of fair housing. Some of the issues that the book discusses are:
- Fair housing considerations for victims of domestic violence
- A definition of linguistic profiling
- The best practices for record-keeping
- What are the fair housing considerations for non-citizens?
Related: How Does Fair Housing Work in Real Estate Investing?
5 – ADA in Details: Interpreting the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design by Janis Kent
A successful property manager should always keep an eye on ADA compliance. This book goes into everything you need to know about ADA and outlines the steps that ensure compliance with it. Some of the key points discussed in the book include:
- The legal definition of disability
- The situations that ADA addresses
- An overview of accessibility standards and requirements
- The difference between CBC and ADA standards
6 – Residential Property Management for Landlords by Gita Faust
This book focuses on some of the most critical aspects of rental property management, particularly finance and accounting. This property management book presents a simple blueprint that facilitates the handling of a property’s finances. Here’s some of the information found in the book:
- How to record the sale and purchase of a property
- The basics of Cost Segregation
- Option Lease
- An overview of construction loans
7 – Property Management Accounting: A Survival Guide for Non-Accountants by Marc Levetin
This is another book that simplifies accounting for property managers. It offers initiation into accounting basics and explains how they’re applied in property management. The book uses simple language and it is specifically designed for people who have little to no accounting experience.
8 – Managing Rental Properties: Beginners Guide to Maximize Profits by Cameron Malone
This is one of the best real estate management books for beginners. As a result, anyone planning on embarking on a property management career or starting a property management company will find this book to be a goldmine of information. Above all, the strategies that are included in this book are fairly easy to apply. This is what you will learn in the book:
- The obligations of landlords and property managers
- The details of the move-in and move-out process
- The importance of having first-rate policies in place
- All the necessary legal documents for rentals
9 – Make It Ring: A Simple 3 Step Plan to Get Exclusive Property Management Leads by Mike O’Neil
This is one of the few property management books that outline a very simple method to generate leads. The strategy consists of 3 simple steps that can either be outsourced or handled in-house. Furthermore, the book is divided into four sections, with each one covering every step from pre-game prep to the execution.
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10 – Professional Property Management by Zenya Allen
The last entry on our list is a book by author Zenya Allen. This is a fairly complete guide that aims to help property managers boost profits and grow their client base. Specifically, the strategies mentioned in the book are intended to stimulate long-term growth and are centered on improving customer values and increasing the occupancy rate.
The Bottom Line
A professional property manager should always strive to learn more about the industry. The property management books reviewed in this article will go a long way in increasing the value that you bring to your client.