Making it in Real Estate
John McNellis
"The best real estate book I have read — I recommend it to everyone, novice and veteran, in the industry." — Lucas Joseph
John McNellis learned real estate the hard way: deal by deal, burn by burn, over 40 years and 100+ commercial projects. He wrote the practical field guide he wished existed when he started — the book that might also talk you out of starting at all.
Now in its third edition with 34 new chapters, Making It in Real Estate covers the full development lifecycle — buying right, managing risk, navigating city hall, structuring partnerships, chasing yield, surviving downturns, and building lasting wealth. Every chapter drawn from real deals and real consequences.
NEW: Seven unflinching case studies of McNellis's worst losses, with real numbers attached. Seven chapters on property management — the discipline that makes or breaks a real estate investment. Ten contrarian essays on housing, construction, all-electric mandates, earthquake risk, and the future of retail.
Plus a comprehensive glossary demystifying real estate law, finance, and industry jargon. (Also available as a supplemental PDF to the audio edition).
McNellis can swiftly cut to the chase to explain what works, what doesn't, and why. His writing is insightful, full of wit, and grounded in the kind of experience that turns a good book into an indispensable one.
For aspiring developers, working professionals, investors, and anyone who appreciates great writing about a tough, fascinating business.
Duration - 8h 3m.
Author - John McNellis.
Narrator - John McNellis.
Published Date - Saturday, 03 January 2026.
Copyright - © 2026 John McNellis ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
"The best real estate book I have read — I recommend it to everyone, novice and veteran, in the industry." — Lucas Joseph John McNellis learned real estate the hard way: deal by deal, burn by burn, over 40 years and 100+ commercial projects. He wrote the practical field guide he wished existed when he started — the book that might also talk you out of starting at all. Now in its third edition with 34 new chapters, Making It in Real Estate covers the full development lifecycle — buying right, managing risk, navigating city hall, structuring partnerships, chasing yield, surviving downturns, and building lasting wealth. Every chapter drawn from real deals and real consequences. NEW: Seven unflinching case studies of McNellis's worst losses, with real numbers attached. Seven chapters on property management — the discipline that makes or breaks a real estate investment. Ten contrarian essays on housing, construction, all-electric mandates, earthquake risk, and the future of retail. Plus a comprehensive glossary demystifying real estate law, finance, and industry jargon. (Also available as a supplemental PDF to the audio edition). McNellis can swiftly cut to the chase to explain what works, what doesn't, and why. His writing is insightful, full of wit, and grounded in the kind of experience that turns a good book into an indispensable one. For aspiring developers, working professionals, investors, and anyone who appreciates great writing about a tough, fascinating business. Duration - 8h 3m. Author - John McNellis. Narrator - John McNellis. Published Date - Saturday, 03 January 2026. Copyright - © 2026 John McNellis ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:12
Preface
Duration:00:04:10
Chapter 1: Quit Your Job?
Duration:00:04:58
Chapter 2: Doing It on the Side
Duration:00:04:28
Chapter 3: Playing Small Ball
Duration:00:04:20
Chapter 4: Specialize or Die
Duration:00:04:57
Chapter 5: Bromancing the Deal
Duration:00:04:30
Chapter 6: Size Matters
Duration:00:04:45
Chapter 7: Buying It Right
Duration:00:05:47
Chapter 8: Desperately Chasing Yield
Duration:00:03:50
Chapter 9: Liquid Assets
Duration:00:04:48
Chapter 10: A Little Help from My Friends
Duration:00:05:41
Chapter 11: Fickle Shades of Green
Duration:00:05:11
Chapter 12: Autographing the Deal
Duration:00:05:46
Chapter 13: The Politics of It All
Duration:00:05:25
Chapter 14: Decked by City Hall?
Duration:00:05:50
Chapter 15: Sell Versus Hold
Duration:00:06:03
Chapter 16: Lies, Damn Lies, and the IRR
Duration:00:05:21
Chapter 17: Working without a Net Worth
Duration:00:05:20
Chapter 18: Monogamy and Its Downside
Duration:00:04:55
Chapter 19: Let Us Now Praise Famous Architects
Duration:00:04:14
Chapter 20: General Contractor Relativity
Duration:00:05:32
Chapter 21: Accountants: Gimme Shelter
Duration:00:04:27
Chapter 22: Sex, Lies, and Off-Market Deals
Duration:00:05:32
Chapter 23: Do As I Say
Duration:00:04:55
Chapter 24: The Back of a Napkin
Duration:00:05:22
Chapter 25: No Partners, No Problems
Duration:00:06:43
Chapter 26: The "NTM"
Duration:00:06:24
Chapter 27: Understating Your Net Worth
Duration:00:04:58
Chapter 28: Leaseholds: Buy 'Em Where They Ain't
Duration:00:07:08
Chapter 29: Your Empire: Build It or Buy It?
Duration:00:04:26
Chapter 30: The 1031 Exchange: Panacea or Placebo?
Duration:00:05:54
Chapter 31: The Only Free Cheese Is in a Mouse Trap
Duration:00:04:25
Chapter 32: Game of Phones
Duration:00:04:53
Chapter 33: Winter Is Coming
Duration:00:05:41
Chapter 34: Winter Is Here
Duration:00:06:00
Chapter 35: There's No Place Like Home
Duration:00:04:52
Chapter 36: Investing in Accidental Assets
Duration:00:04:45
Chapter 37: Retail's Wholesale Risks
Duration:00:17:11
Chapter 38: Environmental Contamination: Hazardous to Your Health?
Duration:00:08:43
Chapter 39: A Sod Roof Too Far
Duration:00:05:02
Chapter 40: Money
Duration:00:06:05
Chapter 41: Abandon All Hope
Duration:00:05:18
Chapter 42: Take That Bad Settlement and Run
Duration:00:03:56
Chapter 43: Death of a Deal
Duration:00:06:39
Chapter 44: Running Counter to Expectations
Duration:00:04:01
Chapter 45: Sell the Disco While They're Still Dancing
Duration:00:05:08
Chapter 46: Hard Money for Hard Times
Duration:00:04:46
Chapter 47: CMBS: Commercial Mortgage BS
Duration:00:09:06
Chapter 48: Selling Your Business
Duration:00:05:17
Chapter 49: So Much for the Great Inflation Hedge
Duration:00:05:37
Chapter 50: Everyone Loses Money
Duration:00:05:42
Chapter 51: Birdcage Walk
Duration:00:07:52
Chapter 52: Santa Rita Plaza
Duration:00:06:38
Chapter 53: Weed
Duration:00:03:35
Chapter 54: Citrus Heights
Duration:00:03:38
Chapter 55: Lake Tahoe
Duration:00:04:32
Chapter 56: Clear Lake
Duration:00:06:05
Chapter 57: On the Importance of Management
Duration:00:02:45
Chapter 58: When to Manage It Yourself
Duration:00:06:15
Chapter 59: A Few Manageable Tips
Duration:00:07:14
Chapter 60: The Downside of Passive Investments
Duration:00:07:55
Chapter 61: How We Managed
Duration:00:04:17
Chapter 62: Going Outside
Duration:00:04:03
Chapter 63: Choosing a Manager
Duration:00:02:55
Chapter 64: Modular Construction: Not There Yet
Duration:00:05:40
Chapter 65: Going All-Electric at Our Peril
Duration:00:04:58
Chapter 66: Murder on the Housing Express
Duration:00:08:16
Chapter 67: Could Turkey's Disaster Happen Here?
Duration:00:04:59
Chapter 68: Our Retail Marshall Plan
Duration:00:02:32
Chapter 69: Is Our Approach to the Drought All Wet?
Duration:00:05:46
Chapter 70: Stealing the Golden Gate
Duration:00:06:47
Chapter 71: Not "Permitting" Recovery
Duration:00:04:23
Chapter 72: Falling Off the Cable Car?
Duration:00:05:23
Chapter 73: The Pacaso of Time Shares
Duration:00:04:59
Chapter 74: How to Keep Friends and Influence No One
Duration:00:05:10
Chapter 75: Commencement Address
Duration:00:09:43
Chapter 76: Wisdom for the Ages
Duration:00:03:10
Chapter 77: Your Obituary
Duration:00:03:50
Chapter 78: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Duration:00:06:02
Chapter 79: In Memoriam: James J. Curtis III
Duration:00:04:08
Chapter 80: Postscript
Duration:00:02:15
Glossary
Duration:00:40:39
About the Author
Duration:00:02:01
Ending Credits
Duration:00:00:20