Best Property Development Books | Top 6
Great books to start your career as a property developer
So you want to be a property developer? In this article, we’re going to take a look at the six best property development books. These are as rated by the Essential Property team. You should read these before you think about a career in property development. Property development is a hands-on business where there’s no substitute for experience. And mistakes can be expensive, so you’ll want to learn as much as you can before you start.
Most of the books on this list are books on property development for beginners aimed at those new to property development. Some are focussed on the strategic side of property development. Others are focussed on the practical aspects of getting the work done. They cover the topic from a top-down and bottom-up perspective. Therefore, they’ll give you the best possible chance of fulling your dream of becoming property developer.
You can pick up the complete set for less than £100. Therefore, they are an inexpensive way to acquire the knowledge you need to start your property development career. It’s a cheaper option than signing up to expensive property development courses. It’s certainly cheaper than learning through trial and error and expensive on-the-job mistakes. You can even read some of the books for free with Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited free trial.
You can click on the books to see the latest reviews and prices on Amazon. In addition, you can look inside to find out about the contents.
Our Reading List
How to start in property development
Click links to see latest reviews and prices
1. The Complete Guide to Property Investment – Rob Dix
Synopsis:
“Over the last 20 years, more than a million Brits have made life-changing profits from buy-to-let. But as prices rise and taxes keep changing, investors need to get smart to succeed.
It’s far from ‘game over’, but the game is changing… for the better. The unwary and under-prepared will be squeezed from the market – leaving educated, strategic investors to have their best decade yet.
The Complete Guide To Property Investment gives you the insight, information and action plan you need to navigate this new property landscape and come out on top.”
Our view:
A straightforward guide setting out some of the essential knowledge you’ll need to succeed with property development in UK.
This book is not a property development book per se. However, it is a great place to start if you’re new to property. It walks readers through the key parts of the investment process, from raising your finance, deciding where to buy and finding deals, to refurbs, ongoing management for rental units, and deciding when to sell up.
It’s a great place to start for budding property developers. It will give you a firm grounding in the basics and a platform to build from.
2. The Property Investment Playbook – Robert Heaton & Ye Feng
Synopsis:
“There’s more to property than buy-to-let. It can take years to get to grips with the various strategies and longer still to master them.
The Property Investment Playbook is a course designed to shortcut that journey. It teaches you the typical ‘plays’ behind most property success stories and the techniques everyday investors are using to build profitable portfolios.
Volume 1 is aimed at new investors and those who’ve stuck to one main strategy in the past. Volume 2 is aimed at experienced investors or anyone that’s looking to learn more advanced property techniques.”
Our view:
A comprehensive overview of all the strategies and techniques you can use to build a property business that works for you.
The course is designed to take your knowledge from that of a new starter with little or no prior experience, to someone with a great overview of all the different strategies out there. It covers the basics like how to finance deals, how to use equity in your home, and development strategies like light refurbishments and flipping properties for a profit, to advanced strategies like using BRRR to recycle your cash.
It’s one of the best property development books out there for strategic thinking and creativity.
3. The Housebuilder’s Bible: 15th Edition – Mark Brinkley
Synopsis:
“The go-to title for the UK’s army of self-builders and renovators, the Housebuilder’s Bible has been garnering fans for over 25 years.
Mark Brinkley’s handbook combines trade prices, planning guidelines and building regulations with deep insights into how and why we chose to build the way we do and how we might do it better. Brinkley puts forty years of experience to work to unlock the secrets of good design and construction in a highly readable format.
This latest edition also digs into the big changes home building and heating are about to undergo to prepare us for our zero-carbon future.“
Our view:
A must if you’re looking to learn the practical skills needed for property development.
This is a fantastic book for self-builders, home improvers and new property developers. It covers everything from finding and buying land, planning permission and building regulations, to estimating building costs, project management, and contracting with third parties. It offers advice on all aspects of the build process, including groundworks, superstructures, core utilities, finishes, and room-by-room guides to finishing the build.
One of the best intros to property development on the market and an absolute must-have book.
4. Collins Complete DIY Manual – Albert Jackson & David Day
Synopsis:
“Collins Complete DIY Manual has sold over 3 million copies and is the most comprehensive and authoritative DIY manual ever produced.
For novices, DIY enthusiasts or professionals, this essential book continues to be the most in-depth, up-to-date and user-friendly DIY book on the market, covering everything from decorating and repairs to electricity, plumbing and much more.
This fully updated version features an even more accessible design to help you navigate the info and thousands of photographs to make sure you get your job done quickly and safely.”
Our view:
Does what it says on the tin. An excellent book on home improvements and repairs.
This is not a book about property development. However, it is a fantastic book that those new to property development will benefit from hugely. A great user manual for any job, be that installing a toilet or replacing a tap, it covers everything from wallpapering and tiling to plastering and flooring. It’s got chapters on insulation and ventilation, electrical works, plumbing and heating, working outdoors, and dealing with damp and infestation.
A great book for new property developers and refurbers who want to get more hands-on.
5. Property Development – Richard Reed
Synopsis:
“This fully revised seventh edition of Property Development has been completely updated to reflect ongoing changes in the property field.
This text has been in high demand since the first edition was published over 40 years ago. This new edition of the standard text is ideally suited for all property development and real estate students.
This edition includes new content discussing the rise and significance of PropTech with all chapters updated and enhanced.”
Our view:
Property Development by Richard Reed, now in it’s seventh edition, has stood the test of time.
Many aspiring developers first read on the topic, this book is a fantastic introduction. It covers all the basics, like finding land for development, how to appraise and finance a project, planning and construction, sales and marketing, and the impact of property cycles. The additional chapters on sustainable development and PropTech are also a great addition to the latest iteration of the book.
The first book we read on property development and the one we recommend to most people.
6. Industrial to Residential Conversions – Ian Child & Ritchie Clapson
Synopsis:
“Industrial To Residential Conversions is more than a single-strategy guide. It covers the development process end-to-end, so novice developers can gain the skills they need to get into small-scale property development.
A complete overview of the entire development process, with a focus on industrial conversion opportunities including pictures and diagrams.
The ideal book for those considering small-scale property development as a means to generate wealth and those looking to find a development strategy that can generate substantial returns with limited competition from other developers.”
Our view:
A unique book about property development through industrial-to-residential conversions.
This book is a more salesy than some on the list, but the information is no less valuable. The book is a great intro to all aspects of this strategy. It starts out with chapters on deal analysis, the due diligence process, and how to finance your build. The middle part covers where to find these types of opportunities, the planning implications and permitted development rights. It ends with advice on how to design your build and how to market your units.
The best property development book out there on industrial to residential conversions.
A guide to property development for beginners
How to get into property development
Are you new to property development? Trying to get your head around how to start in property development can be daunting. What’s more, the property development courses out there are expensive. You’ve not even decided if this is for you. And you don’t want to spend thousands on property development courses trying to work it out. This is all getting too difficult. You might as well call time on this right now.
Not so fast there. Just relax and calm down for a second. As with anything in life, getting started is often the most difficult part. And the same is certainly true for property development in UK, which can be a bit of a mine field. If you’re serious about this, and if you really want to know how to get into property development, we’ve put together a challenge just for you. If you want to know more, then read on.
Best Property Development Books – The Challenge
Our challenge to you is to see if you can get through the reading list above in six months. That’s right, we challenge you to read our six books on property development for beginners in six months. This is a personal development challenge you can start any time. It doesn’t have to be part of a New Year’s resolution. So, you can get started today.
We’re confident this reading list contains all of the core ideas and knowledge every aspiring property developer needs. These books will teach you the strategies you need to succeed in property development in UK. They will teach you about the risks and rewards involved. You’ll also pick up the longer term perspective you’ll need to get the big macro decisions right. If you want to learn how to get into property development, then there is no better way.
If you decide to take on the challenge, best of luck. The knowledge you gain will be invaluable. The reading list above is broad and deep, and it will help take your skills to another level. And remember, you can read some of these books for free on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited free trial.
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