ZillowTalk - My book review... A must read for agents!

[Joseph Firmin]

Zillowtalk - by Spencer Rascoff & Stan Humphries (CEO & Chief Economist at Zillow respectively)

I saw this book recommended to me on Google Play and then saw it on Audible again so I got it, I was intrigued by the tagline: List your home after March Madness but before Masters Week. 

I love books that look at real indisputable data to back up what the data tells us about ourselves and a particular market. No matter what you think of Google, Amazon or other data-driven mega monsters, the types of insights they can gather to help us understand the world we live in is amazing. 

This book walks through using tips from the data to understand when to buy and sell a house: e.g., the March Madness/Masters Week tagline. Tips such as... Being within a certain distance from a Starbucks can tell you how fast your property will appreciate. You shouldn't buy the worst house in a great neighborhood. How you can still get a great house in the school district you want for less than the houses right next to the school. And many others... 

It goes into breaking myths of real estate, how a real estate agent is still very much needed, and what types of renovations have the best ROI.

I recommend the book for no other reason than educating yourself if you are a homeowner, but from an investor's POV, it is insightful on which neighborhoods to target and how to spot trends that can signal where investment should take place.

Enjoy the read - would love to hear your thoughts, if you've read it!