Joe’s top picks for building wealth, sharpening your mindset, and scaling success
When it comes to real estate investing, your best returns don’t just come from deals; they come from knowledge. Joe LaFleur and the 100Units team have pulled together some of their top book recommendations that offer timeless lessons, practical strategies, and fresh perspectives. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your investing skills, strengthen your mindset, or simply stay motivated, these reads will give you an edge.
Join us as we explore 13 impactful books every multifamily investor should read.
1. Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles
Authors: William Quinn and John D. Turner
We recommend starting here because it’s a reminder that uncertainty and market volatility aren’t new. This book traces boom-and-bust cycles, from tulip mania in the 1600s to the Great Recession, and shows how investor psychology shapes outcomes. It’s a powerful read for multifamily investors because it teaches you to recognize patterns, manage risk, and avoid repeating the same costly mistakes.
2. From Perfect to Real
Author: Amy Calandrino
Amy’s book is a favorite because it blends humanity and resilience with real-world tools for tracking goals and staying motivated. Whether you’re building a multifamily portfolio or simply looking for a personal boost, her lessons help you stay grounded while pushing forward. It’s inspiring, relatable, and exactly the kind of perspective we value at 100Units.
“This is a great book Amy Calandrino has recently written that runs the gamut between Ted Lasso’s humanity, resilience, vulnerability, and specificity on tracking daily progress towards your goals. Check it out. I really recommend it. Amy has done an awesome job writing this book, and I think you’re going to greatly enjoy it.”
—Joe LaFleur, Multifamily Investment Advisor and Founder of 100Units
3. Reminiscences of a Stock Operator
Author: Edwin Lefèvre
Though written over a century ago, this classic remains relevant today. Following Jesse Livermore through market booms and busts reveals how discipline and psychology drive success or failure. Multifamily investors can draw valuable parallels, learning how to stay grounded and avoid emotional decision-making during volatile times.
4. The Changing World Order
Author: Ray Dalio
Dalio examines the risks of currency devaluation and global economic shifts, showing how wealth can quietly erode over time. Multifamily real estate protects against these forces, offering both steady cash flow and a tangible hedge against inflation. This book reinforces why real estate remains one of the smartest long-term investments.
5. Real Estate by the Numbers
Authors: J Scott and Dave Meyer
Clear and practical, this guide makes complex real estate metrics easy to understand. It explains GRM, cap rate, IRR, and more while emphasizing the importance of risk-adjusted returns. For multifamily investors, the book is a valuable resource for analyzing deals with accuracy and confidence, avoiding the trap of bad math leading to bad investments.
“If you’re looking to understand real estate investing, this is a great book to run through all of the math that is important behind multifamily real estate investing, cap rate, cash on cash return, net operating income, and internal rate of return. They break down the calculation in an easy-to-understand way. This book is awesome in regard to making it super easy to understand the math behind the investment, so there’s no more guesswork; you actually understand exactly how properties are underwritten and why those returns are what they expect to be.”
—Joe LaFleur, Multifamily Investment Advisor and Founder of 100Units
6. The Psychology of Money
Author: Morgan Housel
One of the most impactful takeaways from this book is the difference between getting rich and staying rich. Housel shows how behavior, mindset, and discipline matter more than intelligence when it comes to building lasting wealth. For multifamily investors, it’s a reminder that true wealth comes from freedom and security, not lifestyle inflation.
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7. How to Legally Raise Capital for Real Estate
Author: Kim Lisa Taylor
Raising capital without understanding the rules can lead to costly mistakes. Taylor’s book breaks down how to structure deals properly, build trust with investors, and comply with SEC guidelines. The guidance on Private Placement Memorandums (PPMs) is especially important for multifamily investors who plan to raise funds from outside sources.
“If you’re talking to your friends and family about raising money, make sure you are doing it legally. This is an excellent insight from Kim Lisa Taylor in her book. Highly useful and effective to make certain you’re staying within the legal frameworks, and useful just to generally understand how raising capital and investment should work.”
—Joe LaFleur, Multifamily Investment Advisor and Founder of 100Units
8. Money for Couples
Author: Ramit Sethi
Money is one of the top reasons couples argue, but this book turns financial stress into an opportunity for growth. Sethi introduces the concept of “Money Dates”, intentional, positive conversations about shared goals, spending, and values. For investors, having alignment with a partner creates stronger financial decisions and long-term stability.
9. The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban
Author: John Talty
Nick Saban’s “Process” is a powerful lesson in consistency. He approached every week with the same discipline, win or lose, focusing on fundamentals and preparation. Multifamily investors can apply this same approach: control the process, underwriting, operations, and discipline, while understanding that outcomes are often outside of direct control.
“Great lessons about resilience from Nick Saban. It didn’t matter on Monday whether he’d won a huge game or lost that Saturday before—he was going to show up and do the exact same things. He was going to focus on recruiting the absolute best players he could. He was going to focus on conditioning his team to be ready. And he was going to focus on practicing over and over so that they would make the correct play in each situation. He called it The Process. Super useful for real estate investing as well: the outcome is outside your control, but doing the right thing, following your plan, and moving forward is in your control.”
—Joe LaFleur, Multifamily Investment Advisor and Founder of 100Units
10. Saban: The Making of a Coach
Author: Monte Burke
This book emphasizes Saban’s meticulous preparation before every game. His detailed approach to strategy mirrors the due diligence process in multifamily investing. When investors prepare thoroughly, knowing financing strategies, anticipating challenges, and checking every box, they gain the flexibility to pivot and succeed when surprises arise.
11. The Hands-Off Investor
Author: Brian Burke
This is a must-read for anyone considering passive investing or real estate syndications. Burke explains how to evaluate opportunities and sponsors with a critical eye, helping investors avoid common pitfalls. It’s an excellent resource for protecting capital and ensuring smart, informed decisions.
12. Tax-Free Wealth
Author: Tom Wheelwright
Taxes are one of the largest expenses investors face, and this book shows how to minimize them legally. Wheelwright provides clear, actionable strategies for protecting wealth and maximizing returns. For multifamily investors, smart tax planning can accelerate growth and preserve more of the income earned.
13. Never Split the Difference
Author: Chris Voss
Negotiation is at the core of real estate, and Voss’s strategies are both practical and powerful. Drawing on his experience as an FBI negotiator, he provides tools to navigate high-stakes conversations. Multifamily investors can apply these lessons to negotiations with sellers, lenders, or partners, strengthening deals and relationships alike.
Your next chapter in multifamily success
Success in multifamily real estate isn’t just about finding the right properties; it’s about building the right mindset, skills, and strategies. Each of these books provides valuable insights that apply directly to investing and personal growth. By investing in knowledge, multifamily investors position themselves for smarter decisions, stronger portfolios, and long-term success.
Get the most from your multifamily investment!
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