Business History Links
INDUSTRIES: Business History of Real Estate
business biographies  

June 15, 1861 - Dr. Charles McCormick, Lewis Cass Wittenmyer, six other men, mostly from Martinez, CA, founded The Black Diamond Coal Mining Company in San Francisco, CA to mine coal in foothills of Mount Diablo, 35 miles northeast of San Francisco (Cumberland mine, Black Diamond mine); not much demand for first coal mined from Mount Diablo mines (coal-burning equipment designed to burn different type of coal, shipped from Washington Territory, British Columbia, England, Australia at great expense); engineer on Chrysopolis, 240-foot-long steamer ("Golden City" in Greek; California Steam Navigation Company) discovered that Mount Diablo coal burned well if fire boxes were modified (demand for local coal dramatically increased); 1865 - Alvinza Hayward (made millions in gold mining), Louis McLane (General Manager of Wells Fargo Express, son of prominent U. S. statesman), group of wealthy capitalists with ties to Bank of California, California Steam Navigation Company initiated secret takeover atempt (bank clerk bought more than 85% of Company’s stock, transferred stock to Hayward et al); January 29, 1866 - attended special shareholders’ meeting, filled majority of positions on Board of Directors; 1868 - completed railroad from Company’s coal mines to Black Diamond Landing on San Joaquin River; survived land-grab attempt (legal battle over portion of its mining property at Nortonville, CA ended in lawsuit heard before United States Supreme Court), disastrous mine explosion (killed seven men, injured eight more), multiple fires (engine-house of hoisting works over new shaft, fire destroyed 14 buildings in town of Nortonville); early 1885 - closed mining operation at Nortonville, dismantled railroad; 1890 - formed wholly owned subsidiary named “Southport Land and Commercial Company” to act as land development, leasing unit of mining company; transferred most assets in California and Oregon to newly formed subsidiary; 1894 - 23 drowned in tragic shipwreck (Ivanhoe, part of fleet of ocean faring ships and river vessels, sank during a storm on trip from Seattle to San Francisco); 1890s - helped finance Mutual Electric Light Company in San Francisco (large consumer of Company’s coal; later became part of Pacific Gas and Electric Company); 1904 - Alvinza Hayward died (Chairman, largest stockholder); sold its coal mine at Black Diamond, Washington (exited coal producing business); 1905 - Southport Land and Commercial Company began to develop town of Black Diamond, California (now part of City of Pittsburg); 1906 - most company records lost in Great San Francisco Earthquake; 1907 - Bellingham Bay Lumber Company acquired; launched Black Diamond Coal Mining Company lumbering, manufacturing (owned, operated one of largest sawmills in world, capacity to produce 375,000 feet of lumber every ten hours); 1912 - sold lumder, manufacturing operations; Black Diamond Coal Mining Company focused on managing Southport Land and Commercial Company; September 1949 - Nortonville mines closed; 1930s-1940s - erected, leased commercial properties, single family residences, apartment buildings in town of Pittsburg; 1953 - severed last remaining tie to coal mining industry; 1959 - merged Southport Land and Commercial Company subsidiary into mining company; The Black Diamond Coal Mining Company renamed Southport Land and Commercial Company; July 1, 2007 - moved corporate office to Martinez, CA; oldest stock corporation still in existence; California’s fourth oldest corporation of any type (other existing California corporations can trace their history to before 1861 but dates of incorporation of current corporate existence are much later).

January 1, 1863 - Daniel Freeman, farmer, submitted first claim under new Homestead Act (essentially legalized long-standing American practice of squatting on vast federal landholdings in West) for property near Beatrice, NE; act authorized any citizen or intended citizen to settle on any surveyed but unclaimed 160-acre tract of public land; full title to property granted after five years if settlers made specified improvements to land, paid small fee; majority of early homesteads failed, more than 1.6 million farmers and ranchers eventually fulfilled their contracts, became landowners in West.

April 1, 1875 - J. Morris Meredith (24) opened real estate company in Boston, MA; leased, sold residential, retail and office space; 1886 - Thomas Nelson joined, name changed to Meredith & Nelson; 1891 - Nelson retired;  Edward Wigglseworth Grew (21) joined, name changed to Meredith & Grew, added management of real estate property and trusts; 1931 - Grew became first president.; 1939 - moved into Boston's industrial market; 1960s - grew to 36 employees, one of Boston's largest real estate brokerages specializing in commercial, industrial real estate; 2000 - over 140 employees, six integrated service groups (Brokerage, Capital Markets, Counseling & Valuation, Development & Advisory, Investment Sales and Property & Asset Management); 2007 - became an affiliate of Colliers Macaulay Nicolls (CMN) Inc.; 2008 - formally joined Colliers International, global partnership of independently-owned commercial real estate service firms (over 10,000 employees operating from over 290 offices in 61 countries, revenues in excess of $1.6 billion, second largest real estate firm in world); name changed to Colliers Meredith & Grew.

1879 - William Morrison DeWolf established DeWolf Realty Company, Inc. in Palace Hotel; with William Waldo DeWolf (son) managed, developed, sold properties throughout San Francisco, Northern California; 1949 - Oliver A. Talmage joined company, soon became partner, eventually sole owner; became exclusive Management Broker for all Veteran's Administration properties developed, managed by VA throughout San Francisco, San Mateo, Marin counties; 1982 - William A.Talmage (son) assumed ownership; oldest real estate firm west of Mississippi.

1884 - Telfair Stockton founded Telfair Stockton and Co. in Jacksonville, FL; played large part in development of Jacksonville as a port; 1924 - James R. Stockton, Sr. (son) formed organization "selling Jacksonville to Jacksonville people through Jacksonville newspapers"; 1925 - advertised nationally; 1942 - Ponte Vedra Corporation acquired most of Ponte Vedra, FL from National Lead Company; 1946 - merged with Whatley & Davin Co., formed Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co.; 1950s-1960s - grew Ponte Vedra Club; 1966 - James Stockton, Jr. (grandson) started Stockton Land Corporation, began developing Sawgrass Country Club; 2010 - Stockton Real Estate owned, operated by James R. Stockton Jr., Julia Peyton Stockton-Riedel (daughter).

May 1, 1884 - First skyscraper in America under construction: 10-story building on corner of LaSalle and Adams in Chicago, IL.

1885 - Archibald McAlister opened "Lands, Loans, Rents, & Insurance" office on Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo, CA; 1911 - Ernest Vollmer (son-in-law) joined business; 1921 - Vollmer took over, renamed 'Ernest Vollmer, Real Estate & Insurance'; 1927 - Pete Bachino joined firm; 1940 - Vollmer shifted to ranching and non-insurance endeavors; Les Stockird joined agency; renamed "Bachino & Stockird Insurance Brokers, Successors to Ernest Vollmer"; early 1950s - Stockbir retired; Harry Morris earned ownership in agency (first called on agency in 1935 as field representative from Hartford Insurance Company); 1961 - Marvin Dee, formerly Hartford claims adjuster, joined company; 1964 - Greg Morris joined, renamed Morris & Dee Insurance; 1975 - Phil Chew (oversaw inside operations), Gene Garritano (fresh from Hartford's executive training program) joined business; 1986 - Dee retired, Morris, Garritano, Chew remained as principals; 1989 - Morris, Garritano sole owners. 

April 22, 1889 - Oklahoma Land Rush began at noon as thousands of homesteaders staked claims.

1890 - Charles P. Bennett started real estate company in Colorado Springs, CO; 1911 - Harry Shellenberger joined busines, renamed Bennett-Shellenberger Realty, Inc.; 1960s - split CBS Insurance; late 1960s - acquired by Tom Gorab's father; 1984 - Tom Gorab (son) took over.

August 27, 1906 - Colbert Coldwell, two partners formed real estate company, Tucker, Lynch and Coldwell; dedicated to principle that they would work only for customers, not trade for their own account; 1913 - Benjamin Arthur Banker joined firm as salesman; 1914 - became partner; 1981 - acquired by Sears, Roebuck and Co. (member of Sears Financial Network); 1990 - locations in fifty states, expanded internationally with offices in Canada, Puerto Rico; 1993 - acquired by Fremont Group (private investment company, formerly known as Bechtel Investments, Inc.), company senior management; May 1996 - acquired by HFS Incorporated, world´s largest franchisor of hotels, residential real estate brokerage offices; 1997 - HFS merged with CUC International, formed Cendant Corporation; July 31, 2006 - Cendant spun off Real Estate Services Division, named Realogy Corporation.

1910 - Eli Huber made first real estate sale (farm near Rockport, IN); started Huber Realty; 1945 - Curt Huber (son) joined firm; developed standardized forms to make business more efficient; 1987 - affiliated with F.C. Tucker Company (founded 1918 by Fred C. Tucker, Sr., third generation management, state’s largest independent real estate brokerage company); changed name to F.C.Tucker/Huber REALTORS; 1992 - acquired by Kevin Eastridge (former sales manager since 1988) and Kathy Briscoe (joined firm in 1991, formerly of Don Cox and Associates); 1993 - formed F.C. Tucker Commercial real estate; February 2002 - merged with Emge REALTY® (founded by Norman Emge in 1946, acquired by Keith Emge [son] in 1984); changed name to F.C.Tucker Emge REALTORS; 2006 - merged with Kattman Realty; 2009 - merged with The Realty Group, Evansville’s third largest real estate company, made F.C. Tucker Emge REALTORS dominant real estate company in Southern Indiana.

1910 - Frank Howard Allen, Jr. opened real estate office in San Anselmo, CA; 1949 - Charles Howard Allen (son) named partner; name changed to Frank Howard Allen & Son; 1953 - Charles Allen took helm; 1966 - acquired by Jeffory Morshead; 1989 - acquired by Larry and Brennie Brackett (Morshead's cousin); 48th largest realtor in U.S., largest percentage of market share in Marin County, strong presence in Sonoma County; 2009 - sales of $1.9 billion.

1910 - Charles Shiffler started constructing, repairing barns and farm buildings for local families in Naperville, IL; 2010 - managed by Steve Shiffler (fourth generation builder).

October 31, 1917 - J. Clydesdale Cushman and Bernard Wakefield (brothers-in-law) founded Cushman & Wakefield as property management company in New York City (50 E. 42nd St.); 1946 - handled land assemblage for what became United Nations complex on First Avenue in Manhattan; 1970 - acquired by RCA; 1976 - acquired by The Rockefeller Group; 1989 - Mitsubishi Estate Co. Ltd., one of world's largest real estate companies, became majority shareholder in Rockefeller Group; 2000 - 10,000 employees, 145 offices in 46 countries; 2001 - merger of Cushman & Wakefield and Cushman Realty Corporation; 2004 - passed 400 million square foot mark in property under management;  2007 - world's largest privately held real estate services firm.

1919 - Samuel Finley Brown Morse, distant cousin of telegraph-inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse and manager for Pacific Improvement Company (headed by "Big Four", had extensive real estate holdings on Monterey Peninsula), formed Del Monte Properties Company, acquired holdings of Pacific Improvement Company (18,000-acre Del Monte unit including Hotel Del Monte, The Lodge at Pebble Beach, two golf courses); February 22, 1919 - grand opening of Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Lodge at Pebble Beach; 1948 - U.S. Navy bought Hotel Del Monte from the Del Monte Properties Company for $2.2 million (now Naval Postgraduate School); January 1977 - Del Monte Properties Company reincorporated as Pebble Beach Corporation; 1978 - acquired by Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation after financial success of Star Wars, reorganized it as Pebble Beach Company; 1990 - acquired by Ben Hogan Properties, owned by Japanese business man Minoru Isutani; March 1992 - acquired by Taiheiyo Golf Club of Japan; 1999 - acquired from The Lone Cypress Company by group of American investors, headed by Peter Ueberroth.

Photograph from the Julian P. Graham Collection Samuel F. B. (Finley Brown) Morse - founder Pebble Beach  (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/images/0524morse.jpg)

1936 - W. Averell Harriman (son of Edward H. Harriman), chairman of Union Pacific Railroad, founded Sun Valley, ID; first western ski resort; featured nation's first ski lift with chairs, invented by railroad Union Pacific personnel in Omaha, NE.

May 3, 1948 - U.S. Supreme Court ruled that covenants prohibiting sale of real estate to blacks and other minorities were legally unenforceable.

September 14, 1960 - President Eisenhower signed into law the Real Estate Investment Trust Act of 1960; enabled investors to buy shares in commercial real estate ventures for the first time; treated as a mutual fund investment for tax purposes.

1971 - Art Bartlett (38), Marshall Fisher opened residential real estate brokerage office in Santa Ana, CA; persuaded independent brokers to share advertising, training, contracting, selling under Century 21 name; 1977 - signed franchise agreements with more than 6,000 brokers, added more than 150/month; August 16, 1977 - Century 21 Real Estate Corporation registered "Century 21" trademark first used September 9, 1973 (real estate brokerage services); went public; 1978 - $23 million in licensing fees, brokerage commissions; 1979 - acquired by Trans World Corporation for $89 million; 1985 - acquired by Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for $251 million; 1995 - acquired by Hospitality Franchise Systems for about $200 million; 2006 -spun off by Cendant Corp. (formerly Hospitality Franchise Systems) as Realogy Corp. (Century 21’s current parent); 2009 - more than 7,700 franchise offices, more than 120,000 sales agents around world.

Art Bartlett - Century 21 (http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/01/07/obituaries/ 07barlettimg/articleInline.jpg)

June 6, 1978 - California voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 13, a primary ballot initiative calling for major cuts in property taxes.

March 2, 1987 - Government officials reported that median price for new home had topped $100,000 for the first time.

August 30, 1989 - A federal jury in New York found ''hotel queen'' Leona Helmsley guilty of income tax evasion but acquitted her of extortion.

October 30, 1989 - Mitsubishi Estate Co., a major Japanese real estate concern, announced it was buying 51 percent of Rockefeller Group Inc. of New York.

August 11, 1992 - The Mall of America, biggest shopping mall in  country, opened in Bloomington, MN.

November 21, 2004 - Donald Trump's casino empire filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

2005 - Average American home measured 2,434 square feet (938 feet in 1950).

2006 - 69% of Americans owned homes (44% in 1940); 2000-2006 - average price of home in U. S. rose 56%.

3 (source: Robert J. Schiller - "Irrational Exuberance, 2nd ed., 2006;  http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/08/26/weekinreview/27leon_graph2.large.gif)

 

 

October 17, 2006 - MetLife agreed to sell Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village (110 apartment buildings along the East River First Avenue between 14th and 23rd Streets; 25,000 people in 11,232 units) for $5.4 billion in largest American real estate deal ever to Jerry I. Speyer, chief executive of Tishman Speyer Properties, controls some of New York City’s most prominent landmarks (Rockefeller Center, Chrysler Building); 1947 - built by Metropolitan Life for returning veterans.

October 31, 2006 - Trammell Crow Co. reached agreement to be acquired by CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. for about $2.2 billion, including debt and integration costs; Ellis . will have combined pro-forma 2006 revenue of approximately $4.4 billion, 21,000 employees (upon completion of the deal).

December 17, 2006 - Realogy, real estate franchisor with more than 300,000 agents among its franchises (three times more than its closest rival, Re/Max International) which participates in fourth of all home sales nationally, owns Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and Sotheby’s International Realty, agreed to be acquired by Apollo Group, private equity firm, for about $9 billion.

February 7, 2007 - Blackstone Group, , largest acquirer of large office buildings in last five years ($32 billion), agreed to pay $39 billion for Equity Office Properties, nation’s largest office building owner, manager (590 buildings, 105 million square feet of office space in major metropolitan markets); biggest leveraged private equity buyout in history (RJR - $30 billion; HCA - $32 billion); confirmed wave of capital flowing into commercial real estate, growing power of private money.

March 31 - 2007 - Homeowners' equity peaked at $10.7 trillion(first quarter of 2007; according to the Federal Reserve Board's quarterly Flow of Funds Account); 2002-2006: homeowners' equity rose 38%.

June 22, 2007 - Bear Stearns disclosed that two hedge funds specializing in subprime mortgages managed by its asset management division faced wave of redemptions (High-Grade Structured Credit Strategies Fund, High-Grade Structured Credit Strategies Enhanced Leveraged Fund); borrowers with poor credit histories defaulted on loans in record numbers, disrupted mortgage repayments, cash-generating ability of subprime lenders, reduced prices of illiquid derivative debt securities, collateralized debt obligations (CDO); spent spend $1.6 billion to bail out first fund; July 31, 2007 - both funds filed for protection under Chapter 15 of bankruptcy code; August 5, 2007 - Warren Spector, co-president, resigned.

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August 25, 2007 - Inflation-adjusted median price of American homes (level at which half of all homes are more expensive, half are less) expected to fall for first time since federal housing agencies began keeping statistics in 1950; not likely to return to its 2007 peak for more than decade (source: Moody's Economy.com).

November 2007 - Sales of new single-family homes fell 9% (from October), to12-year low, seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 647,000; down 53.4% from high of 1.39 million in summer 2005 (steepest peak-to-trough decline since 1982), slowest pace since April 1995 (pace of 621,000); since 2006 - new-home sales nationwide down 34.4%, biggest year-to-year decline since early 1991; median sales price of new home dipped to $239,100, down 0.4% from year ago; S&P/Case-Shiller® Home Price Indices in 20 broad metropolitan areas of U.S. (measured since 1987), showed price declines in every market for two months (September, October) for the first time ever.

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April 26, 2008 - Census Bureau reported 189,000 completed new homes on the market, unsold; down a bit from peak of 198,000 (winter 2008), far higher than in previous cycles; 51,000 sold in March 2008, lowest for any March since 1991; median age of completed new homes on market at 7.4 months (vs. 6 months only four months ago); number of starts of single-family houses in March 2008 fell to annual rate of 680,000 (17-year low),  well above rate of new-home sales (526,000).

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May 3, 2008 - Census Bureau reported that 2.9% of homes intended for owner occupancy were vacant at end of first quarter (never exceeded 2% before 2006) - highest ever; 10.1% of homes intended for rental are vacant (below record level hit in 2004):

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/05/10/business/0510-web-HOUSING.gif)

May 10, 2008 - Estimated 9 million American households, 10.3% of all single-family homes, owe more than home is worth (Moody's Economy.com); 4.8% of home loans in foreclosure or delinquent by 60 days or more at the end of 2007 (Mortgage Bankers Association).

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October 19, 2008 -  Homeownership rise from 64% in 1994 to 67.4% in 2000

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(Ammons Inc.), Jud Ammons with Adam Lucas (2000). Don't Wish You Had, Be Glad You Did: A Look at Life. (Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press, 203 p.). Ammons, Jud; Construction industry--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography; Construction industry--North Carolina--History; Real estate development--North Carolina--History.

(Benderson Development), Dick Hirsch (1995). The Bubble Didn't Burst: The Story of Nathan Benderson. (Buffalo, NY: Stonecroft Pub., 118 p.). Benderson, Nathan; Benderson Development (Firm)--History; Businesspeople--New York (State)--Buffalo--Biography; Real estate developers--New York (State)--Buffalo--Biography.

(Bermudas Company for the Plantation of the Somers Islands), Jean Kennedy (1971). Isle of Devils: Bermuda under the Somers Island Company, 1609-1685. (London, UK: Collins, 288 p.). Bermudas Company for the Plantation of the Somers Islands; Bermuda Islands -- History.

(Burroughs & Chapin), Helen Milliken (2004). From the Beginning: A History of the Burroughs & Chapin Company. (Myrtle Beach, SC: Sheriar Press, 194 p.). Burroughs & Chapin Company--History; Real estate developers--South Carolina--Biography; Businessmen--South Carolina--Biography; Horry County (S.C.)--History.

(Campeau Corp.), Michael Babad and Catherine Mulroney (1989). Campeau: The Building of an Empire. (Toronto, ON: Doubleday Canada, 304 p.). Campeau, Robert, 1923- ; Campeau Corporation--History; Real estate development--Canada; Consolidation and merger of corporations; Businessmen--Canada--Biography; Real estate developers--Canada--Biography. See also Going for Broke (Wall Street/Mergers & Acquisitions).

(Canadian Lakes Development Company), Don Bollman (1998). The Cat with Nine Lives: An 80 Year Memoir of the Minor Leaguer of Canadian Lakes. (Stanwood, MI: Canadian Lakes Pub., 399 p.). Bollman, Don; Businessmen--Michigan--Biography; Real estate developers--Michigan--Biography; Resorts--Michigan.

(Century Properties., Inc.), Russ Banham (2008). The Life and Legacy of Kenneth I. Schnitzer. (Bainbridge Island, WA: Fenwick Pub.). Schnitzer, Kenneth I., 1929-1999; Real estate developers--Texas--Houston--Biography.

(Century 21), Peter H. Thomas (1991). Never Fight with a Pig: A Survival Guide for Entrepreneurs. (Toronto, ON: Macmillan Canada, 204 p.). Founder, Century 21 Canada. Thomas, Peter H.; Century 21 (Firm) --History; Success in business --Case studies; Businesspeople --Canada --Biography; Real estate agents --Canada --Biography.

(Chartist Land Company), Alice Mary Hadfield (1970). The Chartist Land Company. (Newton Abbot, UK: David & Charles, 248 p.). Chartist Land Company; Land settlement -- Great Britain.

(Clayton Homes), Jim Clayton; with Bill Retherford (2002). First a Dream. (Knoxville, TN: FSB Press, 399 p.). Clayton, Jim, 1934- ; Clayton Homes, Inc.; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Mobile homes--United States; Tennessee--Biography.

(Coldwell, Banker), Jo Ann L. Levy (1981). Behind the Western Skyline: Coldwell Banker: The First 75 years. (Los Angeles, CA: Coldwell Banker, 210 p.). and Company--History.

The CB boys

 

 

 

Colbert Coldwell, Benjamin Banker - Coldwelll Banker  (http://www.lovethathouse.com/gifs/the-guys.jpg)

(Coldwell Banker Middleton and Associates), Earl M. Middleton; with Joy W. Barnes (2008). Knowing Who I Am: A Black Entrepreneur’s Struggle and Success in the American South. (Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 183 p.). Founder and Owner of Coldwell Banker Middleton and Associates, one of the largest real-estate brokerages in Orangeburg, SC; 30-year employee of Middleton companies. Middleton, Earl M., 1919- ; South Carolina. General Assembly. House of Representatives--Biography; African American businesspeople--South Carolina--Biography; Businessmen--South Carolina--Biography; African American legislators--South Carolina--Biography; Legislators--South Carolina--Biography; African Americans--South Carolina--Social conditions--20th century; World War, 1939-1945--Participation, African American; South Carolina--Social conditions--20th century; South Carolina--Biography. 1942 - trained as Tuskegee Airman; infantry soldier in Pacific theater; 1946 - returned to Orangeburg, SC, became barber, restaurant owner, began real-estate, insurance salesman as sideline in back of barbershop, grew into one of largest, most profitable real-estate firms in Orangeburg; reputation for superior knowledge and service.

(Corcoran Group), Barbara Corcoran and Bruce Littlefield (2003). Make Yourself Heard: Learning To Win in a Crowded Market (also Titled: Use What You've Got: And Other Business Lessons I Learned from My Mom). (New York, NY: Portfolio, 256 p.). Founder, The Corcoran Group. Corcoran, Barbara (Barbara Ann); Women real estate agents--United States--Biography; Real estate business--United States.

(Developers Diversified Realty Corporation), Bert L. Wolstein; written with Adam Synder (2005). Crossing the Road to Entrepreneurship. (Solon, OH: Heritage Development Company, 270 p.). Wolstein, Bert L.; Developers Diversified Realty Corporation; Commercial real estate. 

(Drivers Jonas - established 1725 by Samuel and Charles Driver), Hugh Barty-King (1975). Scratch a Surveyor ...: The Nearest Anyone Will Ever Get to Telling the Story of Drivers Jonas, Traced through the Diaries, Letters, Memos, Reports Which Might Have Been Written, and Some That Were, between 1725 and 1975. (London, UK: Heinemann, 273 p.). Drivers Jonas (Firm)--History.

(Flagler - partner in 1870 with John D. Rockefeller in founding of Standard Oil), David Leon Chandler (1986). Henry Flagler: The Astonishing Life and Times of the Visionary Robber Baron Who Founded Florida. (New York, NY: Macmillan, 324 p.). Flagler, Henry Morrison, 1830-1913; Pioneers--Florida--Biography; Businesspeople--Florida--Biography; Florida--History--1865-.

 

 

 

Henry Morrison Flagler (http://westpalmbeach.com/attractions/ flaglermuseum/images/henrymorrisonflagler.jpg)

(Flagler), Edward N. Akin (1992). Flagler: Rockefeller Partner and Florida Baron. (Gainesville, FL: University of Florida, 305 p. [orig. pub. 1988]). Flagler, Henry Morrison, 1830-1913; Rockefeller, John D. (John Davison), 1839-1937; Standard Oil Company--History; Businesspeople--Florida--Biography; Capitalists and financiers--Florida--Biography; Florida--History--1865-;.

(Flagler), Sidney Walter Martin (1998). Henry Flagler: Visionary of the Gilded Age. (Lake Buena Vista, FL: Tailored Tours Publications, 232 p.). Flagler, Henry Morrison, 1830-1913; Pioneers--Florida--Biography; Businesspeople--Florida--Biography; Businessmen--Florida--Biography; Capitalists and financiers--Florida--Biography; Florida--Biography.

(Flagler - Florida East Coast Railway: 1894 - St. Augustine to West Palm Beach; 1894 - Miami; 1896 - Key West), Les Standiford (2002). Last Train to Paradise: Henry Flagler and the Spectacular Rise and Fall of the Railroad That Crossed the Ocean. (New York, NY: Crown, 272 p.). Flagler, Henry Morrison, 1830-1913; Florida East Coast Railway--History.; Railroads--Florida--History. 

(Sheldon Good and Company), Steven L. Good (2003). Churches, Jails, and Gold Mines: Mega Deals from a Real Estate Maverick. (Chicago, IL: Dearborn Trade Publishing, 241 p.). CEO, Chairman (Sheldon Good and Company). Good, Steven L.; Sheldon Good and Company--History; Sheldon Good and Company--Anecdotes; Real estate business--United States--Anecdotes; Auctions--Anecdotes; Real estate agents--United States. 

(Victor Gruen International), M. Jeffrey Hardwick (2004). Mall Maker: Victor Gruen, Architect of an American Dream. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 276 p.). Editor at Smithsonian Books. Gruen, Victor, 1903-; Expatriate architects --United States --Biography; Architects --Austria --Biography; Stores, Retail --United States --History --20th century; Shopping malls --United States --History --20th century. Enclosed shopping malls - brainchild of architect Victor Gruen; based on idealized America: dream of concentrated shops that would benefit businessperson, consumer and foster sense of shared community; dream of overcoming social problems through architecture, commerce (gone by 1968); Gruen's successes and failures; made America depend upon shopping malls (enduring monuments to the lure of consumer culture).

Victor Gruen - created enclosed shopping malls (http://www.dasrotewien.at/bilder/Gruen_Victor_Head2_MA13.jpg)

(Gulf American), David E. Dodrill (1993). Selling the Dream: The Gulf American Corporation and the Building of Cape Coral, Florida. (Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 311 p.). Gulf American Corporation--History; Real estate development--Florida--Cape Coral--History.

(Helmsley), Michael Moss (1989). Palace Coup: The Inside Story of Harry and Leona Helmsley. (New York, NY: Doubleday, 346 p.). Helmsley, Harry; Helmsley, Leona; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography; Businesswomen -- United States -- Biography; Real estate developers -- United States -- Biography; Hotels, taverns, etc. -- United States -- History.

Leona Helmsley (http://www.nndb.com/people/853/000022787/lhelmsley2.jpg)

(Helmsley), Ransdell Pierson (1989). The Queen of Mean: The Unauthorized Biography of Leona Helmsley. (New York, NY: Bantam, 398 p.). Helmsley, Leona; Helmsley, Harry; Businesswomen--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography; Hotels--United States--History.

(Helmsley), Richard Hammer (1990). The Helmsleys: The Rise and Fall of Harry and Leona. (New York, NY: New American Library, 337 p.). Helmsley, Harry; Helmsley, Leona; Helmsley, Leona--Trials, litigation, etc.; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Businesswomen--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography; Hotels--United States--History; Trials (Tax evasion)--New York (State)--New York; Bars (Drinking establishments)--United States--History.

(Hines), Mark Seal ... [et al.]; foreword by Paul Goldberger (2007). Hines: A Legacy of Quality in the Built Environment. (Bainbridge Island, WA: Fenwick, 295 p.). Hines, Gerald D.; Real estate developers--United States--Biography; Real estate development--Environmental aspects--United States; Land use--Environmental aspects--United States; Building--Environmental aspects--United States. 13 essays (Pulitzer-Prize winner Paul Goldberger, Vanity Fair's Mark Seal, etc.) for 50th anniversary.

(Hirschfeld), Abraham (Abe) Hirschfeld as told to Mark Ribowsky (2003). Crazy and in Charge / The Autobiography of Abraham (Abe) Hirschfeld as Told to Mark Ribowsky. (Bloomington, IN: 1st Books Library, 448 p.). Hirschfeld, Abraham, 1919- ; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography.

(Huntington), William B. Friedricks (1992). Henry E. Huntington and the Creation of Southern California. (Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 229 p.). Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927; Businesspeople--California, Southern--Biography; Entrepreneurship--California, Southern--History--20th century.

Giving to The Huntington

Henry E. Huntington (http://www.huntington.org/uploadedImages/Files/Images/Shop/library.jpg)

(Huntington), Selena A. Spurgeon (1992). Henry Edwards Huntington: His Life and His Collections: A Docent Guide. (San Marino, CA: Huntington Library, 141 p.). Longtime docent of the Huntington Library. Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927; Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery; Art --Collectors and collecting --United States --History; Capitalists and financiers --United States --Biography; Book collectors --United States --Biography; Book collecting --United States --History. Henry Edwards, Arabella Huntington, institution they created; Huntington's business enterprises, including development of railroads in Southern California; Arabella Huntington's mysterious background, first marriage to Collis Huntington; purchase of ranch in San Marino; development of library, art collections; creation of gardens; how founder's plans shaped unique educational, cultural institution of today.

(Huntington), James Thorpe (1994). Henry Edwards Huntington: A Biography. (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 623 p.). Huntington, Henry Edwards, 1850-1927; Capitalists and financiers--United States--Biography.

(Lend Lease Property Group), Lindie Clark (2002). Finding a Common Interest: The Story of Dick Dusseldorp and Lend Lease. (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 289 p.). Dusseldorp, Dick; Lend Lease Property Group--History; Businessmen--Australia--Biography; Construction industry--Australia--History; Real estate development--Australia--History; Financial services industry--Australia--History; International business enterprises--Australia--History.

(Levittown), David Kushner (2009). Levittown: Two Families, One Tycoon, and the Fight for Civil Rights in America’s Legendary Suburb. (New York, NY: Walker, 256 p.). Contributing Editor at Rolling Stone, Wired. Levitt, William, 1907-1994; African Americans --Civil rights --Pennsylvania --Levittown --History --20th century; Segregation --Pennsylvania --Levittown --History --20th century; Levittown (Pa.) --History --20th century; Levittown (Pa.) --Race relations. Bill, Alfred Levitt applied mass-production techniques to home construction; revolutionized housing in America, created quickly built, relatively inexpensive houses in model communities named for their family on Long Island, NY, Pennsylvania; became famous as the nation's largest builders; synonymous with 19050s prosperity, hope, enduring vision of all-white character of suburbs; 1957 - efforts to integrate Levittown, PA (Daisy and Bill Myers, a young African-American couple); Levitt became code word for racism.

Bill, Alfred Levitt - Levittown (http://www.levittowners.com/images/PLANNING/PLAN%20LEVITT%20ALFRED.gif)

(Melaver Inc.), Martin Melaver, forward by Ray Anderson (2009). Living Above the Store: Building a Business That Creates Value, Inspires Change, and Restores Land and Community--How One Family Business Transformed Itself ... Using Sustainable Management Practices. (White River Jct., VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, 340 p.). CEO. Management --Environmental aspects; Business enterprises --Environmental aspects; Social responsibility of business; Sustainable development. Sustainable principles meet sustainable practices; roadmap for creating businesses which factor impact on people, places into equations for success, strive to restore communities, environments in which they operate; "how to", "why to" that challenges business as usual to change.

(J. C. Nichols Company), William S. Worley (1990). J.C. Nichols and the Shaping of Kansas City: Innovation in Planned Residential Communities. (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 324 p.). Nichols, Jesse Clyde; Urbanization--Missouri--Kansas City--History--20th century; Real estate developers--Missouri--Kansas City--Biography; Real estate development--Missouri--Kansas City--History--20th century.

(J. C. Nichols Company), Robert Pearson and Brad Pearson, Robert (1994). The J. C. Nichols Chronicle: The Authorized Story of the Man, His Company, and His Legacy, 1880-1994. (Lawrence, KS: Country Club Plaza Press, 308 p.). Nichols, Jesse Clyde; City planners--Missouri--Kansas City--Biography; Real estate developers--Missouri--Kansas City--Biography.

(Ocmulgee Fields Inc.), Richard Hyatt (2003). Charles H. Jones: A Biography. (Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 252 p.). Reporter (Columbus-Ledger Inquirer). Jones, Charles H. (Charles Hubert), 1927- ; Ocmulgee Fields, Inc.; Businessmen Georgia Biography; Real estate developers Georgia Biography. 

(Olympia & York), Peter Foster (1993). Towers of Debt: The Rise and Fall of the Reichmanns: The Olympia & York Story. (Toronto, ON: Key Porter Books, 312 p.). Reichmann family; Olympia and York Developments Ltd.--History; Real estate developers--Canada--Biography.

Photo Paul Reichmann (http://shemayisrael.co.il/orgs/ ozar/reichman.JPG)

(Olympia & York), Walter Stewart (1993). Too Big To Fail: Olympia & York: The Story Behind the Headlines. (Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart, 335 p.). Reichmann family; Olympia and York Developments Ltd.--History; Real estate developers--Canada.

(Olympia & York), Susan Gittins (1995). Behind Closed Doors: The Rise and Fall of Canada's Edper Bronfman and Reichmann Empires. (Scarborough, ON: Prentice Hall Canada, 320 p.). Bronfman family; Reichmann family; Edper Investments--History; Olympia and York Developments Ltd.--History; Edper Investments--Reorganization; Consolidation and merger of corporations--Canada--History.

(Olympia & York), Anthony Bianco (1997). The Reichmanns: Family, Faith, Fortune, and the Empire of Olympia & York. (New York, NY: Times Business, 810 p.). Reichmann family; Jews--Canada--Biography; Jews, Hungarian--Canada--Biography; Jews--Hungary--Biography; Orthodox Judaism--Canada; Canada--Biography.

(The Peebles Corporation), R. Donahue Peebles, with J.P. Faber (2007). The Peebles Principles: Tales and Tactics from an Entrepreneur’s Life of Winning Deals, Succeeding in Business, and Creating a Fortune from Scratch. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 224 p.). Founder, Peebles Atlantic Development Corporation. Peebles, R. Donahue, 1960- ; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography. From HUD appraiser of low-income housing to developer of office buildings, hotels, luxury condominiums in cities across the nation; what it takes to succeed as entrepreneur, businessperson from ground up.  

(W. Roy Poole Inc.), Pepper Worthington (2000). Big Daddy: The W. Roy Poole Story. (Mount Olive, NC: Mount Olive College Press, 202 p.). Poole, W. Roy (Walter Roy), 1914- ; Real estate developers--North Carolina--Biography; Businesspeople--North Carolina--Biography.

(Related Group), Jorge Perez ; with a foreword by Donald Trump (2008). Powerhouse Principles: The Billionaire Blueprint for Real Estate Success. (New York, NY: Celebra Book, 273 p.). Founder, Chairman, and CEO of the Related Group. Started with $2,  earns more than $2 billion; financial opportunities in real estate, importance of total commitment, dedication, hard work; effective business tactics to generate profits; how to manage and grow investments over the long term.

(RE/MAX), Phil Harkins and Keith Hollihan (2005). Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX, the World's Largest Real Estate Company. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 274 p.). CEO (Linkage, Inc.); Business Journalist. RE/MAX (Firm); Real estate business; Real estate agents. 

(Rouse), Nicholas Dagen Bloom (2004). Merchant of Illusion: James Rouse, American's Salesman of the Businessman's Utopia. (Columbus, OH: Ohio State University Press, 223 p.). Professor (New York Institute of Technology). Rouse, James W.; Urban renewal--United States--History--20th century; City planning--United States--History--20th century; Real estate developers--United States--Biography. 

James W. Rouse (http://image2.findagrave.com/photos/2003/15/7088338_1042756896.jpg)

(Rouse), Joshua Olsen (2004). Better Places, Better Lives: A Biography of James Rouse. (Washington, DC: ULI - The Urban Land Institute, 442 p.). Rouse, James W. 

(Seniority Investments Limited), I.R. Wookey (1998). Fortuna: A Memoir, I. Richard Wookey. (Toronto,ON: Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 387 p.). Wookey, I. R. (Ian Richard), 1928- ; Stockbrokers--Ontario--Toronto--Biography; Real estate developers--Ontario--Toronto--Biography; Toronto (Ont.)--Biography.

(Charles E. Smith Residential Realty, Inc.), David Bruce Smith (2000). Conversations with Papa Charlie: A Memory of Charles E. Smith. (Sterling, VA: Capital Books, 119 p.). Smith, Charles E., 1901- ; Construction industry--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Philanthropists--United States--Biography.

(Snowbasin), Stephen Trimble (2008). Bargaining for Eden: The Fight for the Last Open Spaces in America. (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 336 p.). Land use --West (U.S.); Real estate development --West (U.S.). Reclusive billionaire, Earl Holding (Sinclair Oil) worked relentlessly to acquire public land for Snowbasin ski resort (acquired in 1984), to host Salt Lake City Winter Olympics; buttonholed Forest Service officials, US Congress, maneuvered to link further development (public land) of Snowbasin with Salt Lake City's securing of bid for 2002 Winter Olympics; land exchange deal ensued, one of largest, most controversial in U.S. history.

(St. Joe Company), Kathryn Ziewitz and June Wiaz (2004). Green Empire: The St. Joe Company and the Remaking of Florida's Panhandle. (Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 363 p.). St. Joe Company History; Real estate development Florida Florida Panhandle History; Real estate business Florida Florida Panhandle History; Land use Environmental aspects Florida Florida Panhandle History; Conservation of natural resources Florida Florida Panhandle History.

(Studley Inc.), Peter Hellman (2004). The Making of a Real Estate Empire: Lessons from Julien Studley. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 272 p.). Studley, Julien J.; Studley Inc.--History; Real estate agents--New York (State)--New York--Biography.

(Town Centre Securities plc), Nigel Watson; with a preface by the chief Rabbi, Sir Jonathan Sacks (2005). Arnold Ziff: The Making of a Great Yorkshireman. (London, UK: Vallentine Mitchell, 194 p.). Ziff, Arnold, 1927-2004.; Town Centre Securities; Businessmen--Great Britain--Biography.

(Trammell Crow Company), Robert Sobel (1989). Trammell Crow, Master Builder : The Story of America's Largest Real Estate Empire. (New York, NY: Wiley, 254 p.). Crow, Trammell; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate development--United States--History; Construction industry--United States--History.

Picture of Mr. Trammell Crow

Trammell Crow (http://www.trammellcrow.com/tcwebwww/Quote/MrCrow-Web-05-06.jpg)

(Trammell Crow Company), William Bragg Ewald, Jr. (2005). Trammell Crow: A Legacy of Real Estate Business Innovation. (Washington, DC: Urban Land Institute, 300 p.). Crow, Trammell; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate development--United States--History. Life of Trammell Crow, his innovative business strategy.

(Trump), Jerome Tuccille (1985). Trump: The Saga of America's Most Powerful Real Estate Baron. (New York, NY: Donald I. Fine, 243 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946-; Real estate business--United States; Real estate investment--United States.

Donald Trump (http://graphics.boston.com/globe/nation/ packages/gaming/images/trump.jpg)

Photo of Fred C. Trump

 

 

 

Fred C. Trump (http://www.horatioalger.com/members/jpegs/tru85.jpg)

(Trump), Donald Trump, with Tony Schwartz (1987). Trump: The Art of the Deal. (New York, NY: Random House, 246 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography; Real estate developers -- United States -- Biography.

(Trump), Jerome Tuccille (1987). Trump. (New York, NY: D .I. Fine, 272 p. [3rd ed.]). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography.

(Trump), Donald J. Trump and Charles Leerhsen (1990). Trump: Surviving at the Top. (New York, NY: Random House, 236 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography.

(Trump), Wayne Barrett; research assistance by Jonathan Gill and Timothy L. O'Brien. (1992). Trump: The Deals and the Downfall. (New York, NY: HarperCoillins, 492 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946-; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography.

(Trump), John R. O'Donnell with James Rutherford (1992). Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump--His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall. (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 348 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen -- United States; Real estate developers -- United States; Casinos -- New Jersey -- Atlantic City -- Management.

(Trump), Harry Hurt III (1993). The Lost Tycoon: The Many Lives of Donald J. Trump. (New York, NY: Norton, 447 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography; Real estate developers -- United States -- Biography.

(Trump), Donald J. Trump with Kate Bohner (1997). Trump: The Art of the Comeback. (New York, NY: Times Books, 244 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen -- United States -- Biography; Real estate developers -- United States -- Biography. 

(Trump), Gwenda Blair (2000). The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire. (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 591 p.). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Trump, Friedrich, 1869-1918; Trump, Fred, 1905-1999; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography.

(Trump), Timothy L. O'Brien (2005). TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald. (New York, NY: Warner Books, 288 p.). Business Reporter (New York Times). Trump, Donald, 1946- ; Businessmen--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography. Contradictions of Trump's life.

(WTC), Angus Kress Gillespie (1999). Twin Towers: The Life of New York City's World Trade Center. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 263 p.). Professor of American Studies (Rutgers University). World Trade Center (New York, N.Y.); Skyscrapers -- New York (State) -- New York; City planning -- New York (State) -- New York; New York (N.Y.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.

(WTC), Eric Darton (1999). Divided We Stand: A Biography of New York's World Trade Center. (New York, NY: Basic Books, 241 p.). Teaches Creative Writing (Goddard College). World Trade Center (New York, N.Y.); Skyscrapers -- New York (State) -- New York; City planning -- New York (State) -- New York; New York (N.Y.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.

(WorldBuild Technologies Inc.), David Gottfried; foreword by Paul Hawken (2004). Greed to Green: The Transformation of an Industry and a Life. (Berkeley, CA: WorldBuild Publishing, 243 p.). President (WorldBuild Technologies Inc.). Gottfried, David--Biography; Real estate development--Environmental aspects--United States; Land use--Environmental aspects--United States; Building--Environmental aspects--United States; Green movement--United States; Real estate developers--Biography. 

(Elaine Young), Elaine Young (1979). A Million Dollars Down. (New York, NY: Dell, 174 p.). Realtor to the Stars in Beverly Hills. Young, Elaine; Real estate agents--Los Angeles--Biography. Controversial (tell it all) book about the trials and tribulations of the real estate business.

(Zeckendorf), William Zeckendorf, with Edward McCreary (1970). Zeckendorf, The Autobiography Of The Man Who Played A Real-Life Game Of Monopoly And Won The Largest Real Estate Empire in History. (New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 312 p.). Zeckendorf, William, 1905-1976; Webb and Knapp, inc., New York; Real estate developers--New York (State)--New York--Biography.

 : Zeckendorf: An Autobiography of William Zeckendorf William Zeckendorf (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/ 0961897201.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg)

Jerry Adler (1993). High Rise: How 1,000 Men and Women Worked Around the Clock for Five Years and Lost $200 Million Building a Skyscraper. (New York, NY: HarperCollins, 374 p.). Eichner, Ian Bruce; Real estate development--New York (State)--New York--Case studies; Skyscrapers--New York (State)--New York--Case studies; Manhattan (New York, N.Y.).

Stuart Banner (2011). American Property: A History of How, Why, and What We Own. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 348 p.). Professor of Law (University of California, Los Angeles). Property --United States --History; Right of property --United States --History. What is property?; what does it mean to own something?p; roperty exists to serve broad set of purposes, constantly in flux, that render idea of property itself inconstant; property has always been means toward other ends; what property signifiies, what property is has consistently changed to match world we want to acquire.

Tom Bethell (1998). The Noblest Triumph: Property and Prosperity Through the Ages. (New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 378 p.). Property; Right of property -- Economic aspects.

Walter E. Campbell (1996). Across Fortune's Tracks: A Biography of William Rand Kenan, Jr. (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 417 p.). Kenan, William Rand, 1872-1965; Businesspeople--United States--Biography; Dairy farmers--United States--Biography; Philanthropists--United States--Biography. 

Ned Eichler (1982). The Merchant Builders. (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 310 p.). Real estate development--United States--History--20th century; Construction industry--United States--History--20th century.

James W Ely, Jr. (2007). The Guardian of Every Other Right: A Constitutional History of Property Rights. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 216 p. [3rd ed.]). Right of property --United States --History. Pivotal role of property rights in fashioning American constitutional order from colonial era to current controversies over eminent domain, land use controls; interplay of law, ideology, politics, economic change in shaping constitutional thought; historical perspective on contemporary debate about property rights; full treatment of important judicial decisions, notable legislation, scholarship; entire history of property rights in United States.

Jerry M. Fisher (1998). The Pacesetter: The Untold Story of Carl G. Fisher. (Ft. Bragg, CA: Lost Coast Press, 440 p.). Fisher, Carl G. (Carl Graham), 1874-1939; Automobile industry and trade--United States--Biography; Real estate developers--United States--Biography.

Mark S. Foster; foreword by Raymond Arsenault and Gary R. Mormino (2000). Castles in the Sand: The Life and Times of Carl Graham Fisher. (Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 349 p.). Fisher, Carl G. (Carl Graham), 1874-1939; Real estate development -- Florida -- History; Real estate developers -- Florida -- Miami Beach -- Biography; Miami Beach (Fla.) -- Biography.

William Frazer and John J. Guthrie, Jr. (1995). The Florida Land Boom: Speculation, Money, and the Banks. (Westport, CT: Quorum, 181 p.). Finance--Florida--History; Real estate development--Florida--History; Florida--History--1865-; Florida--Economic conditions.

Ed. Robert Freedman and Realtor Magazine (2006). Broker to Broker: Management Lessons from America’s Most Successful Real Estate Companies. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 304 p.). Real estate business--United States; Real estate business--United States--Management; Real estate agents--United States. Best practice management tips. 

Steven Gaines (1998). Philistines at the Hedgerow: Passion and Property in the Hamptons. (Boston, MA: Little, Brown, 326 p.). Upper class--New York (State)--Hamptons--Social life and customs; Celebrities--New York (State)--Hamptons--Social life and customs; Real property--Social aspects--New York (State)--Hamptons; Hamptons (N.Y.)--Social life and customs.

--- (2005). The Sky's the Limit: Passion and Property in Manhattan. (New York, NY: Little, Brown, 273 p.). Residential real estate--New York (State)--New York; Apartment houses--New York (State)--New York; Apartments--New York (State)--New York. 

Edward M. Gramlich with a foreword by Robert D. Reischauer (2007). Subprime Mortgages: America’s Latest Boom and Bust. (Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press, 120 p.). Former Federal Reserve Governor. Mortgage loans--United States; Real estate finance. How subprime market (loans at low interest rates, for little or no money down to low-income people pursuing American dream of homeownership) emerged, why it is in crisis, how to reform public policy to avert disaster.

Michael Gross (2005). 740 Park: The Story of the World’s Richest Apartment Building. (New York, NY: Broadway Books, 576 p.). Contributing Editor (Travel & Leisure). 740 Park Avenue (New York, N.Y.)--History; Apartment houses--New York (State)--New York--History; Apartments--New York (State)--New York--History; Rich people--New York (State)--New York--Biography; Park Avenue (New York, N.Y.)--Social life and customs; Park Avenue (New York, N.Y.)--Biography; New York (N.Y.)--Biography; New York (N.Y.)--Social life and customs; New York (N.Y.)--Buildings, structures, etc.; New York (N.Y.)--Economic conditions. Manhattan’s richest apartment building, lusted-after address since 1930.

Jeffrey M. Hornstein (2005). A Nation of Realtors: A Cultural History of the Twentieth-Century American Middle Class. (Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 252 p.). Organizing Director of the Service Employees International Union, Local 36, AFL-CIO. Real estate business--United States--History--20th century; Middle class--United States--History--20th century; Women real estate agents--United States--History--20th century. 

Louis J. Horowitz and Boyden Sparkes (1937). The Towers of New York; the Memoirs of a Master Builder. (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 277 p.). Thompson-Starrett Co., Inc., New York; Building--New York (N.Y.).

Alyssa Katz (2009). Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us. (New York, NY: Bloomsbury, 288 p.). Professor of Journalism (New York University). Real estate business --United States --Marketing; Real estate business --United States --Managing. Origins, consequences of housing boom; how we became nation of homeowners, how what began as desperate experiment became national economic, cultural addiction; disastrous consequences of pushing underqualified buyers into home ownership).

Gaelyn Whitley Keith (2008). The Father of Hollywood: The True Story. (El Dorado Hills, CA: BookSurge, 304 p.). Whitley, H. J., (Hobart Johnstone), 1847-1931; Real estate developers --California --Los Angeles --Biography; Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) --History. Life of real estate developer HJ Whitle.

Anita Fung-Yee Leung; translated by Irene Chu; with additional writing by Pauline Loong and Kim Canon (1999). The Biography of Lee Shau-kee. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 129 p.). Li, Chao-chi, 1929- ; Real estate developers--China--Hong Kong--Biography.

James E. Manning (2011). Public Trust Betrayed: The Truth Behind the Real Estate Appraisal Industry. (Mustang, OK: Tate Publishing. 200 p.). Former Real Estate Appriaser. Real property --Valuation. Real estate appraisal industry in hands of lenders; decline in transparency, objectivity in mortgage evaluation process (appraisers valued homes at whatever price mortgage brokers needed to make deal work); deceptions in home appraisal market, of homeowners and lenders; pressures on real estate appraiser.

Oliver Marriott (1989). The Property Boom. (Cambridge, UK: Woodhead Publishing, 320 p. [2nd ed.]). Real estate -- London, UK; Property prices -- history.

Daniel McGinn (2008). House Lust: America’s Obsession with Our Homes. (New York, NY: Currency Doubleday, 264 p.). National Correspondent at Newsweek. Home--United States--Psychological aspects; Homeowners--United States--Psychology; Home ownership--United States. Roots of home ownership mania - trading up, adding on, doubling down (to buy vacation property); inside homes, psyches, of those afflicted by contagious ideal of owning best home on block; forces that turned housing into talk of dinner parties; arms race for square footage, characters from real estate world.

Daniel Okrent (2003). Great Fortune: The Epic of Rockefeller Center. (New York, NY: Viking, 512 p.). Editor, Time Inc. Rockefeller family; Rockefeller Center--History; Architecture--New York (State)--New York--History--20th century; Interviews--New York (State)--New York; Oral history; New York (N.Y.)--History--1898-1951; New York (N.Y.)--Buildings, structures, etc.; New York (N.Y.)--Biography. 

Mitchell Pacelle (2001). Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal and the Battle for an American Icon. (New York, NY: Wiley, 344 p.). Reporter (Wall Street Journal). Yokoi, Hideki, 1913- ; Empire State Building (New York, N.Y.); Real estate development--New York (State)--New York; Real estate developers--New York (State)--New York; Real estate developers--Japan; Businesspeople--Japan.

Morton C. Paulson (1974). The Great Land Hustle. (Chicago, IL: Regnery, 254 p. [rev. ed.]). Real estate business--United States; Real estate investment--United States; Fraud--United States. Florida's land boom in the 1920's.

Jim Powell (1986). Risk, Ruin & Riches: Inside the World of Big Time Real Estate. (New York, NY: Macmillan, 376 p.). Real estate developers--United States; Real estate development--United States; Real estate investment--United States; Risk--United States; Wealth--United States; Success in business--United States.

Witold Rybczynski (2007). Last Harvest: How a Cornfield Became New Daleville: Real Estate Development in America from George Washington to the Builders of the Twenty-First Century, and Why We Live in Houses Anyway. (New York, NY: Scribner, 320 p.). Martin & Margy Meyerson Professor of Urbanism; Professor of Real Estate (University of Pennsylvania). Planned communities--Pennsylvania--Londonderry (Chester County)--Case studies; Real estate development--United States--History; Housing--United States--History; New Daleville (Pa.)--History. Brand-new residential subdivision in rural PA; "neotraditional" project (houses built close together to encourage sense of intimacy, community; trends in American domestic architecture.

Peter Scott (1996). The Property Masters: A History of the British Commercial Property Sector. (London, UK: Taylor & Francis, 331 p.). Real estate -- London, UK; Commercial real estate -- history -- UK. Evolution of commercial property investment, development markets from mid-nineteenth century to present.

Tom Shachtman (1991). Skyscraper Dreams: The Great Real Estate Dynasties of New York. (Boston, MA: Little, Brown, 354 p.). Real estate developers--New York (State)--New York--Biography; Real estate development--New York (State)--New York--History; Family corporations--New York (State)--New York--History.

Robert L. Shook (1980). The Real Estate People: Top Salespersons, Brokers, and Realtors Share the Secrets of Their Success. (New York, NY: Harper & Row, 193 p.). Real estate agents--United States--Interviews; Real estate business--United States.

Mark Stevens (1984). Land Rush. (New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 290 p.). Real Estate Business.

Robert P. Swierenga (1968). Pioneers and Profits: Land Speculation on the Iowa Frontier. (Ames, IA: Iowa State University Press, 260 p.). Real estate investment--Iowa--History; Frontier and pioneer life--Iowa; Land speculation--Iowa--History.

John R. Talbott (2006). Sell Now!: The End of the Housing Bubble. (New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin, 190 p.). Former Goldman Sachs Investment Banker. Housing--Prices--United States; Real estate investment--United States. Housing prices will plummet over next 5-7 years; international economy,  banking system in jeopardy.

Dana L. Thomas (1977). Lords of the Land: The Triumphs and Scandals of America's Real Estate Barons, from Early Times to the Present. (New York, NY: Putnam, 320 p.). Real estate business--United States--History.

Laura S. Underkuffler (2008). The Idea of Property: Its Meaning and Power. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 179 p.). Professor of Law (Duke University). Property; Right of property. Central issue in property theory, as it intersects with law: what property is (as idea),  power that claimed individual property rights should have against competing public goals; deep reasons for property's protective power, or lack of it..

Marc A. Weiss (1987). The Rise of the Community Builders: The American Real Estate Industry and Urban land Planning. (New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 228 p.). Land use, Urban--United States; City planning--United States; Real estate development--United States.

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Business History Links

Flagler Museum                                                            http://www.flaglermuseum.us/                                   

Completed in 1902, Whitehall, Henry Flagler's Gilded Age estate, was hailed as "more magnificent than any other private dwelling in the world." Museum highlights include tours, exhibits, and Flagler's railcar.

History of Property Taxes in the United States                                               http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/fisher.property.tax.history.us      

This essay describes the history of taxes based on ownership of property from Colonial times through the 20th century in the U.S. Topics include property taxes during the Revolutionary War, 19th century uniformity provisions ("property be taxed equally by value") in state constitutions, failure of the general property tax provisions in the 20th century, and California's tax revolt in 1978 (Proposition 13). Includes a short bibliography. By an emeritus professor from Wichita State University.

 

 
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