Confessions of a Commercial Real Estate Broker: Daily Lessons Learned From Life and CRE

From drumsticks at an early age, to chalkboards after college, and then to pens that inked profitable real estate deals, Jim Baker has successfully wielded them all. The winding road of his experience is marked by highs and lows, especially in times of tremendous personal and professional challenges and growth. These landmarks are chronicled in Jim's book, Confessions of a Commercial Real Estate Broker.

Jim is an accomplished musician who began his career performing professionally and later taught and directed high school music. A heart-breaking experience on the job, as well as family crises and losses, brought Jim face-to-face with the realization that he needed to follow his heart and change careers. His journey led him eventually to his current award-winning position in commercial real estate.

Bathed in honesty and written to prepare others for the field of his passion, commercial real estate, Jim shares his advice, expertise, and humor, divided conveniently in entries for every day of the year. Each day opens with information that relates to commercial real estate, followed by a helpful "Lessons Learned" section. The closing piece of each entry, "On This Date," reflects the author's extensive research with names of people, events, and highlights associated with the date. These may be familiar, even nostalgic to the reader, and surely informative. His nuggets of wisdom will certainly give you conversation starters around the table with your family or at the office with business associates. Jim's desire is that his book will better prepare you for a career in commercial real estate, enhance your success, and give you valuable points to ponder as you work with others.

What Readers Are Saying

" ...one of the best books I have read in my 35-year career. Jim Baker has laid out as true-to-life a story as can be found in as innovative a manner that tells not just his real estate narrative, but a life and career lessons-learned story with historical context structured over the 365 days of the year. You won't find another book like this one, and you will likely find yourself keeping it alongside your desk calendar as a reference for those days that we all find ourselves lacking focus or searching for some perspective." — KC Conway, MAI, CRE, Chief Economist/CCIM Institute

About The Author

Jim Baker, a seasoned REALTOR® since 1977, is a distinguished commercial real estate broker with professional designations including CCIM, SIOR, and GRI.

Former president of the Southern Indiana REALTORS® Association and the Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS®, he's also a past REALTOR® of the Year for both organizations.

Jim, a licensed real estate appraiser and certified tax assessment appeal representative, co-founded Baker Commercial Real Estate with his wife Kim in 2004.

Recognized annually by Business First newspaper, their firm is a leading Louisville area commercial brokerage.

Beyond real estate, Jim, a High Honors graduate from the University of Louisville School of Music, had a successful musical career with the Louisville Orchestra. He and Kim, who is also a SIOR & CCIM member and licensed broker, reside in Southern Indiana and have a combined 6 children and 17 grandchildren.