Course Descriptions

Description:

The Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal is designed to provide the students with an understanding and working knowledge of the procedures and techniques required to estimate the market value of vacant and improved properties. This course concentrates on the skills necessary for estimating the market value of properties using two approaches to value: the cost approach and the sales comparison approach. The Fundamentals of Real Property Appraisal utilizes lectures, classroom discussion, and homework problems to emphasize the main concepts and procedures taught in the course.

Materials:

Property Assessment Valuation (PAV) textbook (3rd edition) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

The Income Approach to Valuation is designed to provide the students with an understanding and working knowledge of the procedures and techniques required to estimate the market value of vacant or improved properties by the income approach. The material covers real estate finance and investment, capitalization methods and techniques, analysis of income and expenses to estimate operating income, selection of capitalization rates, and application of the approach. The Income Approach to Valuation utilizes lectures, classroom discussion, and homework problems to emphasize the main concepts and procedures taught in the course.

Materials:

Property Assessment Valuation (PAV) textbook (3rd edition) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

Income Approach to Valuation II is an intermediate level program designed for the practicing appraiser. It builds on the training of IAAO Course 102. An understanding of the income approach to value and practical experience with income capitalization are essential prerequisites. Problem solving requires a calculator with a power key. This course makes extensive use of financial compounding and discounting techniques. Emphasis is on developing financial factors by way of electronic devises with only slight references to preprinted tables. Forecasting income patterns and property value changes are prominent variables used in estimating present values. Formula driven models are the primary appraisal tools versus look up tables and vertical calculations. Market value estimates through yield capitalization are the principal focus of the course.

Materials:

Property Assessment Valuation (PAV) textbook (3rd edition) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

Appraisal of Land is designed to provide the students with an understanding and working knowledge of the procedures and techniques required to estimate the market value of land. This course concentrates on the skills necessary for estimating land value primarily using the sales comparison approach.

Materials:

Property Assessment Valuation (PAV) Textbook (3rd edition) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

This course provides an introduction to mass appraisal and is a prerequisite for the 300 series of courses offered by the IAAO. Topics covered include single-property appraisal versus mass appraisal, components of a mass appraisal system, data requirements and analysis, introduction to statistics, use of assessment ratio studies in mass appraisal, modeling of the three approaches to value, and selection of a mass appraisal system.

Materials:

Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal (FMA) textbook (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

The Real Property Modeling Concepts course presents a detailed study of the mass appraisal process as applied to residential and income-producing properties. Topics covered include a comparison of single-property appraisal and mass appraisal, the major steps in the mass appraisal process, data requirements, market analysis, use of sales ratio studies, cost approach, sales comparison approach, gross and net income analysis, capitalization rate development, model specification and calibration, valuation review techniques and maintenance. Please note: former 311 (Residential Modeling Concepts) and 312 (Commercial/Industrial Modeling Concepts) have been redesigned into this one 5-day course.

Description:

Course 312 presents a detailed study of the mass appraisal process as applied to income-producing property. Topics include income property data, market analysis, sales comparison approach, cost approach, gross and net income analysis, capitalization rate development, model specification and calibration, and value review and maintenance. For more information, please read the Course Information Packet. For more information on the course, please read the Course Information Packet.

Description:

This course is designed to build on the subject matter covered in Course 300 — Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal and prepare the student to take the more advanced mass appraisal courses. It teaches the student how to use Excel and SPSS to analyze data and apply it. Much of the emphasis will be on data accumulation and analysis primarily directed toward the cost approach. Along the way the student will learn how to use the graphing and analysis tools within Excel for ratio studies in addition to supporting existing cost schedules or building new ones.

Materials:

Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal textbook (FMA)

Description:

Modeling Concepts introduces and explains fundamentals of mass appraisal model building. Chapter 1 explains the role of models in mass appraisal and describes basic model structures and steps in model development. Chapter 2 covers exploratory data analysis, including descriptive statistics, charts and graphs, and spatial analyses. Chapter 3 describes data transformations, which largely determine the accuracy achieved for a given database. Chapter 4 introduces multiple regression analysis, including regression statistics and options, the interpretation of results, and separation of land and building values. Chapter 5 covers the review and support of mass appraisal values and chapter 6 describes mass appraisal reporting.

The course includes a large number of demonstrations and labs using Excel, which is capable of producing basic models for a limited number of variables. Follow-up courses 333 and 334 cover residential and commercial modeling, respectively, in more depth and use the powerful but user-friendly statistical package, SPSS, in labs and demonstrations. Thus this course serves as a foundation and bridge to IAAO’s two follow-up model building courses. For more information on the course, please read the Course Information Packet.

Materials:

Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal textbook (FMA)

Description:

Course 333 focuses on mass appraisal model building for residential properties. Chapter 1 explains the different types of mass appraisal models, types of data used in models, steps in model development, software tools available for modeling, and key regression concepts and statistics. Chapter 2 introduces the student to features contained in common statistical software packages. Chapter 3 covers basic statistical analyses, data transformations, charts and graphs, and data filters and sub-files. Chapter 4 focus on the development and application of price trends and vacant land models. Chapter 5 focuses on the development of improved residential models. Chapter 6 introduces automated comparable sales models.

Along with problems and illustrations, more than half of the course is based on hands-on labs in which students work through exercises with real world data to answer questions and construct data transformations, price trends, land and improved residential models, and ratio analyses. The course uses IBM’s user-friendly statistical software package, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), the most common statistical software package used by assessors. Follow-up course 334 covers the development of non-residential mass appraisal models. Recommended:

Materials:

Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal textbook (FMA) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

** Student Requirements from IAAO:

This is a “hands on” class.  Each attendee will be required to bring his/her own laptop loaded with Excel (2010 or later version) along with a power cord to class each day.  A financial calculator will be helpful for the exam.

The course uses IBM’s user-friendly statistical software package, SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), the most common statistical software package used by assessors.

Materials:

Fundamentals of Mass Appraisal textbook (FMA) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

Course 400 provides fundamental management concepts for management and supervisory personnel in the assessor’s office. The course begins by emphasizing the need for management, and the various roles placed on the assessor and all supervisory personnel. The course then introduces the four major management functions (planning, organizing, directing, and controlling). Although the four functions are interrelated, a separate chapter is devoted to each one. This provides for a greater understanding of the major functions.

Materials:

Assessment Administration textbook (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

Course 402 offers students’ strategies for assisting in the effective formulation and implementation of tax policies and presents background enabling students to understand the context under which property tax policy is established. Students will be given analytical tools with which they can explain the effects of proposed property tax changes. They will be provided with a sound theoretical basis to guide decision-making and to assist in creating workable solutions for their jurisdictions. The course is designed for assessment administrators and students of taxation, as well as professional policy advisors who guide and make decision in the area of tax policy on a regular basis.

Materials:

Fundamentals of Tax Policy textbook (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

The Assessment of Personal Property is designed to provide the students with an understanding and working knowledge of the procedures and techniques required to assess personal property. This course concentrates on the skills necessary for listing, appraising and assessing the market value of properties using the three approaches to value: the cost approach, the income approach and the sales comparison approach. The Assessment of Personal Property utilizes lectures, classroom discussion, and homework problems to emphasize the main concepts and procedures taught in the course. The ten sections of the course present a broad mixture of theory and practical application. Exercises are included so the student can test and reinforce new skills. Time is allotted for questions and answers throughout the course. Students are encouraged to participate actively.

Materials:

Property Assessment Valuation (PAV) textbook (3rd edition) (obtain from IAAO)

Description:

This course combines Workshop 552 and 553 material and provides a foundation for understanding basic financial records, specifically related to fixed assets. The balance sheet, depreciation schedule, and income statement are described and discussed in detail. Emphasis is placed on the pertinent data relevant to the personal property appraiser. In addition, the course expands to advanced discussions of accounting and auditing theory as it relates to fixed assets. Capitalization techniques are also discussed. A case study that includes sample financial records is used to “discover” fixed assets that may otherwise be hidden from the appraiser.

Description:

This workshop covers materials from The Appraisal Foundation, Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice which includes: Definitions, Preamble, Ethics Rule, Record Keeping Rule, Competency Rule, Scope of Work Rule, Jurisdictional Exception Rule and Standards 1 through 3, and 6 through 10. Supplementary materials include The Appraisal Foundation Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). This workshop includes an exam.

Description:

The Appraisal Uses of Excel Software Workshop provides the participants with practical, hands-on instruction on the use of Excel to accomplish basic appraisal functions. Participants will be required to bring a laptop computer with a 2003 or 2007 version of Excel installed. They will be given a dataset and a student reference manual. The instructor will take them through a series of steps to achieve value estimates for a small dataset using the cost, sales comparison and income approaches to value. Each participant will be allowed to take the completed spreadsheets with them to use in their jurisdictions. This workshop does not include an exam.

Description:

Highest and best use is a concept in real estate appraisal in which market value is achieved by the reasonably and probable legal land use that results in the highest value. Highest and best use is an essential step in the mass appraisal process and is necessary before market value estimates can be made. Local law may mandate preferential assessments according to specific land uses such as agricultural, historic and so forth rather than the highest and best use. This workshop is designed to provide students with a more in-depth study and understanding of the role and purpose of highest and best use in the appraisal process. Finally, there will be discussion of the unique situations that sometimes arise in a highest and best use analysis.

Description:

This workshop is designed to teach participants how to utilize the Marshall & Swift Commercial Valuation Guide. Participants will spend more time working several case study problems to assist them in learning how to apply this service. This workshop includes an exam.

Description:

Learn more about the standards of professional practice and ethics in this one day workshop.

Description:

This workshop is the National 7-hour USPAP Update offered for continuing education for licensure and certification through The Appraisal Foundation. The workshop provides a general overview of USPAP guidelines, advisory opinions, statements, and other appraisal practices. The course is updated every two years to address changes to USPAP and common misunderstandings. This workshop does not include an exam.

Description:

This workshop provides an understanding of the mechanics and application of multiple regression analysis (MRA) in property valuation, as well as instruction in gathering and qualifying data for MRA application. The workshop shows how to develop and use MRA equations as appraisal tools and how to evaluate, using measures of goodness of fit and variable importance, the results of an MRA based practical drill and demonstration problems, and how to follow step by step explanations of the MRA process. Although the workshop is open to anyone wishing to acquire a greater understanding of MRA as an appraisal tool, it is particularly valuable for those whose offices are considering using MRA valuation techniques or whose assessments are reviewed by a supervisory agency using MRA. An understanding of both the sales comparison approach and fundamental appraisal statistics is assumed. This workshop includes an exam.

Description:

This workshop provides a very basic introduction to the development and uses of assessment sales ratio studies based upon the IAAO “Standards on Ratio Studies: January, 2007.” The workshop covers the topics of sales analysis, sampling, and the development of assessment ratio studies. The workshop also includes material on managerial and technical issues, which include staffing, timing of studies, use of study results, statistical testing, and assessment regressivity and progressivity.

Description:

This workshop provides a foundation for understanding basic financial records. Specifically to be discussed are those records relating to fixed assets. The balance sheet, depreciation schedule, and income statement will be described and discussed in much detail. Emphasis will be placed on the pertinent data relevant to the personal property appraiser. Through a case study, students will demonstrate understanding of how data from financial records connects to the information needed to appraise taxable property. This workshop includes an exam.

Description:

This workshop expands the understanding of financial records provided in the Basic Personal Property Auditing Workshop and presents advanced discussions of accounting and auditing theory as it relates to fixed assets. Capitalization and expense rules will also be discussed. The use of computers, including spreadsheets will be reviewed. An audit template spreadsheet is provided to students, instruction on its use back home will be covered through a case study. This workshop includes an exam.

Description:

This workshop provides a comprehensive review and case study for the valuation of commercial property. Participants are to have had at least the basic appraisal courses and have experience in the appraisal of residential property. This is not an introductory workshop. The workshop is approximately 25% lecture and 75% problem solving. There are seven sections consisting of: General Appraisal, Land Valuation, Cost Approach, Depreciation, Sales Comparison Approach, Gross Rent Multiplier and Ratio Studies and Statistics. During the final four hours of the workshop, the students will take a practice case study followed by approximately one-hour of reviewing the case study solutions. The practice case study has fifty questions and ten pages of narrative about the subject jurisdiction and subject property. There is no graded exam.

Description:

This workshop provides a topical review and case study for the valuation of residential property. Participants are to have had at least the basic appraisal courses and have experience in the appraisal of residential property. This is not an introductory workshop. The workshop is approximately 25% lecture and 75% problem solving. There are seven sections consisting of: General Appraisal, Land Valuation, Cost Approach, Depreciation, Sales Comparison Approach, Gross Rent Multiplier and Ratio Studies and Statistics.

During the final four hours of the workshop, the students will take a practice case study followed by approximately one-hour of reviewing the case study solutions. The practice case study has fifty questions and ten pages of narrative about the subject jurisdiction and subject property. There is no graded exam.

Description:

This workshop provides a comprehensive review of the methods and applications of cadastral mapping. Participants are to have had IAAO’s two mapping science courses and experience in cadastral mapping. This is not an introductory workshop. There are three sections included in this course: Geometry of the Description, Public Land Survey System, and Rules for Construction of the County Cadastre. Students are exposed to typical mapping scenarios that they will encounter in the Cadastral Mapping Specialist (CMS) case problem. Each exercise is followed by a discussion of the solution. The workshop is approximately 30% lecture and 70% problem solving. There is no graded exam.