Appraiser Training

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203 Golden Hill Court  Roseville, CA 95661    l     Contact Us

quality training for experienced and aspiring appraisers

Real Estate

Classes and Class Descriptions

We offer a wide variety of courses for both the aspiring appraiser learning the business, and the experienced appraiser interested in maintaining or upgrading their skills.  

As Barry is a Senior Instructor for the National Association of Independent Fee Appraisers (NAIFA), these courses are also available.   

Appraiser Training Course List:


NAIFA Courses sometimes taught by us:


Advanced Reviewing Techniques (NAIFA course 4.6B; OREA 08748C002)

This is a detailed study of those tools necessary to competently review any type of residential or commercial appraisal report. It is designed for all persons involved in the mortgage loan process and legal matters including tax assessment appeal, foreclosure, matrimonial settlement, and probate. It also prepares the student for Certified Appraisal Reviewer and Certified Mortgage Appraisal Reviewer certifications. This course includes extensive use of actual appraisal reports that are used as examples and case studies. All students are involved, hands on, in the actual review process during the class.

7 Hours Continuing Education credit

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Appraising Residential Income Properties (OREA #11226C010)

Overview on the appraisal of income property, concentrating on single family to four properties. The course will include all criteria on the Income Approach, including valuation of partial interests, needed to qualify for the Certified Residential and General Licenses.

Designed for licensed appraiser upgrading their license or renewing a license.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Cost Approach to Value  (OREA #10226C006)

The course covers creation of a supportable cost approach to value analysis.   Includes language to consider for using in a report related to using or not using this approach to value. What an appraiser should consider when creating a properly created valuation document; what should be included in the report; creating supportable documentation.   This is an appraiser's decision consideration.

7  hours Continuing Education credit

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Fannie Mae Selling Guide - Updated Appraisal-Related Policies (NAIFA Course; OREA #11748C109)

This seminar has been developed to assist the practicing appraiser to understand the policies developed by Fannie Mae that lenders must follow for loans to be eligible for purchase.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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FHA Appraising (OREA #09226C002)

This class discusses how to utilize the FHA appraising criteria.  It is designed to reduce the mistakes commonly done by FHA appraisers, and reduce risk and liability.   Helps appraisers not having done FHA appraisals, qualify to do these assignments, explaining the duties and responsibilities of the appraiser.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Foreclosure & REO Appraisals (OREA approval pending)

Understanding the definition of market value in REO reports, other definitions, and why REO and foreclosure sales are different. Difficulties in selecting comps; how to make appropriate adjustments; finding sales and what  questions you should ask; impact of an auction on sales prices; are listings comparables or not.  Which external resources to utilize.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Highest and Best Use

The objectives of this seminar are to teach appraisers how to make relevant decisions regarding the determination of Highest & Best Use. Further, it will teach those in attendance how to analyze different situations with different types of properties and how to proceed with a Highest & Best Use analysis for each type. Appraisers should be able to broaden their appraisal practice after taking this seminar. Since Highest & Best Use is a primary consideration in performing real estate appraisals, it is important that all appraisers become familiar with the techniques, methods and principles to be utilized in making the estimate of Highest & Best Use. After taking this course, students should be able to employ the necessary methods to make an accurate determination of Highest & Best Use.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Litigation Appraisal (OREA #10226C006)

This class covers the concepts of working with attorney clients, getting recognized as an expert witness, scope of work issues, documentation, and preparing for depositions and trial.  

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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OREA License Test Preparation Course

Live sessions on preparing for the OREA license exam. Attendees report a significantly higher pass rate of the License Test after completing this class.  Day one will cover mathematical questions of the type commonly found on the test. Coverage includes several areas commonly tested on, including Township, Ranges, Sections; configuration of Sections to understand the acreage breakdown of a Section; discussion of Metes and Bounds; and definitions common to the test. Day two continues from day one, with basic to advanced questions, including concepts of Capitalization, Land Residual, Building Residual, Operating Expenses, Reconstructed Operating Statement; and more complex math questions. Over 200 questions are covered in the course content. Individual student concerns and questions are addressed. Suggestions for successful test-taking are covered. Once you understand the information, your test scores should improve!

The first day covers the outline and answers questions for the AT and AL test. Day one is also helpful for the AR. The second day covers more advanced questions and is helpful for the AT and AL test taker. The AT test candidate should take both days. It's also recommended that the AR licensee take both days. If only one day is taken for AR, it should be day two; however, missing day one will reduce the benefits of preparing for the test.

This may be taken as a 2-day class, or either day may be taken alone.

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Property Analysis (OREA #10226C005)

Intensive course on the requirements that the appraiser needs to consider, including relevant characteristics of property, verification of permits, legal description, zoning, FNMA criteria, FHA criteria, manufactured home criteria.   Why the appraiser should verify this information.  Disclosure; measuring the home; what is an accessory swelling; defining what is living area and non-living area; basement, attic, room descriptions; environmental issues; site analysis issues.  Clarification of condominium versus PUD.  How to read basis legal descriptions.  Title reports & why to read them if available. The class includes an open discussion and exploration of questions from attendees. It is designed to improve your understanding of responsibilities and capacity to report property characteristics correctly.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Relocation Appraisal (OREA #0922C003)

This class covers the concepts, criteria  and process of doing Relocation Appraisals, including the analysis of the process and forecasting.   It also covers the ERC report.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Residential Report Writing (OREA #05226005; Nevada A7846)

How to write an appraisal report, proper disclosures, and narrative report writing concepts. Compares narrative report writing, form report writing, and development of writing techniques. Appraisal Update documents are also covered. This course includes the Narrative Report Writing and Direct Capitalization requirements for the AR upgrade. These are required as Basic Education to upgrade licensing to AR and AG levels. Excellent for both new and experienced appraisers.

This class has been revised with 2005 criteria and includes the new FNMA forms in order to understand the more than 25 significant changes to the use of forms for FNMA and the documents overall.

Qualifies for 15 hours Basic Education for AR upgrade with the test, or 14 hours Continuing Education without the test, for both California and Nevada .

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Reviewing Residential Appraisals (NAIFA course 4.6A; OREA 08748C001)

This class is designed to help any person who is involved in the underwriting process and/or the handling of appraisal reports, to better understand single family residential appraisal reports and the appraisal review process. It also prepares the student for the Certified Appraisal Re vi ewer and Certified Mortgage Appraisal Reviewer certifications.

This course includes extensive use of actual appraisal reports as examples and as case studies. All students are involved, hands on, in the actual review process during the class.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Sales Data Analysis (OREA approval pending)

Graphing, charting, regression analysis, and abstracting adjustments from market data for paired sales analysis, comparing market to market.  How to use Excel spreadsheets to support the data in your reports.  We also cover how to analyze adjustments, such as price per foot, room count variances, one versus two story characteristics, yard features, and location adjustments.   Supporting market trend adjustments, when and what type should be considered.  Discussion of the verification process; if there is enough data, which sales should be considered (non-MLS; short sales; REO sales); motivation of seller, buyer, concessions, give backs.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Scope of Work  (OREA approval pending)

This class presents topics relating to scope of work by lecture (with PowerPoint slides), quizzes, and case studies. Classroom interaction between the teacher and students will be encouraged. The class will be helpful in preparation for, or in supplement to, attendance of the mandatory USPAP Update Course developed by the Appraiser Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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UAD & General Purpose appraisal Report Formats (OREA 11226C009)

Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD)in the URAR format is the focus of the FNMA documentation, which is reviewed in this class, section by section. The FNMA formats are for lending purposes.  The General Purpose reports are for non-lending purposes such as divorce, estate/trust, bankruptcy, or to provide information to the client.  How to customize the appraisal report according to the needs of the client and intended users.  Discussion of the language necessary for various assignments and the danger of using cloning techniques, canned comments, unnecessary boiler-plate, and auto-population of fields in reports.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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Unique & Complex Property Appraisals (OREA #09226C001)

What makes a property unique or complex?  Who makes the decision?   What information does the appraiser need to consider, including highest and best use; lot split; changing structural design or configuration; renovate, remodel or demolish; zoning; no permit construction.  Unique and complex property features may include the design and number of floors; room count, floor plan, lack of permits on additions; manufactured, modular, or mobile home; photovoltaic systems; geodesic dome houses;  berm (underground) homes; hay bale houses;  adjoining sites with well on one providing water service to house on the other site; fire-damaged home being appraised "as is"; parcel size; well or open ditch providing water; historical registry homes;  basements;  accessory dwellings;   mixed-use house with agricultural use; view adjustments. Stigmatized properties:  construction without permit or legal acceptance; non-residential zoning; mold and other issues; HOA in litigation and impacts on sales data; tri-plex constructed in single family zoning;  garage conversions without  permits; indicators of structural problems; insufficient utility services;  non-publicly maintained access roadways; lack of power or utilities to site; geological issues like flood zones or earthquake zones; contamination on site or in structures; “reputation" of home, builder, prior users/owners; death on site.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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USPAP National Certification Course (OREA #11226008; NV #PL0007815-A)

This is the USPAP 15-hour course required for licensing. This course is required for upgrade to AR or AG level license if it was not already completed in the National Certification level. Early enrollment is recommended so the materials can be sent for pre-study. Don't delay as the class can fill up rapidly!

Qualifies for 15 hours Basic Education with the test. It cannot be used for license renewal (except as continuing education).

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USPAP 7-hour Renewal Course (CA #11226C007; NV #CE0007816-A)

This course is designed to review professional standards, ethics and updates to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

7 hours Continuing Education credit

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