Looking Ahead

Instructor: Stephanie Coleman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS

Business Practices and Ethics is an important course that provides information about standards and ethics requirements for valuers in general and, more specifically, for valuers who belong to the Appraisal Institute. Through discussion questions and examples, the class compares behavior and actions that illustrate violations of the Code of Professional Ethics, and participants learn how referrals can be made. Participants are also introduced to the Appraisal Institute Guide Notes to the Standards of Professional Practice and use these Guide Notes to resolve everyday appraisal practice problems. At the end of the course, they learn about common errors in appraisal reports and review reports, and they respond to questions about challenges that arise in appraisal practice such as requests for updates and requests to change or add intended users. These are common business practice issues that appraisers encounter in various assignments, including mortgage lending, litigation, and property tax appeal. Other real-life scenarios in the course illustrate less common business practice issues such as an appraiser’s obligation when illegal or criminal behavior is observed.

NOTE: The AQB and BREA have approved this course for 6 hours of CEC.

Limited Seating - Less than 3 Spots Available
Appraisal Institute Designated Members, Candidates and Affiliates - $285
Standard / Non-Appraisal Institute - $310

Are you an appraisal trainee, a recently designated member or consider yourself a new appraisal professional looking for a networking event geared specifically for you?  Well, you just found it!

Meet up with us at Fieldwork Brewing Company, 6000 Bollinger Canyon Road, Suite 1206 in San Ramon for no-host beverages and appetizers starting at 5:30pm!  We will hang out until whenever . . .

All are welcome to this new, fun, welcoming, casual, no pressure social event!  You get the picture - it's informal.

Questions?  Contact Matt Atwood

Seminar Developer & Instructor: George Dell, MAI, SRA, ASA, CRE

This hands-on workshop introduces and exploits “big data” tools, computation, and predictive methods for valuation.  It emphasizes applied solution-based learning, using real data, for objective evidence-based results.  Data science results are simpler, more useful, and intuitively sensible.

The intent of this seminar is that students leave with these immediately useful skills:

1. Apply visual methods to structure assignments and define competitive market segments.
2. Classify and technically quantify comparable data selection.
3. Adjust and interpolate, using contrasting and simple regression calculations.
4. Explain practical differences in calculated, estimated, and biased estimators.
5. Hear and learn of the complexities, pitfalls, hype, and flim-flam around multiple regression.
6. See the potential of real data analysis software, such as open-source R and RStudio.

Open-source analytics software is provided, as well as example data sets and templates for use in form and narrative reporting.  The use of these tools is particularly useful for sparse-data appraisal problems through the support of location (spatial), and price indexing (time) adjustments.  Local commercial and/or residential data sets are used in presented examples

This course is prerequisite to intermediate and advanced courses offered by Valuemetrics.info education, leading to auditable valuation practices.

Note: This offering is created and administered by George Dell.  Additional registration information or questions should be directed to valuemetrics.info or 619/297-6816.

This Educational Program (Program) was developed by an outside party. The Appraisal Institute Chapter made arrangements for the Third-Party to offer the Program with the intent of addressing topic(s) based on a certain chapter or local need for such topic, solely for educational and informational purposes. The Appraisal Institute national organization was not involved in developing or organizing the Program and does not endorse the Program or its content.

The content of this Program, including but not limited to any written materials and presenter comments, does not represent the viewpoint of the Appraisal Institute (defined as including but not limited to, the national organization, its Regions, Chapters, members, candidates, affiliates and staff) unless formally adopted by the national Board of Directors. Further, the Appraisal Institute has not peer-reviewed or approved the content of the Program and does not warrant the accuracy or timeliness of the content of the Program. The Appraisal Institute does not publish examination review materials. The content of the Program is subject to court decisions and local, state and federal laws and regulations and any such revisions of such laws and regulations.

This Program is presented with the understanding that the Appraisal Institute is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice or services. Nothing in the Program is to be construed as the offering of such advice or services. If expert advice or services are required, attendees and readers are responsible for obtaining such advice or services from appropriate professionals.

St. Mary's College of California - School of Economics and Business Administration (SMC/SEBA) Finance Club invites you to join them from 5:00-7:30pm for a Reception & Networking followed by Speakers and Q&A.

The economy is top of mind in the news as some economic indicators have decidedly turned negative.  Meanwhile, job growth and spending remain sound.  Have we finally reached the end of a long economic cycle?  Hear from the experts what indicators they’re watching, where real estate opportunities remain and what key risks are lurking. 

Introduction:
Vanessa Gutierrez
Elizabeth Davis - Dean SEBA
Aly Henry - President Finance Club

Program Speakers:
Dr. Jack Rasmus, SEBA Economics Professor
Robert Sammons, Research Director Cushman & Wakefield
Colin Yasukochi, Director Research and Analysis, CB Richard Ellis
Nicole O'Keefe, Senior Market Analyst, Kidder Mathews
Heather Belfor, Research Manager Silicon Valley, Jones Lang LaSalle
Albert Nguyen, President Elect, SMC SBA Finance Club

Sponsors include:

• Appraisal Institute - Northern California Chapter (AI)
• Financial Women San Francisco (FWSF)
• Stanford Professionals in Real Estate (SPIR)
• Counselors of Real Estate (CRE)
• Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
• CB Richard Ellis (CBRE)
• Kidder Mathews
• Cushman & Wakefield (C&W)
• Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)
• Institutional Real Estate Inc. (IREI)
• Mechanics Bank
• SEBA Economics Club
• Institutional Real Estate Inc. (IREI)
• Menlo College Real Estate Program
• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
• New York Life

This event is being hosted by St. Mary's College of California - School of Economics and Business Administration (SMC/SEBA) Finance Club.  For more information contact: Dr. Lawrence A. Souza (Advisor) Cell/Text: (415) 713-0213 Email: Lsouza@ JohnsonSouzaGroup.com; Aly Henry (President Finance Club) Cell/Text: (925) 951-7448 Email: akh3@ stmarys-ca.edu.  Registration is free for those who pre-register.  NOTE:  Neither Appraisal Institute nor BREA CEC is availble for this offering.

Watch for details coming soon!  The Golden Gate Branch Chapter will be featuring a CE workshop followed by a networking social. 

If you have suggestions or are interested in assisting with the workshop, contact Tim Landregan, MAI.

Instructor: Stephanie Coleman, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS, AI-RRS

"The class is meaningful not just for reviewers but for ALL appraisers."

Enroll in Review Case Studies—General and come prepared for the challenge of applying the review process and other concepts covered in Review Theory—General. You will enhance your review skills by preparing two required review reports based on two case studies that present some of the issues reviewers face in review assignments. For each case study, you will develop opinions on the completeness, accuracy, adequacy, relevance, reasonableness, appropriateness, and credibility of another appraiser’s work and then communicate your opinions in a review report you design and draft yourself. By preparing written review reports based on the case studies, you will gain confidence in the application of review techniques. This course will be beneficial for appraisers and other real estate professionals who regularly work with appraisals and reviews.

EARLY REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Appraisal Institute Designated Members and Candidates - $800
Standard / Non-Appraisal Institute - $1,100

Are you an early riser? Join us the first Monday of every month at 7AM at the Crystal Springs Starbucks.  It's informal, it's casual, it's strictly a buy-your-own coffee, chat and meet other local appraisers kind of deal, targeted at those of us that are up and working early. All are welcome to attend.

Location: Crystal Springs Starbucks, 111 De Anza Blvd., San Mateo, conveniently located at the intersection of SH-92 and I-280.

Questions? Contact Clint Freeman, MAI.

Get Connected in the Silicon Valley!

Come one, come all!  Designed for residential and commercial real estate appraisers and allied real estate professionals who want to expand their networking and client opportunities.

Location:  Yard House, 300 Santana Row, Suite 101, San Jose

Time:  5:00pm until whenever (TGIF)

The Simple Details:  Buy-your-own-beer (or beverages) and appetizers. Advanced reservations are not necessary - grab a colleague, your peers, clients and just show up!

Questions? Contact Clint Freeman, MAI.

Are you an early riser? Join us the first Monday of every month at 7AM at the Crystal Springs Starbucks.  It's informal, it's casual, it's strictly a buy-your-own coffee, chat and meet other local appraisers kind of deal, targeted at those of us that are up and working early. All are welcome to attend.

Location: Crystal Springs Starbucks, 111 De Anza Blvd., San Mateo, conveniently located at the intersection of SH-92 and I-280.

Questions? Contact Clint Freeman, MAI.

Instructor(s): Gary DeWeese, MAI

" . . . the best course that a designated or advanced commercial appraiser can take to learn current state of the art appraisal practice from complex case studies."

Ask yourself, are you ready to challenge yourself to learn something . . . New?
This course implements a blended learning approach, which includes a pre-class, two-hour online session combined with 35 hours of traditional classroom education and wraps up with a three-hour exam on the sixth morning. Advanced Concepts and Case Studies synthesizes basic and advanced valuation techniques taught in previous courses, and addresses consistent treatment of the three valuation approaches for various valuation problems. Case studies teach participants how to address common but complex appraisal issues, including a leased fee not at market rent, a proposed property, a property in a market not at equilibrium, and a subdivision. The course emphasizes the need to test the reasonableness of conclusion in an appraisal. Like all advanced education courses sponsored by the Appraisal Institute, the course naturally reviews many concepts taught in previous courses.

Course will run Thursday - Saturday and Monday - Tuesday, December 5-7 and December 9-10; no instruction on Sunday, December 8.  The final 3-hour exam will be given on Wednesday, December 11.

Please review the FAQs for important information regarding registration; mandatory diagnostic test; online session; and course equivalencies. Click here.

EARLY REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Appraisal Institute Designated Members and Candidates - $850
Standard / Non-Appraisal Institute - $1,200

Instructor: Dawn Molitor-Gennrich, SRA, AI-RRS

This offering will be based on the recently released 2020-21 version of USPAP.

This one-day update course, copyrighted by The Appraisal Foundation, focuses on recent changes to USPAP requirements for ethical behavior and competent performance by appraisers. The course, which clarifies several commonly misunderstood aspects of USPAP, will aid participants in all areas of appraisal practice seeking updated competency in USPAP, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

NOTE: Appraisers must successfully complete the 7-hour USPAP Update Course every two years to meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Participants can take the 15-hour USPAP course, but it will only count for hours toward his or her state's continuing education requirement; the 15-hour program will not meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Click here to order your copy of 2020-21 USPAP directly from The Appraisal Foundation; this publication is not included with the tuition fee.

Just what are unique and special purpose properties?

Special Purpose Property: A property with a unique physical design, special construction materials, or a layout that particularly adapts its utility to the use for which it was built.
 - The Dictionary of Real Estate Appraisal

Topics include

• Going Concern: Issues, Allocation Methods and Valuation Techniques & Pitfalls
  
• The Fun Stuff:  Valuation of Amusement Parks, Movie Theaters & Bowling Alleys
  
• Valuation Nuances in Identifying Realty Value in Food Businesses: Commissary Kitchens, Food Truck Lots & More
  
• Take One: Valuation of Movie & Television Production Studios

Panelists include
Douglas Nason, ASA, FRICS, Senior Vice President / Regional Appraisal Director - Western Region, Wells Fargo Real Estate Technical Services Group (REVS-RETECHS)
L. Deane Wilson, MA, ASA, Managing Partner, The Blackwell Group
Stephen Bethel, MAI, MA, BA, National Director, Frazier Capital Valuation
Ariana Arredondo, MAI, Director, Frazier Capital Valuation - SF
Anthony J. D’Angelo III, MAI, Managing Director - Real Estate Valuation Group, Marshall & Stevens Inc. Los Angeles Office
Suzanne Mellon, MAI, CRE, FRICS, ISHC, Senior Managing Diretor, HVS

Mandatory Requirement for Initial State Licensing / Certification (QE) and Renewal (CE)
Includes the required one-hour multiple choice open-book exam is given onsite following the seminar presentation.

Developer & Instructor(s): Dawn Molitor-Gennrich, SRA, AI-RRS

Appraisers recognize that they have regulatory obligations but understanding which ones apply when doing federally related and real estate related lender work is challenging. A review of sanctions and disciplinary actions taken against appraisers by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers makes it clear that many details and nuances of the appraiser laws and regulations are being misunderstood. Common, unintentional errors impact both the reputations of individual appraisers as well as confidence in the competency and ethics of the appraisal profession. This seminar is designed to help you recognize and understand the laws and regulations most important to appraisers practicing in California.

Instructor: Dawn Molitor-Gennrich, SRA, AI-RRS

This offering will be based on the recently released 2020-21 version of USPAP.

This one-day update course, copyrighted by The Appraisal Foundation, focuses on recent changes to USPAP requirements for ethical behavior and competent performance by appraisers. The course, which clarifies several commonly misunderstood aspects of USPAP, will aid participants in all areas of appraisal practice seeking updated competency in USPAP, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

NOTE: Appraisers must successfully complete the 7-hour USPAP Update Course every two years to meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Participants can take the 15-hour USPAP course, but it will only count for hours toward his or her state's continuing education requirement; the 15-hour program will not meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Click here to order your copy of 2020-21 USPAP directly from The Appraisal Foundation; this publication is not included with the tuition fee.

Stay after the workshop and join us starting at 5:00pm for a brief chapter meeting that includes presentation of designation certificates to newly designated members, awarding local cash scholarships and the Installation of our 2020 Leadership Team - plus receive an update on chapter, regional and national Appraisal Institute issues.  Active AI members will select their delegates to the chapter's 2021 Nominating Committee.  Then enjoy great company, scrumptious complimentary appetizers; no-host/cash beverages will be available.

This offering will be based on the recently released 2020-21 version of USPAP.

This one-day update course, copyrighted by The Appraisal Foundation, focuses on recent changes to USPAP requirements for ethical behavior and competent performance by appraisers. The course, which clarifies several commonly misunderstood aspects of USPAP, will aid participants in all areas of appraisal practice seeking updated competency in USPAP, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

NOTE: Appraisers must successfully complete the 7-hour USPAP Update Course every two years to meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Participants can take the 15-hour USPAP course, but it will only count for hours toward his or her state's continuing education requirement; the 15-hour program will not meet the USPAP continuing education requirement.

Click here to order your copy of 2020-21 USPAP directly from The Appraisal Foundation; this publication is not included with the tuition fee.

This two-day course not only provides a comprehensive review of the recently released 6th edition of the Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisitions, (commonly known as Yellow Book) it provides critical guidance for appraisers involved in federal land acquisition valuation assignments. 

Whether you are experienced in writing or reviewing federal land acquisition appraisals or you are interested in expanding your client base to include federal and state agencies and organizations, this course will show you how to comply with the 6th edition Uniform Appraisal Standards for Federal Land Acquisition. An optional one-hour exam is included.

Rural Valuation Basics provides residential and general appraisers with the fundamentals of analyzing comparable data for use in rural appraisal assignments. This 7-hour seminar will focus on land mix analysis, improvement value extraction and allocation, and how to develop adjustments. While working on a typical rural property case study that both residential and commercial appraisers might be asked to appraise, participants will learn how to properly analyze and use information that is available in rural markets to support a credible opinion of value. Excel spreadsheets will be provided which will assist participants in their analyses. 

Instructor:  Stephen D. Roach, MAI, SRA, AI-GRS  (pending)

Litigation Appraising: Specialized Topics and Applications was expanded from two to three days and delves more deeply into inverse condemnation, an exciting niche market with increasing demand for appraisers. One of three courses in the Litigation Professional Development Program, this course now offers more hands-on applications giving you the opportunity to solve problems and put theory into practice.

Specialized topics covered include environmental contamination, ad valorem tax assessments, construction defects, bankruptcies, fraud and misrepresentation, income and estate tax disputes, inverse condemnation, contract disputes and equitable distribution in divorces cases. Through problem-solving activities, participants will apply new concepts and address how to best handle valuation and reporting issues in a professional legal setting. Participants will gain an understanding of the terminology and concepts involved in litigation valuation services in specialty areas and will learn about the many opportunities available for expanding their practices in litigation valuation.

Instructor: Gary DeWeese, MAI

This course focuses on the practical application of quantitative tools for analyzing data, drawing appropriate conclusions from data sets, and presenting both the analysis and conclusions in ways that enhance communication with appraisal clients. It reviews and furthers the application of basic statistical measures (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, etc.) and spends a good deal of time on graphical and regression analysis.

Central goals of the course include showing participants how to understand the reliability and validity of data used to draw conclusions, providing the knowledge needed to support the conclusions others may draw from the same or similar datasets. Presentation and activities make extensive use of real-world appraisal applications and are aimed at furthering an appraiser’s ability to provide credible analysis of real property-related issues.

Please review the FAQs for important information regarding registration; mandatory diagnostic test; online session; and course equivalencies. Click here.

EARLY REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Watch for registration to open in early October 2019.

Designed for participants with introductory experience and understanding of fundamental concepts of appraising, this course focuses on the valuation of vacant land parcels and the development of the cost approach. Develop your skills by creating a current cost estimate using market extraction, interview techniques, and information provided by professional cost data sources. An in-depth case study takes you from the origin of the appraisal assignment to a final value estimate using various cost approach applications. By successfully completing the course and exam, you will have met most states’ education requirements in the content area identified as residential site valuation and cost approach.

Residential * Commercial * Agricultural 

The very first Valley Seminar began in 1970.  Our "modern" version of the Valley Seminar became known as the Spring Conference in 2000 and has taken place each spring at the Doubletree Hotel since 2006. 

This event continues to evolve each year, with expanded breakout sessions to provide a greater depth of topics and the opportunity to hear from and connect with a variety of industry professionals. It is the combination of quality and content which draws an increasing number of attendees not only from the Central Valley but from the greater Bay Area and beyond!

TGIF is BACK!  Due to positive feed from our 2018 conference, we are thrilled to once again host this event on a Friday and look forward to having you join us for post-conference networking with complimentary appetizers and no-host beverages.

Presentations include our ever popular and informative Opening Session State of the Profession.

Watch for more details coming soon.

Review Case Studies-Residential is unlike anything you’ve experienced in other review courses. In this two-day course, you will apply the review process that you learned in Review Theory-Residential by walking through a case study that focuses on a two-stage review assignment. Day one begins with a quick refresher of review concepts. From there, you will work on an assignment that gets dropped on your desk much like it does in real life. Working in groups, as well as individually, you’ll identify and analyze the components of the case study review assignment.

For many, this will be the first opportunity to work through all seven steps of the review process and apply them within a simulated, very real-to-life assignment. Problem identification and scope of work is where the process begins and that quickly leads to the tougher analytical work where you’ll analyze the subject appraisal report and develop opinions of completeness, accuracy, adequacy, relevance, and reasonableness (including tests of reasonableness). From there, you’ll learn to develop opinions of appropriateness and creditability to both the appraiser’s development work as well as opinions on whether the appraiser’s report is appropriate and not misleading—including the reviewer’s development of reasons for disagreement.

Day two begins with the reviewer’s development of his or own opinion of value in this two-stage review assignment. You will analyze additional field data to facilitate review decisions whether the opinion of value in the subject appraisal report is credible. From the start of the case study, you will take notes to prepare an individual review report which is submitted to the instructor (the review supervisor) before the exam.

If you’re an appraiser, reviewer, or other real estate professional who regularly works with reviews, this hands-on, application-based course is for you!