Pennsylvania Appraiser
Continuing Education (CE) Classes

An overview of the 2020-2021 updates to the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

The core of this course focuses on the 2020-2021 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice updates as set forth by the Appraisal Standards Board of The Appraisal Foundation. Also included are issues that appraisers face in their daily appraisal assignments, as well as common USPAP violations.

An overview of Appraisal review and a discussion of applicable USPAP rules.

This course provides an overview of appraisal review and a discussion of applicable USPAP Rules, along with illustration of common errors and shortcomings commonly found by reviewers. STANDARD 3 is fully discussed along with applicable guidance offered by the Appraisal Standards Board. The course continues with an overview of the STANDARDS 1 and 2 appraisal development and reporting obligations. Finally, common mortgage industry appraisal and appraisal review forms are illustrated and discussed from a review perspective. Throughout, the course especially emphasizes best practices for a reviewer when developing opinions and conclusions regarding the quality of another appraiser’s work.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

A detailed look at the former Real Estate crisis and the regulations put in place as a result.

This Mortgages, Appraisers, and Foreclosures course provides a comprehensive look at the former real estate crisis and regulations put in place as a result of the crisis and as a means to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent mortgage lending practices. The first three lessons of this course cover key historical facts and current mortgage-specific regulations that are important for appraisers to know and understand in terms of how they impact the business of mortgage origination and property valuation. In lesson three, specific attention is given to how appraisers are impacted by mortgage origination laws pertaining to disclosures, the right of rescission, prohibited mortgage appraiser activities, and private mortgage insurance cancellation. The remainder of the course looks more specifically at the laws and processes that directly impact how appraisers and appraisal management companies must do business. The course highlights the proper use of the Fannie Mae Form 1004MC, how to appraise “flipped” homes and homes facing foreclosure, and how to appraise properties given different market conditions. Requirements that must be met by appraisal management companies as the result of the Dodd-Frank Act final rule that amended the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act are also covered.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

An overview of the Sales Comparison approach in residential appraisal assignments.

This course is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge of the development and application of the sales comparison approach in residential appraisal assignments. The course begins with how the fundamental principles of valuation and appraisal standards apply to an assignment in which the sales comparison approach is relevant in the scope of work, and details the development steps in the appraisal process through reconciliation. As part of the progression, you will become acquainted with accepted methodology and techniques that can be applied in the assignment using the sales comparison approach. Included and emphasized, through numerous illustrations and application case studies, are choosing comparable data, derivation and application of adjustments for various elements, derivation and application of rates of capitalization, and the logic and rationale applied during reconciliation. Also included is a discussion about using the sales comparison approach in special situations.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

An overview of the basics of green as it applies to Real Estate agents and appraisers.

Green construction, green energy, and green living are key topics about the environment for everyone today. For real estate agents and appraisers, the first step is to understand basics about green as it applies to real estate. A home is made up of many different systems and real estate professionals need to understand how they work together and independently to make a home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. In this course on the appraisal of green residences, we will study the basic concepts about green as it applies to real estate and the appraisal of property value, primarily regarding residential property. We will review the elements of green materials and techniques, as well as relevant property characteristics that affect value. We will also cover what to look for when inspecting the interior and exterior of a home, including any related adjustments and the effect of green.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

Learn to recognize and meet quality standards expected by clients and appraiser regulators.

In today’s world, appraisers must remain keenly aware of the quality standards expected by their clients as well as the compliance obligations required by appraiser regulators. Many users of an appraiser’s services and appraiser regulatory agencies have expanded or amplified their quality standards as a result of recent events of financial turmoil involving valuation issues. Defensible Appraising is an all-encompassing course designed to provide a comprehensive look at best practices for appraisers in order to recognize and meet those expectations. The course commences with discussion of various avenues, which could cause liability concerns for appraisers, including the appraisal review process. Common areas of deficiencies and inadequacies in the appraisal process are discussed as well. The remainder of the course takes a detailed look at compliance with USPAP, beginning with identification of the problem through the reporting process. This includes expanded illustrations of both acceptable and unacceptable practices.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

Gain valuable insight into performing residential site valuation in appraisal practice.

This course will help students gain valuable insight and a working knowledge of the various theories and methodologies for performing residential site valuation and developing the cost approach in appraisal practice. Various costing methods will be discussed and applications of the cost approach in residential appraising will be examined. The important distinction between Replacement Cost New and Reproduction Cost New will be discussed, along with an in-depth look at accepted methods for estimating accrued depreciation.

• Provider #1
• 14 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included

An overview of fundamental construction methods in residential real estate.

The Basic Construction Refresher course is designed for real estate agents and appraisers to review fundamental construction methods, both old and new, in residential real estate. The course covers construction from site preparation through completion. Major components of a house are identified including building materials and mechanical systems. Further, the course reveals “red flags” that are discernible to agents and appraisers when inspecting a home for a listing, sale, or valuation. Finally, the course describes how physical and functional issues in houses affect value.

• Provider #1
• 7 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider

An overview of the rules, requirements, and USPAP standards for supervisory and trainee appraisers.

Appraising for the Supervisor and Trainee is designed to assist in creating competent appraisers who can continually promote and reinforce ethical appraisal practice, abide by state and national laws and regulations, and uphold an appropriate supervisory/trainee appraiser relationship. An overview is provided of the rules, requirements, and USPAP standards for supervisory and trainee appraisers, identifying the AQB and state-specific requirements, and especially noting the credentialing requirements for supervisory and trainee appraisers.

• Provider #1
• 4 Credit Hours (TALCB)
• Textbook(s) included
• Online course is taken via a 3rd-party provider