Texas Appraiser
Qualifying Education (QE) Classes

This 15-Hour Equivalent USPAP Course is an approved course for satisfying the Appraiser Qualifications Board’s real property qualifying education requirements. The contents of USPAP is fully explored, utilizing numerous, compelling case examples that enable the student to understand the application of USPAP in real world scenarios, along with assessment opportunities to challenge the student throughout the course. Upon completion of this course, students will have a solid understanding of how USPAP applies to appraisal practice and an appraiser’s development and reporting obligations within the USPAP appraisal process.

The Basic Residential Appraisal Principles course provides an overview of real property concepts and characteristics, legal considerations, value influences, real estate finance, types of value, economic principles, real estate markets and analysis, and ethics in appraisal. Through theory, case studies, and examples, this course offers practical application of appraisal principles.

The Basic Residential Appraisal Procedures course provides an overview of real estate appraisal valuation procedures, approaches to value, property description, residential and commercial applications, residential construction and home inspection, as well as basic appraisal math. Examples are presented throughout to assist the student with understanding essential concepts. A calculator is recommended for this course.

Identifying and analyzing market forces affecting the buyers' and sellers' behavior is key to understanding and reporting values. This course is designed to give students the tools needed to properly collect and analyze market data. Markets, sub-markets, market segmentation, supply side analysis, demand analysis and the importance of market analysis to the appraisal process are covered in the first half of this course. The second half focuses on the theory of Highest and Best Use. The two-step analysis along with the four tests for Highest and Best Use are covered in detail. Drill problems and a short case study allow students to put into practice the techniques presented in the course. An exam is given at the completion of the course for students requesting pre-certification credit.

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.

This course is designed to provide the student with a comprehensive knowledge of the development and application of the sales comparison approach and the income 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 and/or income approach is relevant in the scope of work, and details the development steps in the appraisal process through reconciliation. As part of the progression, the student will become acquainted with accepted methodology and techniques that can be applied in the assignment using the sales comparison and/or income approaches. 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 an introduction to the HP 12c financial calculator as well as a discussion about using the sales comparison and income approaches in special situations.

Too often, the residential appraiser can become locked in the mindset that appraisal assignments can only be completed using traditional methods learned as part of the appraiser's basic knowledge. Advanced Residential Applications and Case Studies addresses the inevitable challenging residential appraisal assignment that you will face either occasionally or even frequently. These assignments are often identified as properties that are complex in nature, ones for which there is a lack of ideal data, have unique improvements, or innumerable other challenging circumstances. In such cases, traditional appraisal methods may not work or at least, not work the same way as in a commonplace appraisal assignment.

Residential Report Writing and Case Studies is deeply rooted in appraisal professional standards and best practices of an appraiser when communicating the opinions and conclusions of a residential appraisal. The course commences with a detailed discussion of USPAP Rules and the reporting options permitted by STANDARD 2. Appraisal writing skills are then discussed along with several examples of how the reasoning of an appraiser is expressed in typical appraisal reporting situations. The most common residential appraisal reporting form, the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report (URAR), will be fully illustrated along with the requirements of the Uniform Appraisal Dataset (UAD). The course concludes with an overview of several of the most common residential appraisal forms. Within each section of the course are numerous compelling case studies to assist reinforcement of learning. Finally, common reporting issues are explored to illustrate the level of detail required in appraisal commentary so that appraisal reports are clear and not misleading (or fraudulent). The current version of USPAP is recommended for reference during the course.

Statistics, Modeling, and Finance is designed to provide students both the theory and practice of statistics, real estate finance, and valuation modeling for today's residential appraiser. This course outlines terminology and basic principles of statistics, including practical applications in statistical analysis. In addition, the course presents an explanation of real estate markets, terms of financing, and real-world examples of how financing affects the value of real property.

This course aims to raise the awareness of the scope of work involved with assignments other than the everday single-family residential appraisal. It includes an overview of mixed-use, unusual, income-producing, and one-of-a-kind property types. Students will learn about how an assignment can become complex and the considerations of appraiser competency. This includes recognizing when an assignment is becoming complex and how to proceed in the appraisal process when this occurs.

Specialized Residential Appraisal Topics is a 20-hour appraisal prelicensing course that provides a comprehensive look at general residential appraisal review, analysis of 2-4 family and multi-family properties, and analysis of unique and complex properties.

Texas 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 Texas 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 Texas state-specific’s requirements, and especially noting the credentialing requirements for supervisory and trainee appraisers.