AI's Capstone Demo

[benny613]

Hi!

I am almost finished the Capstone Demo and it isn't going well. I do not practice most of the concepts in my daily appraisal work, for example FMA, land residual. I know there was once a thread about this but it was years back. I feel like there should have been an emphasis on studying all the materials beforehand. In addition, I am wondering if it would've been smarter to take the comp exam first as they have courses for them and it would've been a review on all the courses I took over the past few years. Looking to hear some thoughts on this topic and if you too were deep into the capstone with a lot left to do.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

I am wondering if it would've been smarter to take the comp exam first as they have courses for them and it would've been a review on all the courses I took over the past few years.

Appraisal Institute Capstone, not Al Capone like I keep misreading.
Yes, you should do the review thing.

 

[Red Flint]

You can find relevant forum threads by searching for 'Capstone' including this year and last year comments.

Fundamental market analysis is usually not commonly completed, but the approach steps are spelled out in the textbook. Other specific details are also covered in basic courses, such as land residual and breakdown method. You will want to have a handle on these techniques for the comp exams. Handling difficult appraisal problems is actually a good harbinger for future efforts as a designated appraiser. It is far better to struggle in the courses than to be generating questionable or unsure work for paying clients that expect competent work.

Time to burn the midnight oil and do the best that you can, good luck.

 

[benny613]

You can find relevant forum threads by searching for 'Capstone' including this year and last year comments.

Fundamental market analysis is usually not commonly completed, but the approach steps are spelled out in the textbook. Other specific details are also covered in basic courses, such as land residual and breakdown method. You will want to have a handle on these techniques for the comp exams. Handling difficult appraisal problems is actually a good harbinger for future efforts as a designated appraiser. It is far better to struggle in the courses than to be generating questionable or unsure work for paying clients that expect competent work.

Time to burn the midnight oil and do the best that you can, good luck.

thank you!

 

[benny613]

Appraisal Institute Capstone, not Al Capone like I keep misreading.
Yes, you should do the review thing.

thanks

 

[MsMFraser]

The book Market Analysis for Real Estate by Stephen Fanning is really your best resource. The book and the accompanying spreadsheets are what got me through the FMA. I did end up spending the 250 hours the institute recommends for the demo report. I would do your best to finish the demo and turn it in for grading. If you don't pass but turn in something that is gradable, the institute gives you another chance to complete. My FMA had a mistake deep in the spreadsheets which I found after it was rejected and I received a passing grade in the end. It's a lot of money so you might as well do your best to finish and see what happens. Personally, I found the comp exams and demo report to be two separate entities which required specialized study and work, not much overlap.