Allied Real Estate School?

[rcruz]

I live in California and I'm thinking of purchasing the Training Course from Allied because it covers everything below:

OREA Approval No: 97828003
Title: Real Estate Appraisal
Provider: Allied Real Estate School
BE Hrs.: 90
CE Hrs.: 90
Format: Distance
ACE/Credit: Yes
USPAP(7 hour): Yes
USPAP(15 hour): Yes

The Real Estate Appraisal course at American River Community College only offers 3 units(54 hours), does not cover USPAP(15 hour) and is not OREA approved.

Anyone have any feedback on Allied?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Shelby]

Hi rcruz,

I also live in CA and I am doing the Allied course online.

I started with the basic Fundamentals class at Anthony Schools, but didn't want to have to wait for them to schedule my other classes to be able to complete my classroom hours. The convenience fcctor can't be beat. You can work on the chapters and take the quizzes when it best fits into your schedule, instead of having to drive and sit in a too small desk for 8 hours!

I must say, I was glad to have taken the Fundamentals class at Anthony, because with them you do an actual appraisal, so I knew exactly what I was getting into as I went forward. Unlike my Anthony class, with Allied you actually have to read the book, and I'm glad I did!

You will also notice if you go to the various appraisal board websites that the Allied course is recognized and accepted by many states.

Hope this helps.

Shelby in CA 8)

 

[MarkRichmond]

I took the course last april. I think it was a good deal for me because I am self motivated and have little problem learning on my own from text material. The material was sufficient and I studied hard for the state license exam from the questions and answers book included with the course material and passed without a hitch.

My complaints about taking this route are that you learn in isolation. Having a class setting gives one the advantage of networking and also gives a little peer support that many need to plow through a new learning experience in a new field. Also the course was very thin on actually doing appraisals (I did one) so I think it would have been more meaningfull if there was a greater emphasis on doing reports.

Good luck!
Mark

 

[Brad in SAC]

rcruz:

I was about to enroll in a crash course or the independent study course until an "expert appraiser" told me to go the community college. He told me if I did the crash course that I would end up in the courtroom. So I took the course at American River, the instructor was Darrell Holmes. While I was half way through the course at AR I realized that I was'nt learning a whole lot, but it was taking forever. So I enrolled in independent study with Noblefields school of real estate in San Francisco and learned a lot more on my own. D. Holmes at AR was'nt a bad instructor but he told a lot of stories and blew a lot of smoke related to appraisals he had done which were really interesting and insightful, and he has a lot of experience, but it was'nt altogether realivent. So, if you are a decent self studier then do independent study. If you are not a good self studier then take some live classes at Noblefields in SF. They are offered frequently.

 

[jonathan asbury]

definately good points!

i just completed my training thru allied and had a great experience. Low a's on the finals and a pass in a little more than an hour on the state exam. But if you aren't a good study take a live class for sure!!

jonathan

 

[CANative]

Keep in mind that although the Allied Course will get you to the minimum education requirements to take the initial state exam and later upgrade to licensed residential, to get the certified residential license you need to have 90 hours (maybe more) of LIVE COURSE education. Correspondence courses do not count for that level of licensing.

 

[Steve Wyrick]

RC before you invest your money, please check out the various threads about the current and future prospects for appraisers, especially in CA and especially if you are in one of the large urban areas. If after doing that you wish to go forward then I would strongly suggest that you consider the Appraisal Institutes beginning two classes. Each is a week long, go into depth about fundamentals and procedures and the whole real estate market and how it all relates. By the way I am not an Institute member but have a great deal of respect for their education classes.

As a mentor appraiser if I were hiring a trainee I would give a trainee with Institute classes a big plus over online classes. A little like comparing a high school graduate to a college graduate.

Good luck, but please check out the threads here about the industry you are thinking about entering.