Certified Residential Appraisal Exam

[Karl Knorr]

Hello,

I have completed all of my coursework for the certified residential appraiser. I will be taking the exam in February.
I am reviewing my coursework. Any specific words of wisdom on what I NEED to study/focus on?
Is there anything I DON'T NEED to focus on? It's a lot of material.

Thank you.

Karl Knorr

 

[Elliott]

I had an appraisal assistant take the test two years ago, passed, and said there were lots of USPAP questions, Income Approach questions (yes for Cert Res), and long story problem questions. Hope that helps.

 

[breakmaker]

This is the book I used, and I did pass the certified residential exam for california. Everything was submitted at the end of November 11/2022 and am still awaiting any response.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

Hello,

I have completed all of my coursework for the certified residential appraiser. I will be taking the exam in February.
I am reviewing my coursework. Any specific words of wisdom on what I NEED to study/focus on?
Is there anything I DON'T NEED to focus on? It's a lot of material.

Thank you.

Karl Knorr

I paid for an online study program, some sort of flashcards that explain the answers, can't remember which, but there were only a few questions that came out of leftfield and I did my best to deduce the answers for those. Make sure you know how to use a financial calculator.

 

[breakmaker]

My best advise is fully read the questions and don't change your answers.

 

[OSU Beavers]

How many questions on the test, and how long to you have to finish?

 

[Surf Cat]

Go online and get "Appraisal Review Crammer" 5th edition (Hondros Learning). It goes over HP12C calculation problems step by step plus everything else. This text reinforces everything you've already have come to know and study. It's not a "shortcut" cheat. You have to dig into it because as you've already stated, it's a lot of material.

I also did Compucram which to me was just "meh". But the one thing it did provide was going through timed test modules quickly. And that's what you're going to have to do as you'll most likely get those 1 page long questions where you need the HP12C to get through.

Go through the entire test quickly, answering the easiest questions first, book marking the long ones to skip and circle back to. Make sure to answer "all" the questions, even if you have to guess. Better than leaving them unanswered. I believe there's a 150 questions from what I can remember. Your state appraisal board should give you all the details.

Good luck!

 

[Karl Knorr]

My best advise is fully read the questions and don't change your answers.

Thanks very much. I appreciate it very much. I have been studying my course materials and all the quizzes. You feel the book was additionally helpful? Covered some issues that were not part of course material? Gave you hints as to what would be on the test?
I'm probably going to get the book.

I paid for an online study program, some sort of flashcards that explain the answers, can't remember which, but there were only a few questions that came out of leftfield and I did my best to deduce the answers for those. Make sure you know how to use a financial calculator.

Yep... I have been practicing with the financial calculator. Did you feel like most of the questions were things that directly apply to being a certified appraiser AND things you will USE... or were there several/many questions on things that are as useful (metes and bounds; mass appraisal formulas; minimum requirement/temperature for heating a home; etc. )? Thanks for your help.

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

Thanks very much. I appreciate it very much. I have been studying my course materials and all the quizzes. You feel the book was additionally helpful? Covered some issues that were not part of course material? Gave you hints as to what would be on the test?
I'm probably going to get the book.

Yep... I have been practicing with the financial calculator. Did you feel like most of the questions were things that directly apply to being a certified appraiser AND things you will USE... or were there several/many questions on things that are as useful (metes and bounds; mass appraisal formulas; minimum requirement/temperature for heating a home; etc. )? Thanks for your help.

Metes and bounds, don't recall the others but its been some time. I think it was Compucram I used, it was good enough for me, but some here say there are better resources to buy.

 

[Alsie35]

Thanks very much. I appreciate it very much. I have been studying my course materials and all the quizzes. You feel the book was additionally helpful? Covered some issues that were not part of course material? Gave you hints as to what would be on the test?
I'm probably going to get the book.

Yep... I have been practicing with the financial calculator. Did you feel like most of the questions were things that directly apply to being a certified appraiser AND things you will USE... or were there several/many questions on things that are as useful (metes and bounds; mass appraisal formulas; minimum requirement/temperature for heating a home; etc. )? Thanks for your help.

If you want to pass the Cert. Test, go to the weekend class linked below about a week before your test. Its taught by Bruce Legg in Anaheim, CA and he guarantees you will pass the test if you take his class. He is right. I did his class 5 years ago about a week before the Cert. test. I crammed using the materials from the class for a week afterwards, then passed the test on the first try (despite not being a "math head"). He uses the Hondros book, and you will need to read it cover to cover before you go to the seminar.

It was the hardest test I ever took (much harder than the Bar Exam that I took and passed decades earlier, and much, much harder than the Licensing test). If it was not for Bruce's class I wouldn't have had a prayer with those math calculations.

You are close enough in Nevada that going to Anaheim should present little logistical problem for you. You can go to Bruce's class and pass on the first try, or you can try it on your own ... and wind up going to Bruce's class in the future. The choice is yours. I would go now and pass the first time.

https://www.retrainersca.com/live-AQB-residential-exam-prep-class.html