Desperately seeking a tutor for Certified Appraisal Exam

[Newyorklori]

I have take the exam more than once and I'm getting frustrated . I need a tutor. I'm not getting the math at all and need someone who has recently taken the exam to tutor me. I'm of course willing to pay for your time. please contact me at lcarroll1963@gmail.com. I have been using the Steve Williamson review (which I find not worth it) as well as the Appraisal Institute exam reviw book.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Take a six functions of the dollar (usually a 12C HP subject) course. Take a prep class if you can find one...especially just before the test. I found the test questions type books less helpful than a simple text book. Henry S Harrison's books are OK. Another couple are easy to read and study. Used they are cheap on Amazon.
Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal

by Ventolo, William L., Jr. and Martha R. Williams

 

[RCA]

Someone who is smart can fail the exam, thinking that they can apply logic and deduction. I.e. you maybe remember USPAP says X and Y are true, therefore you reason Z must be true. Problem is, much of USPAP is illogical and contradictory. You need to take a prep course to be told how to answer the questions correctly. Rote memorization is helpful.

However, I think you only have to get 70% correct.

 

[Sid Holderly]

Make sure you have converted to the units needed for the question. The question makers love mixing inches, feet, acres, yards and occasionally chains, rods and links as squares and cubics. Convert word problems to math equations carefully watching for and, of, with, etc and striking out the extra unneeded data. Make sure you have the interest rate as monthly or yearly depending on the problem and formula used. Know the acronyms and how to use "T" charts. An HP 10BII or a TI BAII+ will solve all the needed problems without having to remember reverse polish notation for the HP 12. Remember to set for beginning or ending computation. Know how to read the divisions of a section of land.

Good Luck

 

[Carlos Danger]

There is usually only two answers that make sense. Make sure you read the entire question. If you can't figure it out, flip a coin between b and c.

 

[Newyorklori]

There is usually only two answers that make sense. Make sure you read the entire question. If you can't figure it out, flip a coin between b and c.
WOW

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

An HP 10BII or a TI BAII+ will solve all the needed problems without having to remember reverse polish notation for the HP 12.

After 27 years of using the 12C and the old HP 10C engineering calculators, I can't use a conventional calculator with an equal sign. RPN is the most efficient way and I'd hate to change.

 

[Meandering]

Know USPAP verbatim.
The questions are a word play in the USPAP section,
so word for word, know the rules and at least
Standards 1 and 2. Forget AOs and FAQs. They are not USPAP.
Says so on page 1.

Get the book Terrel posted.

Buy a pack of index cards.

Go through all the practice questions.

Each time you get one wrong, write it on an index card with the answers on the back of the card.

After you finish all in the practice exam book, go back over all your index cards.

Look up all the answers in your text books, re-read some chapters, take notes on the back of your index card,
and study from your index cards before you take the test again.

 

[George Hatch]

The OP is specifically referring to the math.

I think the math is actually easier to understand if you apply it to real world examples. And if you practice those examples by swapping out which factors you're solving for. Because that's what they're doing in these tests - structuring the equations in a different order than what you would normally encounter in your work.


For instance, in your real world example you can start with the price was $100k and the income was $9k and then readily solve for the 9% rate which will be the correct answer. But you can also structure that question in terms of knowing the rate was 9% and the price was $100k so you're now looking for the income. And then you can check your math against the outcome that was initially provided so as to validate your math.

 

[Meandering]

The OP is specifically referring to the math.

I think the math is actually easier to understand if you apply it to real world examples. And if you practice those examples by swapping out which factors you're solving for. Because that's what they're doing in these tests - structuring the equations in a different order than what you would normally encounter in your work.


For instance, in your real world example you can start with the price was $100k and the income was $9k and then readily solve for the 9% rate which will be the correct answer. But you can also structure that question in terms of knowing the rate was 9% and the price was $100k so you're now looking for the income. And then you can check your math against the outcome that was initially provided so as to validate your math.

Don't know when you took your exam.

But, at least one version of the "national exam" had you do a 5 year DCF on your HP12C, with a ballooning income scenario. Sounds good on the forum, but under time pressure of taking a test, you have to get over the inital WTF? before you can process the data in the question.

.