ATTENDANCE POLICY:
• To receive AI and State credit, 100% attendance is required for all Appraisal Institute education programs.
• attendance will be monitored throughout the day, via webcam
• students are required to be visible on the virtual platform during the entirety of class time
• students are required to be in front of the camera with the camera in the on position (100% of the time)
Participants must:
· Be familiar with using ZOOM and have a computer (or tablet or smartphone) with a webcam and microphone.
· have internet access
· be able to scan a copy of a photo ID to myra@tnappraiser.org before class.
Registered attendees will recieve an invite with the ZOOM meeting login credentials 1 day before class and again 1 hour before class begins.
SCHEDULE:
May 9th, 2024 (Central Time Zone)
ZOOM Meeting Opens: 7:30 a.m. central time
Class Begins: 8:00 a.m. central time
Course Overview:
The Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) establishes a framework that
appraisers use when developing an opinion of value. The valuation process is a systematic
procedure an appraiser follows to provide answers to a client’s questions about real property value.1
It is a model that can be adapted to a wide variety of issues related to value, mass value, review,
litigation support or consulting assignments.
The goal of the valuation process is to deliver well-researched and supportable conclusions. The
Critical Thinking & Junk Science course includes both principles and case studies for the appraisal
professional. The three approaches to value (cost, income and sales comparison), coupled with
complex issues set forth in USPAP AO-9 (cost, use and risk effects) established a solid valuation
framework.
Critical Thinking and Junk Science expands an appraiser’s professional skill set by focusing upon
five topics within the context of real estate valuation:
1. Epistemologies. The academic community has long identified research methods to collect
and build credible knowledge and are discussed within the context of valuation.
2. Critical Thinking. Appraisers must employ an objective analysis that allows them to form
credible opinions, especially when involving complex or “atypical” properties and
conditions.
3. Logical Fallacies. Appraisers should avoid invalid or faulty reasoning. USPAP sets forth
guidance on a variety of issues, and the Appraisal Institute sets forth many established
methodologies.
4. Cognitive Bias. Appraisers should avoid any systematic pattern of deviation from rationality
or established standards and ethics of the appraisal profession.
5. Junk Science. Appraisers should avoid unproven or untested tactics or theories when
presenting an opinion of value. These tactics are explored, along with how to rebut them.
Appraisers are licensed professionals, and their opinions should be unbiased and reflect credible
value conclusions. Valuation judgements must promote transparency, minimize subjective factors,
be applied objectively to avoid biased analyses, opinions and conclusions.
Understanding these complexities helps develop a credible opinion of value. While many of these issues are addressed
throughout USPAP, professional literature and coursework, this course focuses on them in a single
framework.