Course Syllabus

Spring 2023 RE 62 - Advanced Real Estate Finance
Section 6339 - Course Syllabus

Course Description

In this course, students will focus on analyzing potential investment properties for buyers, sellers and lenders. Each stage of property analysis will be covered for properties ranging from single family rentals to large commercial. Real estate finance strategies will be applied to real-world situations with a focus on the practical application of these theories that matter the most to investors. This course applies toward the educational requirements for either a salesperson or broker's license. It also meets the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) education requirements for the Salesperson or Brokers license.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Outline and analyze primary, secondary, and additional investment elements and their effect on financing strategies.
2. Identify and understand the different methods of structuring financial instruments.
3. List and utilize real estate investment performance measurements and ratios.

Class Meetings

All material and activities be offered asynchronously, meaning you can access them anytime.

Instructor Contact

Albert Yu

Email: ayu@santarosa.edu

Phone: (707) 778-3961

Office Hours Online: Mondays and Wednesdays 12-2:30pm

I respond to emails with 24 hours. (48 hours on weekends)

Course Web Site

Students will use the Canvas course web site for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, viewing classmate's work, sharing resources, and viewing grades.

Textbook

Required Access to Mcgraw Hill Connect with Ebook included.  Hard copy is NOT required.

Real Estate Finance and Investments, McGraw Hill, William Brueggeman and Jeffery D. Fisher, 17th Edition, 2022.

You can locate and order textbooks online via the SRJC Bookstore. Note that if you want to pick your books up in Petaluma, you need to order them from the Petaluma Bookstore website.

Required Software

You will need the following software for this course. [If linking to PDF or Word documents, QuickTime or Flash videos, put in a link to the helper applications in your Syllabus or Getting Started section of your course materials.]

Important Dates

Day Class Begins: 1/18/23

Day Class Ends: 5/19/23

Last Day to Add without instructor's approval: 1/24/23

Last Day to Add with instructor's approval: 2/5/23

Last Day to Drop without a 'W' symbol: 2/5/23

Last Day to Opt for Pass/No Pass: 2/26/23

Last Day to Drop with a 'W' symbol: 4/23/23

Dropping the Class

If you decide to discontinue this course, it is your responsibility to officially drop it to avoid getting no refund (after 10% of course length), a W symbol (after 20%), or a grade (after 60%). Also, for several consecutive, unexplained absences, the instructor may drop a student.

Pass‐NoPass (P/NP)

You may take this class P/NP. You must decide before the deadline, and add the option online with TLC or file the P/NP form with Admissions and Records. With a grade of C or better, you will get P.

You must file for the P/NP option by 2/26/23. Once you decide to go for P/NP, you cannot change back to a letter grade. If you are taking this course as part of a certificate program, you can probably still take the class P/NP. Check with a counselor to be sure.

Instructor Announcements and Q&A Forum

The instructor will post announcements on the “Instructor Announcements” page in Canvas throughout the semester. Canvas notifies students according to their preferred Notification Preferences as soon as the instructor creates an Announcement. A “Q&A Forum” is also on Canvas to ask for assistance of your classmates or of instructor.

Attendance

Students who fail to attend the first class (face-to-face courses) or do not log-in to an online class after the second day of the semester will be dropped from the class. It is strongly advised that if you need to miss more than one class/homework deadline in a row that you contact me to avoid being dropped from the class.

Late Policy

All assignments are due at midnight PST on the due date. A late submission will receive a 20% penalty. Submissions more than one week late are not accepted without prior arrangement. Late work will not be graded unless student sends instructor an email with URL for late work.

Exams

There will be one online midterm and one online final exam. The material comes from the textbook, class lectures and supplemental materials. If any exam is missed, a zero will be recorded as the score. It is your responsibility to take the online exams by the due date.

Grading Policy

Visit the “Grades” in Canvas to keep track of your grades. I grade once a week and post grades and comments on the online Canvas gradebook.

Discussions   186 points

Assignments 170 points

Midterm  115 points

Final.  150 points

Total 559

Grades will be assigned as follows:

A

90%

558 points or more

B

80%

447 to 557 points

C

70%

391 to 446points

D

60%

335 to 390 points

If taking Pass/No Pass you need at least 70% of the total class points and complete the midterm exam and the final exam to pass the class.

Standards of Conduct

Students who register in SRJC classes are required to abide by the SRJC Student Conduct Standards. Violation of the Standards is basis for referral to the Vice President of Student Services or dismissal from class or from the College. See the Student Code of Conduct page.

Collaborating on or copying of tests or homework in whole or in part will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and result in a grade of 0 for that test or assignment. I encourage students to share information and ideas, but not their work. See these links on Plagiarism:
SRJC Writing Center Lessons on avoiding plagiarism
SRJC's policy on Academic Integrity

Other Important Policies and Practices

Avoid Plagiarism Like the, er, Plague

Although most students have likely heard about plagiarism during their years of schooling, it still is prevalent-even in higher education.

The video below reviews what plagiarism is and how not to do it.

Plagiarism: How to avoid it

Netiquette, or Why Is It Harder to Be Polite Online?

Netiquette refers to using common courtesy in online communication. All members of the class are expected to follow netiquette in all course communications. Use these guidelines:

  • Use capital letters sparingly. THEY LOOK LIKE SHOUTING.
  • Forward emails only with a writer's permission.
  • Be considerate of others' feelings and use language carefully.
  • Cite all quotations, references, and sources (otherwise, it is plagiarism).
  • Use humor carefully. It is hard to "read" tone; sometimes humor can be misread as criticism or personal attack. Feel free to use emoticons like :) for a smiley face to let others know you are being humorous.
  • Use complete sentences and standard English grammar to compose posts. Write in proper paragraphs. Review work before submitting it.
  • Text speak, such as "ur" for "your" or "ru" for "are you" etc., is only acceptable when texting.

Special Needs

Students with disabilities who believe they need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Resources (527-4278), as soon as possible to better ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.