COURSE SYLLABUS
Spring 2016
Real Estate Finance
RLS 209
WESTMORELANDCOUNTYCOMMUNITY COLLEGE
Instructor: Sherry Magretti Hamilton, Esquire/M.B.A.
REAL ESTATE FINANCE
I.Course Information
Course Title:Real EstateFinance
Course Number:RLS 209
Lecture/lab/Credit Breakdown:3/0/3
Course Prerequisite:None
II. Catalog Description
Involves the principles of real estate valuation including tools, techniques and methods of determining value. The course also covers mortgage financing, including mortgage sources, primary and secondary mortgages, brokerage, mortgage applications and lenders’ requirements.
III.Text Books and Class Materials
A. Text Book: Essentials of Real Estate Finance, 13ed, Sirota, Dearborn Financial Publishing Inc.
B.Technical Requirements: Internet Access and Microsoft Word
V. Online Classroom Administration
A.Class Schedule: This is not a self-paced class. A weekly schedule is included in this syllabus. The course will be set up in units as listed on the syllabus. Roughly, the class will complete one unit/chapter per week. Each unit will require the submission of a quiz. There will also be a Mid-Term Exam covering the first half of the course and a Final Exam covering the whole course. The syllabus outlines the specific due dates for these assignments.
B.Class Etiquette/AcademicIntegrity: Each student is expected to conduct himself/herself in a professional manner and be courteous to fellow students and the professor. Class communication will be conducted electronically and may involve the Discussion Board. Please be aware that posts on the Discussion Board are available to all members of the class and are, in that regard, public. Students are expected to abide by the rules of academic integrity as required by the WestmorelandCountyCommunity College. All quizzes and other assignments should be completed independently by the student submitting the assignment. Quizzes will be open book exams, but students may only consult the textbook for this class and should not be consulting other students while taking the quiz.
C.Withdrawals:If a student desires to withdraw from the course, please contact the appropriate office at the college to complete the correct form. Failure of a student to properly withdraw will result in an “F” in this course.
A college initiated withdrawal will be initiated for any student failing to login into this course in Blackboard and/or participate in classroom activities for a period of three consecutive weeks.
D.Class Assignments and Exams: This class is designed to allow students to complete assignments/exams out of the classroom. Each student will be required to read the assigned text and complete corresponding quizzes. There will also be a Mid-Term Exam covering the first half of the course and a Final Exam covering the whole course. Each student should also consult the Chapter Overviews that I have posted on the Blackboard System. The Chapter Overviews were provided by the publisher of the textbook and each contains a section entitled “Suggestions for the Instructor”, these are not assignments but some of them would may good questions for the Mid-Term and Final Exams (Hint). There is also a PowerPoint document that was provided by the publisher. It is also posted under the Chapter Overview tab in Blackboard. I’m not sure how helpful it is in the context of an online class, but it is posted if you want to look at it. The text and the Chapter Overviews themselves are much more helpful. Each student must be able to manage their time accordingly to complete the assignments and quizzes within the allotted time period. Each unit’s materials will be made available following the completion date of the prior unit.
As previously mentioned, this class is not self-paced. This syllabus contains a weekly schedule that should be followed through this class. Each unit will be completed on a weekly basis. Due dates for assignments are indicated on the weekly schedule. Each student must complete the homework and quizzes by 11:59 p.m. on the due date indicated-no exceptions.
VI.Examinations and Grading Systems
A.Grading
90-100%A
80-89%B
70-79%C
60-69%D
59% and belowF
B.Tests
Each student is expected to complete the quiz for each unit as well as the mid-tem and final exam by the due date indicated on the weekly schedule. Failure to completed a quiz/examby the due date will result in zero (0) points for that particular assignment. Make-up tests will not be given since quizzes can be completed anytime during the week that a particular unit is assigned. In other words, you do not have to wait until the due date to complete a test; that test can be submitted prior to the due date.
Please check Announcements on a regular basis for any additional information throughout the
course.
C. Chapter Assignment/Discussion
Each student should explain 1 thing that they learned from each chapter on the Discussion Board. This assignment is due on the same date as the corresponding quiz for that particular chapter. Class participation points will be awarded for this assignment.
D. Final Grades
Final Grades will be determined based on total points allocated for class participation, quizzes, the mid-term exam and final exam.
VII.Contact Information
This information also appears in the “Contact Information” tab on the Blackboard system.
Sherry Magretti Hamilton, Esquire/M.B.A.
VIII. Disability Statement
If you need an accommodation due to a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, please contact Disabilities Services in Room 130 Founders Hall, 724-925-4121; or Lauren Eicher, Counselor of Disabilities & Student Behavioral Intervention Services, . Advance notice may be necessary for some accommodations to be provided in a timely manner. Accommodations must be supported by adequate documentation and are determined on an individual basis.
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
UNIT 1
Read Chapter 1 (pages 1-17 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 1 Quiz
Due January 26, 2016
UNIT 2
Read Chapter 2 (pages 18-34 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 2 Quiz
Due February 2, 2016
UNIT 3
Read Chapter 3 (pages 35-50 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 3 Quiz
Due February9, 2016
UNIT 4
Read Chapter 4 (pages51-66 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 4 Quiz
Due February16, 2016
UNIT 5
Read Chapter 5 (pages 67-89 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 5 Quiz
DueFebruary23, 2016
UNIT 6
Read Chapter 6 (pages 90-113 in the textbook)
Complete Chapter 6 Quiz
Due March 1, 2016
MIDTERM EXAM (covers chapters 1-6)
Due March 15, 2016
UNIT 7
Read Chapter7 (pages 114-149 in the textbook)
Complete Chapter 7 Quiz
Due March 22,2016
UNIT 8
Read Chapter8 (pages 150-176 in the textbook)
Complete Chapter 8 Quiz
Due March 29, 2016
UNIT 9
Read Chapter 9 (pages 177-200 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 9 Quiz
Due April 5, 2016
UNIT 10
Read Chapter 10 (pages 201-217 in the text book)
Complete Chapter 10 Quiz
Due April 12, 2016
FINAL EXAM (covers all chapters in text; chapters 1-10)
Due April 26, 2016