VanEd Newslog

VanEd Presents: Appraisal Education Available Online

Van Education Center is proud to announce that our Basic Appraisal package is now available online for the following states:

(click on your state for more information)     Michigan - Texas - Washington - Kansas - Wisconsin - Virginia - Georgia - Delaware - Vermont - South Dakota - Illinois

The package includes the following modules, and will prepare you for your apprenticeship:

• 30 hours - Basic Appraisal Principles
• 30 hours - Basic Appraisal Procedures
• 15 hours - USPAP (Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice)*

The cost is only $695 and includes two textbooks co-authored by Henry Harrison and Burton Lee. For more information and to enroll for a free 5-day trial of the program, click here!

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*Illinois requires USPAP to be taken in a classroom.

Van Education Center to offer Military discounts on real estate and appraisal licensing courses

Van Education Center announced today that it will begin offering discounts on real estate licensing courses and appraisal licensing courses to active and retired military personnel and their spouses. Discounts of 10% off the full program price will be available online beginning today, and students will be able to register with the discount directly on the VanEd web site.

For those interested in learning more about the required coursework for real estate or appraisal courses, visit the VanEd web links below. Veteran discounts are available directly on the enrollment page. VanEd also continues to offer a 5 day Free Trial to all enrolling students. Have questions? Send us an eMail! We're here to help!

>>> Real Estate Licensing

>>> Appraisal Licensing

Colorado Division of Real Estate sunset hearing scheduled

The House Business Affairs and Labor Committee has been requested to conduct the sunset review of the Colorado Division of Real Estate. This review will also include the a review of the function of making available Errors and Omissions Insurance to Licensees and the Service of Process requirements.

The committee, chaired by Representative Marshall, is scheduled to meet on Monday, January 14th from 1:30pm to 5:00pm in House Committee Room 0107.

Colorado Division of Real Estate special announcement on fee changes

In a Special Notice today, the Colorado Division of Real Estate announced that the fee schedule has changed with the start of the New Year for the processing of all application types. A copy of the special notice is below;

Special Notice From: The Colorado Division of Real Estate

To: All licensees

Fee Change:
       
The fee schedule has changed with the New Year for the processing of all application types (Change in status, License, etc). Applications post marked by 12/31/2007 will still be assessed the original fee for 2007. Applications post marked after 12/31/2007 will be charged according to the new fee schedule, which can be found by visiting the division website. http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/

Renewal notice:

Please keep in mind that licensees have a 31 day grace period from the expiration date of their license to pay the renewal fee. An example of this would be a license which expires on 12/31/2007 will have a grace period extending until 01/31/2008 to complete the renewal process and pay the required fee. The division does recommend completing the renewal process as soon as possible to avoid last minute issues which may prevent your renewal.

Thank you,

The Colorado Division of Real Estate

VanEd Presents: Our best wishes for a successful 2008

From all of us at VanEd, we wish you and yours all the best in 2008. As a reminder, we will be closing our offices at 2:00pm MDT on December 31st and will re-open on January 2nd. Instructors will still be available online for student support via email, student forums and our Q & A's.

2007 was an exciting and challenging year. As we move into 2008, all of us at VanEd are excited about the new opportunities that are in front of us, and we look forward to continuing our mission of creating and delivering quality education and training for real estate, appraisal and mortgage brokers.

VanEd offers sign up bonus for Real Estate and Appraisal Pre-License students

Van Education Center announced this week that they are offering an additional book, The Language of Real Estate, by John Reilly,  Free with their Pre-License or Qualifying Education programs. This is the desk reference of real estate terms used by successful real estate and appraisal professionals, and pre-license students who begin a VanEd pre-license program will receive a copy of this valuable desk reference included for Free.

Holiday Special!          Enroll for a package in December and receive a free copy of the Language of Real Estate, a comprehensive dictionary of real estate terms designed for real estate professionals.

VanEd continues to lead the way in online pre-license education. Enroll today for a 5-day free trail, but don't wait to get started! The Language of Real Estate books are in short supply, so this offer is a limited time offer only! When we run out of books, the offer ends!

   >>> click here for Real Estate Pre-License Education Programs

   >>> click here for Appraisal Pre-License Education Programs

Van Education Center wishes you a happy Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend!

VanEd will be closed for the Thanksgiving Holiday today, November 22nd and Friday, November 23rd. We will re-open on Monday, November 26th. We wish you and yours the best this holiday weekend.

While our staff is out for the holiday, our online courses are still available. Instructors will still be checking in, and students can still complete any educational offering, including continuing education courses online. For those students registering for Real Estate pre-license or Appraisal pre-license courses during the weekend, VanEd will be shipping textbooks and materials on Monday the 26th.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to send us an email by clicking here, and have a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving!

Colorado Division of Real Estate publication now out

The Division of Real Estate announced today that the Fall edition of the "Rocky Mountain Real Estate News" is now available. You can view a copy of the publication by clicking here, and a copy of their special notice is below;

The Fall edition of the "Rocky Mountain Real Estate News", a publication of the Colorado Division of Real Estate is now available. This new publication will combine the Colorado Appraiser Update, Colorado Real Estate News and Mortgage Broker Program into one comprehensive newsletter. Visit the newsletter section of the Division web site listed below to retrieve a copy of the latest newsletter.

http://www.dora.state.co.us/real-estate/newsletters/newsletters.htm

Colorado Appraiser Continuing Education Requirements/Audits

The Colorado Division of Real Estate and the Colorado Board of Real Estate Appraisers recently sent out a special announcement via email reminding all Colorado appraisers of the continuing education requirements. Colorado appraisers are required to complete at least 42 hours of continuing appraisal education during their 3-year license period. A 7-hour USPAP Update Course must be taken as part of the 42 hours.

The Division of Real Estate is performing audits to ensure compliance with continuing education requirements. The Division audited 100% of licensees who renewed as of 12-31-05. Shortly, we will be expanding our audit to include 100% of licensees who renewed as of 12-31-06. It is also very likely that they will do a 100% audit of licensees who renew as of 12-31-07.

The Divisions reminder also listed the penalties for failing to complete continuing education prior to renewing your license. Currently, these penalties include license suspension until the continuing education requirements are completed and a $600.00 fine. This can also be considered disciplinary action that is shown as a red flag in the public license database.

VanEd currently offers the 7-hour USPAP course which will count towards your hours and is required every other year. You may enroll and sign up for the 7-hour USPAP course here.

Colorado Division of Real Estate suspends appraisal licenses

The Colorado Division of Real Estate announced today that two appraisal licenses had been suspended. In each case the appraisers were charged with overvaluing multiple properties.

Click Here to view all of the currently released enforcement actions from the Colorado Division of Real Estate.

VanEd gets initial Nebraska Pre-License course approved

Van Education Center has recently gotten the Real Estate Principles 30 hour course approved for delivery later this month. Look for more announcements as the start date for delivery approaches!

At the launch of the Nebraska program, VanEd will be an approved provider of real estate pre-license education in 3 states, Colorado, Nebraska and Texas. VanEd is also an approved provider in 32 states for Appraisal pre-license and USPAP courses, as well as being a provider of continuing education.

And look for more exciting news from VanEd over the summer as more designation programs are added to our lineup as well as adult learning courses and our new member service products page. VanEd continues to work to bring you updated and current information along with the best programs available on-line. If you have any questions, please let us know. We are here to help!

Firm vs. Segmented Implementation of the 2008 AQB Criteria

The Appraisal Foundation's 2008 criteria changes for appraiser licensing will be implenmented on January 1, 2008. However individual states "may choose to implement the new criteria on a "segmented" or "firm date" basis. Under a segmented implementation, a State determines when a component of AQB criteria (i.e., experience, education, or examination) was completed, and then determines whether the applicant conformed to AQB criteria in effect at the time that component was completed. Under a segmented implementation, it is possible for an applicant to conform one component to one set of criteria (e.g., "education" meeting the 2007 AQB criteria) and another component to another set of criteria (e.g., "examination" meeting the 2008 AQB criteria).

Under a firm date implementation, an applicant must conform to all components of the new 2008 criteria if his or her credential is issued by the State on or after January 1, 2008. *

For more infomation on your state's decision, you may refer to this chart on the Appraisal Subcommittee's website. Be sure to verify this information with your state board as well.

*From the Appraisal Subcommittee

2 New members named to Colorado Board of Appraisers

The Colorado Division of Real Estate has just announced that the Senate in Colorado consented to the appointment of two new members to the Board of Real Estate Appraisers. They are Michael Morton, a certified residential appraiser who is the managing partner of M&M Valuation and David Kelly of First Bank, who has overseen that company's appraisal functions for the past six years and currently is the Exec. Vice President at First Bank of Evergreen.

VanEd's Appraisal 101 is 2008 Compliant

VanEd's Appraisal 101 course is approved by the Appraisal Foundation’s Appraisal Qualifications Board (AQB) and is in compliance with the new 2008 guidelines. For more detailed information you may Click here for a topic matrix.

VanEd is also approved to offer the USPAP course for appraisers. Information on USPAP Approval can be found by clicking here.

No College Level requirements for the Licensed Appraiser level

Although the Appraisal Foundation is increasing the pre-license education requirements for both license and certification, there are NO college-level course requirements for the Licensed Level.

Beginning on January 1, 2008, for the Certified Residential Level, the college-level requirements will be an associates degree or higher, OR in lieu of the required degree, you may take 21 semester credit hours in certain subject matter courses.

For the Certified General Level, the college-level requirements will be a bachelors degree or higher, OR in lieu of the required degree, you may take 30 semester credit hours in certain subject matter courses.

For more detailed information on the specific semester credit courses that are eligible, click here for the Appraisal Foundation's explanation of the qualification changes. You may also email VanEd for more clarification.

Current USPAP to Remain Effective Until 12/31/07

VanEd is reminding appraisers and those with an interest in valuation that the current 2006 edition of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), will remain effect until December 31, 2007. National USPAP Course material and other related publications will also remain in effect for the same time period.

The new version of USPAP will become effective on January 1, 2008, and from that point forward USPAP will be published on a two-year cycle. The new two-year cycle will allow the Appraisal Standards Board to continue to make meaningful changes to the document and will allow the marketplace and education providers adequate time to absorb future modifications.