RE 121: Real Estate Principles

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course includes the study of real estate, real estate ownership and interest, deeds and land descriptions, encumbrances and liens, agency law, real estate contracts, mathematics, real estate finance, real estate appraisal, escrow and title, landlord/tenant relations, taxation, single-family homes and mobile homes, and career in real estate. This course introduces all the topics listed in the educational requirements for state licensing and certification.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

At the completion of this course the student will be able to:

 

1.   Describe the difference in real and personal property                            

2.   Locate and describe land correctly

3.   Define encumbrances and liens

4.   Describe how agencies are created

5.   Describe what is required in a valid contract

6.   Apply fundamentals of real estate math and finance

7.   Appraise property according to accepted principles

8.   Prorate escrow & title charges

9.   Implement landlord/tenant relations

10. Describe California tax laws

11. Differentiate between property types

12. Describe a career in real estate

(NOTE: this online class can be accessed three days before the semester starts)

 

For information on how to log in to WebCT and other important resources please visit

http://www2.ohlone.edu/instr/onlineeducation/students/login_info.htm

 

ONLINE STUDENT RESOURCES

http://www2.ohlone.edu/instr/onlineeducation/students/index.htm

 

ONLINE HELP DESK

If you experience technical difficulties with WebCT please contact

http://www2.ohlone.edu/instr/onlineeducation/aboutus/index.htm

 

Phones: 510-742-3130 or 510-742-3129

 

MINIMUM HARDWARE/SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

http://www2.ohlone.edu/instr/onlineeducation/faculty/software_hardware_req.htm

 

BROWSER CHECK

The browser tune-up will ensure that you are using a supported browser. It includes step-by-step instructions to make sure your browser settings are optimized for the best possible WebCT experience

http://www.webct.com/tuneup

 

DOWNLOADS

You will need to ensure you have installed the following software plug-ins into your system;

WebCT maintains a site with links to all the plug-ins you will need. Visit

 

http://tinyurl.com/77jndr

 

INTRODUCTIONS:

When you access this class via WebCT for the first time, please do the following:

(1)     on the left frame, under Course Tools,  click the  Discussions link;

(2)     click the Introductions link;

(3)     click the button Compose Message; the compose message window will open;

In the subject textbox, type in Your Last Name followed by the word Introduction. Introduce yourself:  tell us about your educational background, work experience, reasons for taking this class and any other information that you’d like to share with us; when finished click the Post button.

Get to know your classmates; reply to your classmates’ postings.

PREREQUISITES OR COREQUISITES:

 Prerequisite:  None. 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Have a computer configured so that you can access documents and submit assignments via WebCT

2. Participate in the WebCT Discussion Forum

3 .Perform assigned tasks and readings from the textbook.

4. Read documents in the following sites:

 

Keep a log (time and day) of your weekly postings/submissions. You are required to submit this log during the mid-semester week and at the end of the semester.

 

This class uses the online course management system WebCT to access lessons and other documents; students submit questions/comments as well as assignments via WebCT.

TEXT/MATERIALS:

* You must have the textbook below, Internet access, and a WebCT account.

 

-McKenzie D, L. Anderson, and C. Hopkins. California Real Estate Principles, 8th Ed. South-Western Publishing. Mason, OH, 2004, ISBN 0-324-37833-5   

For more information about the textbook visit  http://tinyurl.com/re121text

 

The publisher of the textbook has an interactive site which provides teaching and learning resources you can use to get the most from this course. To access this interactive site visit  http://tinyurl.com/re121companion-site

 

You may order the text online or in person at the Ohlone College bookstore (510-659-6062)

http://www.ohlonebookstore.com

 

You may order the text at  http://tinyurl.com/re121-buy-at

 

GRADING

Your final grade is based on completion of the following activities:

 

Activity

Percent

Weekly Discussions

30%

Midterm  (M/C questions) or

Midterm paper

35%

Final  (M/C questions) or

Final  paper

35%

 

 

Range

Grade

90-100%

A

80-89%

B

70-79%

C

60-69%

D

Below 68%

F

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEKLY Discussions

Discussion participation is a very important component of online learning. These graded weekly discussions will encourage student participation and learning. The weekly discussions will start on Mondays at 9 am and end on Fridays at 11 pm. You are required to post two times every week. Your first posting should answer the instructor’s question/topic; this posting is due no later than Wednesday at 11 pm. Your second posting should answer one of your classmate’s comments; this second posting is due no later than Friday at 11 pm.

The instructor will provide a weekly summary of the main issues/topics that took place in the discussion forum.

 

Please use online etiquette and professionalism when posting. Each response will be graded based on the quality and relevance of the response.

 

You can access the Discussion Board as follows:

(1) on the left frame, under Course Tools, click the Discussions link;

(2) click the appropriate discussion link

 

Instructor Participation/Responses Discussion:

The instructor will check in the Forum at least twice a day on Mondays through Fridays; the instructor may occasionally check in on the weekends. The instructor will read all discussion postings. To encourage students’ participation, the instructor will refrain from answering every single posting; the instructor, however, will respond when it is appropriate. The instructor will respond with helpful comments and advice at appropriate times

 

 

EMAIL

If you need to communicate with the instructor about an issue that is not suitable for posting on the Discussion Forum please use the WebCT email tool.

The instructor does not check his other emails as often as he checks the WebCT email. The instructor responds ONLY to questions/issues/comments posted in the WebCT email.

The instructor will respond to email requests within 24 hours during the work week (Monday through Friday)

Assignments submitted via email will receive no credit.

 

NETTIQUETTE

Although the tone of your discussion board postings can be informal, your instructor will expect them to be on a professional level. Please use online etiquette and professionalism when placing comments.

Any comments unrelated to the discussion forums and/or that do not meet online etiquette and professionalism will be deleted.

For more info please visit  http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/09netiqt.htm

 

MIDTERM

 

The midterm consists of the completion of a midterm paper or a multiple choice test

 

Option 1: Multiple Choice Test

.

The midterm multiple choice test is given online and it includes topics from the weekly discussion sessions as well as readings from chapters studied thus far.

 

Option 2: Term Paper

 

Instead of taking the midterm multiple choice test you may write a term paper about any one of the topics below

 

The term paper, composed in Microsoft Word, must be at least three pages long (double-spaced) and will contain at least two current references. 

This term paper is to be submitted on the due date as stated in the weekly schedule

 

1.       Real Property

2.       Estate and Method of Acquiring/holding Title and Deeds

3.       Encumbrances, Liens and Homesteads

4.       Real Estate Agency

5.       Real Estate contracts and Mandated Disclosures

6.       Proration, Calculations, Use of Financial Tools

7.       Real Estate Finance

8.       Real Estate Lenders

 

FINAL

 

The final consists of the completion of a final research paper or the completion a multiple choice test

 

Option 1: Multiple Choice Test

 

The final multiple choice test is given online and lasts at the most two hours. The final includes topics from the weekly discussion sessions as well as readings from chapters 9 through 15 in the textbook.

The online test will be given on the day/time as specified in the schedule; see schedule at the end of this document.

 Make the appropriate arrangements to be available to take the online test on the day/time specified since the test will not be given any other day/time.

 

Option 2: Research Paper

 

Instead of the final  multiple choice test you may write a research paper about any one of the topics below This research paper, composed in Microsoft Word, must be at least four pages long (double-spaced) and must  contain at least three current references.  This research paper is to be submitted on the due date as stated in the weekly schedule

 

You are required to submit a research proposal indicating the topic you have chosen and references to be used; this proposal is due not later than two weeks before the semester ends. See schedule at the end of this document. The instructor will provide more details at the appropriate time.

 

  1. The Internet, technology and real estate
  2. The current housing slump
  3. First-time buyer programs
  4. For Sale by Owner
  5. Real estate advertising and marketing
  6. Advantages and disadvantages of renting vs. owning
  7. Real Estate careers
  8. Living Trust vs. Probate
  9. The Foreclosure Process
  10. Real Estate Investing
  11. The subprime mortgage crisis
  12. Reverse Mortgages: Pros and Cons
  13. A topic of your choice (obtain instructor’s approval)

 

 

LATENESS POLICY:

All assignments, projects and final are due on the due dates as stated. No credit will be given for assignments projects and final submitted after the due dates. All assignments are to be submitted via the Assignment tool; assignments submitted via email will not be accepted.

The WebCT Server may occasionally experience technical difficulties; so please plan accordingly and submit your assignments promptly.

 

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY:

Please read the following document regarding academic honesty policies: http://www.ohlone.edu/org/board/policy/chapter7reg.htm#r7.8.4

 

 

WITHDRAWALS/DROPS

 

A student will be dropped from class if s/he has not checked in the Discussion Forum at least three days during a week (M-F) or has not submitted assignments during a two weeks period.

Students are responsible for the proper revision of their class schedules. Students who stop attending this class are responsible to verify the drop through WebAdvisor. If this is not done, the student may be carried in the class to the end of the semester and receive an "F" grade

Last day to drop this class and be eligible for a refund: Wednesday, June 24

Last day to drop this class without a W grade: Monday, Sunday, June 28

Last day to drop this class with a W grade: Tuesday, July 21

Grades available via WebAdvisor: Friday, August 7

 

For more information visit

http://www.ohlone.edu/org/admissions/springacademiccalendar.html

 

FINAL GRADE POSTING:

The final grades will be available via WebAdvisor no later than Friday, August 7, 2009. The instructor will not issue final grades to individual students.

 

LOG

Keep a log (time and day) of your weekly postings/submissions. You are required to submit this log during the mid-semester week and at the end of the semester.

 

SCHEDULE: to be published later