CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, CHICO

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

Department of Finance and Marketing

 

RE 101: Principles of Real Estate

Fall 2004 (14304), 3 Units

Thursdays, Glenn 123, 6:00 p.m.-8:50 p.m.

 

Instructor:           John Duncan Hames, JD

Office:                 323 Tehama

Office Hours:      Thursdays, 5:00 to 6:00, and by appointment

Phone:                898-6403 (campus), 570-1309 (cell), or 898-1459 (home)

Email:                 jdhames@yahoo.com

Textbook:           Haupt & Rockwell, Principles of California Real Estate (10th ed.), Rockwell Publishing Co., 2002

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

This course presents a broad overview designed to give students a good understanding of marketing forces affecting real estate. It introduces the student to legal, socioeconomic, and environmental factors related to the real estate industry. The course examines such areas as (1) the economic characteristics of real estate resources and the basic factors influencing the supply and demand for real estate; (2) national, state, and local influences on real estate markets, including demographic trends; (3) land ownership and conveyance, financing and marketing real property; and (4) managerial review of marketing practices.  My background as an attorney will lead to some emphasis on the legal constraints on real estate commerce.

 

COURSE FORMAT:

 

Each class meeting consists of a lecture and discussion of some key concepts and issues from the assigned reading.  Guest lectures may be utilized to speak on their area of specialization.  Some material in the textbook may not be lectured or discussed in class.  However, students are responsible for this material if it is included in the reading assignments.

 

Class discussion is part of your learning experience. It is expected that you will attend classes regularly. It is expected that you will read the chapters assigned in a timely manner. There will only be a limited discussion of text material in class but you should read the text and apply the concepts in case analysis as well as other discussions.

 

EXAMS:

 

Examinations will include material from the text, assigned readings, and other material distributed/presented in class.  Two midterm examinations will be given.  Midterm examinations may consist of a combination of true-false and multiple choice, questions.  Midterm examinations will cover textbook reading assignments and lectures.  The final examination will cover the material presented after the second mid-term examination.  It will have the same value and format as a mid-term examination.  You will need a Scantron and a pencil for all exams.

 

If an examination is missed it is the student's responsibility to contact me within 24 hours of the scheduled exam.  Exams cannot be made up unless you can demonstrate extreme hardship.  An unexcused exam or quiz will receive a score of zero.

 

Current Events Paper

 

Students will write one paper evaluating a print news media article on a real estate topic using the concepts taught in the text and course.  I will regularly point out articles on real estate topics as illustrations during lectures, and I may collect and post them for the purpose of the papers.  The goal is to identify the real estate concepts taught in the course and describe the practical application of the concept made in the media story.  The paper must be at least three pages long.

 

EXTRA CREDIT WORK:        No extra credit work will be available.

 

EVALUATION: 

 

The following point totals are available:

 

1.  Class Attendance and Participation                       50 points (2 points per lecture, plus my                                                                                                 subjective evaluation of participation)

2.  2 Mid-term exams                                                   100 points each

3.  Current Events Paper                                            50 points

4. Final exam                                                               100 points

 

Evaluation will be made via conventional means so that students can judge their level of performance and achievement against accepted undergraduate, university-level standards. 

 

When it is possible to obtain quantitative evaluations of various elements of the course (e.g., quizzes, midterm exams), the following grading scale applies:

 

100-93% = A

89-87% = B+

79-77% = C+

69-67% = D+

59-0% = F

92-90% = A-

86-83% = B

76-73% = C

66-60% = D

 

 

82-80% = B-

72-70% = C-

 

 

 

ETHICAL STANDARDS AND THE HONOR CODE:

 

CSUC has a tradition of respect for students' integrity in academic work.  The "Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities" delineates standards and policies of behavior.  The faculty expects students to maintain a high standard of academic integrity.  If you are unclear about a specific situation, ask!  A summary of guidelines appears in the latest edition of the University Catalog.

 

CHANGES TO THE SYLLABUS:

 

From time to time this syllabus statement may need to be amended.  Students will be notified of syllabus changes during a regularly scheduled class.  It will be the responsibility of the students to ensure they posses the latest version of the class syllabus.

 


COURSE CALENDAR

 

All dates listed are tentative, and will be confirmed in class.

 

Week

Date

Topic

Text Chapter

1

8/26

What is Real Estate?

1

2

9/2

Forms of title

(9/3 is last day to drop w/o instructor permission)

2

3

9/9

Transfers of Real Estate

3

4

9/16

Private Encumbrances and Public Land Use Restrictions

(9/17 is census date, no drop after w/o serious and compelling reason, instructor, department chair and college dean permission)

4,5

5

9/23

Contracts in General

6

6

9/30

FIRST MID-TERM EXAM

1-6

7

10/7

Contracts in Real Estate

7

8

10/14

Real Estate Agency

8

9

10/21

Real Estate Finance Concepts

9

10

10/28

Residential Real Estate Lending and Closing Procedures

10, 12

11

11/4

Real Estate Appraisal

11

12

11/11

SECOND MID-TERM EXAM

7-12

13

11/18

Income Tax for Real Estate

13

14

11/25

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

No class meeting

 

15

12/2

Civil Rights and Fair Housing

Current Events Paper Due

14

16

12/9

Real Estate Construction and Investment

15

17

12/16

FINAL EXAM

13-15