Learn To Earn: The Best Appraisal Books Out There

The real estate appraisal profession is one that requires a good base of knowledge regarding home sales, real estate procedures and other useful bits of information. So, whether you are an agent,  a real estate appraisal apprentice or a homeowner or seller who wants to learn about the field in an in depth manner, consider one our book selections for the best appraisal books out there to learn about the ins-and-outs of the business.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Fundamentals of Real Estate Appraisal by William L. Ventolo,  Martha R. Williams. Here’s an Amazon review of the book by a reader:

I am a REALTOR, not an appraiser. I bought this book to give me a better understanding of how appraisers arrive at their conclusions.. to better price property or determine if a listing I am going after will be over priced and not worth my time. As with all books I learned things I did not know. Worth my money.

2. The Appraisal of Real Estate, 12th Edition by Appraisal Institute. This book is more geared towards students in appraisal schools, however, it can also help someone looking to educate themselves. Here’s a review from a professor for the book:

I am using it to teach a university class. Students like it. So do I. Very comprehensive. Can’t find anything better.

3. The Appraisal of Rural Property, Second Edition by Appraisal Institute. This is a bit of a niche market, however, it is an interesting perspective on how to valuate rural properties like farms. Here’s the publisher’s description of the book:

This text is a comprehensive reference work that covers all aspects of the valuation of rural properties from both theoretical and practical perspectives. It explores the components of rural property value and the essentials of property inspection, data collection and analysis, and the application of valuation methodology. Specific details relating to dairy farms, livestock ranches, and orchards are included as well as information on government regulations and resources.

4. Appraising the Appraisal: The Art of Appraisal Review by Richard C. Sorenson. This book focuses specifically on how to write a clear and concise appraisal, something that every appraiser must know how to do! Here’s the publisher’s notes on the book:

Appraising the Appraisal: The Art of Appraisal Review provides a wealth of practical information for writers and reviewers of appraisal reports who want to ensure that reliable, sound appraisals are communicated in logical, concise reports. The author, himself a seasoned appraisal reviewer, enumerates the many potential pitfalls of the review process and provides advice on appraiser competency, reviewer guidelines, and common report deficiencies.

5. Dictionary of Real Estate Terms (Barron’s Business Guides) by Jack P. Friedman, Jack C. Harris and  J. Bruce Lindeman. This is a must-have for all real estate agents,  appraisers and the curious. This is a basic guide of all real estate terms and how they are used. Yes, in many cases you will wish you had this book handy when reading or writing your first few appraisal reports!

Here’s a review that basically sums up how helpful this book is:

This book and previous editions have been an excellent resource for us in understanding real estate terms, especially in contracts and negotiations.

Categorised in: Appraisal Tutorials & Info, Blog

This post was written by Joseph Castaneda