Final Course Grades and Blog Post Grades Posted to BlackBoard

FIN 182 final course grades and you blog post grades have been posted to BlackBoard.  Since campus is closed this week, if you have any questions please call me at 559 325-4732.  Have a good break!

Final Exam Grades Posted

The final exam grades have been posted to BlackBoard.  The posted grades have been curved.  The average grade was 76%.

I am still working on the blog posts.  I will make another post when these grades have been posted to BlackBoard.

General Comments on the Blog Posts (so far)

I have made comments on each individual blog posts.  Here are some general comments that apply to all or most posts.

*Make sure that all writing is your original work and use citations appropriately.
*When citing references in the body, use the author's last name (year of publication).
*For references, be consistent and do not use just a URL.
*Every post must have a title.
*All group member names must be at the top of the post!
*Please proof read all posts carefully.
*Watch spelling and grammar.
*How about some pictures, tables, figures, etc. to break up the text?

I see some post with very good potential.  Also, some very good improvements over the last submission.  All groups have room for improvements.  Keep pushing forward but all final post are due on December 2nd.

Evaluating and Pricing Properties: Competitive Market Analysis

Kathy Xiong

Patrick Darnell

Michael Efird

Evaluating and Pricing Properties: Competitive Market Analysis

A. Thesis statement:

We will examine the ethical and moral issues that Brokers and Agents face when constructing a competitive market analysis for his or her principal.

B. Research post outline (headings and subheadings)

1. Agent should not violate Code of Ethics. This involves exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts relating to the property or the transaction

2. Agent’s fiduciary duty is to act ethically and morally at all times, including constructing the cma

3. Agent should find best competitive market analysis

- Agent should work with highest competence, fairness and integrity to produce highest results for clients

-Agent must recognize the interests of requiring the highest and best use of the land as well as the widest distribution of land ownership.

-Agent should avoid overpricing

-Agent should avoid estimating value below price (problem is low appraisal)

C. References (citations)

CODE OF ETHICS-evaluating and pricing. 2008. Chicago, IL. 27 Sept. 2009

www.realtor.org/MemPolWeb.nsf/pages/COde>.

www.orea.ca.gov/

www.car.org/

Reminder: Group Blog Post Draft Due Thursday, October 22nd

See the October 3rd post below for full details.  Just a second reminder that your second version of your group blog post draft is due this Thursday.  (Don't wait until the last minute!)

New Group Blog Post Assignment: thesis statement, outline, and references

I would like each group for the required blog post assignment to make a second post on or before October 22, 2009 with the following information and headings.

A. Thesis statement (see http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/thesis.html)

B. Research post outline (headings and subheadings)

C. References (see http://www.libs.uga.edu/ref/mlastyle.html for appropriate citation formats)

I think this will help you and your group develop your ideas.

Blog Post Proposal: Deceptive Sales Techniques and Practices

With a wide variety of agents and brokers selling real estate it’s hard to tell if they are looking out for the clients’ best interest or being deceptive. Time is money and not all agents and brokers follow the normal standards of fiduciary responsibility and being truthful while establishing their repetition. There is a large gap in between the levels of brokers and agents. The successful ones at the top make a great life, but some in the middle and at the bottom struggle to make ends meet. Some will do anything to make the sale close. This is not to say that only medium to lower income agents and brokers practice deceptive techniques, but those could be possible reasons for using deceptive techniques. We want to uncover some of the deceptive tactics/court cases and see what some agents/brokers have done to cross the line in ethical sale techniques and practices. We may decide to show the ways that’s agents or brokers use deceptive sale tactics or how the people affected by the can battle the negligence of ethical sales practice from the ones representing them.

Group Members: Cameron Cairns, Roxana Munoz, Tim Kumse

Research sources:

http://www.naic.org/documents/consumer_alert_deceptive_sales.pdf

http://www.associatedcontent.com

http://www.hud.gov.com/

Group Blog Post Proposals Due Today (October 1st)...

Must be a lot of last minute posts coming...

You will be posting on this blog.

Blog Post Proposal Deadline: Thursday, October 1st

Now that everyone is in a group, I would like each group to make a blog post on this blog with a proposal for your final blog post paper.  Each group will choose a representative to register on this blog to make the actual post.  This proposal post should include a general description of your idea, your research sources, and references.  Please include that names of all the group members on the post.  The deadline for this assignment is Thursday, October 1st.