Fundamentals of Real Estate: 5 Short Answer Essays and 1 Long Answer Essay

Fundamentals of Real Estate - INSTRUCTIONS

You’re not telling me anything about the course material! You aren’t solving a problem that I don’t know the answer to, nor are you answering a question about something I want to know! I already know the answer – do you?? 

Analyze the Question

What is the key concept being addressed? How was that concept treated in the course materials? What would you have to do to show you have mastered the concept? Rewrite the question so that the answer will show that you understand the concept and have mastered it, instead of just being able to regurgitate a definition of it. Say that again: show me what you know, not what you read!!!

Say Enough

I’m NOT asking you for the time, I want to know how much you know about timekeeping!

Just make sure it’s relevant – don’t ramble on about stuff that doesn’t meet the “why was this question asked” test.

Look for clues about how to determine the depth of your analysis and length of your answer.

“Yes, it is” is NEVER a correct answer – at least not standing alone.

Follow Standard Practices

·      Use formal language. You don’t have to sound like you’re writing a scholarly journal article, but you should not use slang or familiarities. Remember, too, that spelling and grammar count.

·      CITE YOUR REFERENCES! Even your textbook!

Use APA formats or some other CONSISTENT standard for all citations

·      Each answer should contain a key sentence identifying the central concept the question was intended to test. This should be the first sentence in the answer or the last sentence in an introductory paragraph. The rest of the answer will explain or justify this concept, define the things needing definition and so on. There will usually be terms or phrases in the curriculum that are associated with a key concept – use them in the answer!

·      When it’s necessary to define (or identify) something, use the standard definition format: first establish the general category, then describe the specific features of the subject. For example:

Definition of “cardboard box” – “A cardboard box is a container, usually square or rectangular in width, depth and height, and which is made of heavy paper stock or corrugated fiberboard.”

A “50 out of 50 points” definition would go on to tell how it’s made, what it would be used for, what alternatives might exist, where it can be obtained, and so on, depending on the context of the course.

·      When comparing or choosing between alternatives, identify the features of each, then either explain the features that are the same followed by the ones that differ, or discuss each feature as it applies to both the alternatives – that is, either

(1) group the discussion of all features according to similarities and differences, or

(2) cover each feature separately including specific application to each of the alternatives.

Analysis of the question will reveal which approach to use. In either case, introductory paragraphs will identify the alternatives and features and a closing paragraph will summarize the results of the comparison.

Fundamentals of Real Estate

FINAL - THIS IS THE ASSIGNMENT

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Questions:

SECTION 1 – SHORT ESSAY QUESTIONS

Recommended length: one to two pages each. Twelve points each

1.         Discuss two types of estate in land.

2.         When would a Trustee’s Deed be used, and what makes it different from a General Warranty Deed?

3.         What is TREC? What does it do? Why? (Do not copy material from a website)

4.         Discuss the impact of history on modern real estate practices in the US.

5.         What is judicial foreclosure, and why is it unpopular in Texas?

SECTION 2 – LONG ESSAY QUESTION

3+ pages

1. In what ways do the unique economic characteristics of real estate impact modern real estate transactions in the US?

(HINT: the term “multidsiciplinary” might be useful)