BREA Broker Exam study materials
BREA Broker Exam study resources

BREA Broker Exam study plan

BREA Broker Exam · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Real Estate Appraisal Principles and Procedures & Valuation Approaches and Methods

  • Define the three approaches to value and list the data inputs each requires

  • Explain the appraisal process from problem identification through report delivery, in order

  • Distinguish the four agents of production and the forces that affect value

  • Compute simple depreciation splits using cost, sales, and income data

Your checkpoint

A one-page appraisal-process flowchart plus a 20-term glossary of appraisal principles written in your own words

Week 2

Valuation Approaches and Methods

  • Apply the sales comparison approach, including adjustment grids and paired-data analysis

  • Calculate gross and net adjustment percentages and explain when each is meaningful

  • Build a cost approach estimate using replacement cost, accrued depreciation, and site value

  • Derive a capitalization rate from comparable sales and apply it to a subject net operating income

Your checkpoint

Three worked valuation problems (one per approach) with all arithmetic shown and a written reconciliation paragraph

Week 3

Real Estate Appraisal Principles and Procedures & Valuation Approaches and Methods

  • Reconcile conflicting value indications and justify the weight given to each approach

  • Compute effective gross income, operating expenses, and net operating income from a rent roll

  • Explain the difference between reproduction cost and replacement cost and when each is appropriate

  • Identify the three categories of depreciation and give an example of each

Your checkpoint

A full income-property valuation worksheet with a reconciliation memo of at least 200 words

Week 4

Real Estate Law, Regulations, and Ethics

  • Classify the bundle of rights and explain how each interest affects value

  • Distinguish easements, encroachments, licenses, and liens by their legal effect

  • Outline the steps of a condemnation or eminent-domain valuation assignment

  • Apply the appraisal independence and competency provisions of professional ethics rules to short scenarios

Your checkpoint

A 15-question self-written scenario quiz on property rights and legal interests, with answer rationales

Week 5

Appraisal Standards and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP)

  • State the USPAP requirements for an assignment, including problem identification and scope of work

  • Explain the difference between complete and limited appraisal reporting under applicable standards

  • Identify the required contents of a summary appraisal report

  • Recognize common USPAP violations in sample report excerpts

Your checkpoint

A compliance checklist covering scope of work, reporting options, and recordkeeping, applied to one sample report

Week 6

Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use & Property Description and Analysis

  • Write a highest-and-best-use conclusion that satisfies all four tests

  • Analyze a market area using supply, demand, and absorption data

  • Describe a property by site, improvements, zoning, and physical characteristics

  • Explain the difference between market value, market price, and investment value

Your checkpoint

A two-page market and highest-and-best-use analysis for a hypothetical subject property

Week 7

Appraisal Report Writing and Review & Real Estate Finance and Economics

  • Structure an appraisal report with the required sections in a logical order

  • Write review comments that identify errors and state a corrected conclusion

  • Explain how mortgage terms, interest rates, and leverage affect property value and buyer behavior

  • Distinguish the appraisal report from the appraisal review in terms of scope and responsibility

Your checkpoint

A written review of a short sample appraisal, including at least three findings and a corrected value conclusion

Week 8

Real Estate Appraisal Principles and Procedures & Valuation Approaches and Methods & Real Estate Law, Regulations, and Ethics & Appraisal Standards and Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) & Market Analysis and Highest and Best Use & Property Description and Analysis & Appraisal Report Writing and Review & Real Estate Finance and Economics

  • Complete two full-length timed practice exams and record scores by domain

  • Re-study the two lowest-scoring domains using your own notes and worked problems

  • Recite the USPAP standards and the three approaches from memory

  • Review all prior deliverables and correct every error you flagged

Your checkpoint

A score-tracking sheet from both practice exams with a targeted final-review plan for the last three days

Milestones

Week 2: You can complete one valuation problem in each approach without notes and explain each step aloud

Week 4: You score at least 75 percent on a 30-question mixed set covering domains 1 through 3

Week 6: You score at least 75 percent on a 30-question mixed set covering domains 4 through 6, and your highest-and-best-use write-up passes all four tests

Week 8: You score at least 80 percent on two full-length timed practice exams, with no domain below 70 percent