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PROPERTY

> Level 1
PO 1002
FINANCE, RISK AND INVESTMENT
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Mr S Devaney

Pre-requisite(s): None

Co-requisite(s): None

The module considers the nature and operation of investment markets with a focus on three major asset classes; shares, bonds and real estate. It looks at the characteristics of these different investment options, especially in terms of the risks and returns associated with each. The module also introduces basic financial mathematics involving the time value of money, calculation of present and future values, and the computing of rates of return for investments or projects. Finally, it considers the role of financial institutions and regulatory bodies, and the area of personal finance in which consumers and financial markets interact.

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination containing multiple choice and written elements (75%); Continuous assessment (25%) comprising an investment portfolio exercise and report.

Resit: 1 two-hour examination containing multiple choice and written elements (100%).

PO 1503
UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Professor N Hutchison

Pre-requisite(s): None

Co-requisite(s): None

Environmental and climatic influences in building design and material choice;sustainable built environment; building degradation and pathology; building defects; structural and condition surveys; building measurement and survey drawings; planning, legal and financial framework.

1 two-hour lecture plus 1 one-hour lecture per week, plus three site visits/field trips.

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%) comprising two elements:
i) one 1500 word essay (50%)
ii) one class test lasting one hour (50%)
Resit: One 1500 word essay on a new topic.

 

> Level 2
PO 2001
UNDERSTANDING STATISTICS
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Dr D Roberts

Pre-requisite(s): None.

This course provides an introduction to the following concepts in an accessible and straightforward manner: summary descriptive measures; measuring variability; index numbers; inequality indices; probability and probability distributions; confidence intervals; hypothesis testing; the χ² and F distributions; correlation; regression analysis and time series analysis.

2 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour tutorial per week plus 1 two-hour project class.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and in-course assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) plus course work mark (20%).

PO 2004
LAND AND PROPERTY LAW
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Mr R Skene

Pre-requisite(s): Available only to students in Programme Year 2 or above.

This course provides an overview of Land Law in Scotland, providing a practical application of the law to other land economy courses and to practice. It covers the capacity to hold land; the evolutions of land tenure in Scotland and current law and practice relating to land tenure. It deals with subordinate rights in land; restrictions on the use of land; land registration and convincing.

3 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and 1 assignment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and 1 assignment (20%).

PO 2501
LAND AND PROPERTY ECONOMICS
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Mr D Scofield

Pre-requisite(s): EC 1003 and EC 1503. Available only to students in Programme Year 2.

This course examines the economic characteristics of property. Introduction to property market analysis: use, investment and development. Analysis of property sectors (housing, office, retail, industrial). Macroeconomics of property markets, the interaction between property markets and the economy. Economic basis of planning, planning regulation in a market economy. Economic analysis of planning policy and delivery, techniques of economic and environmental evaluation in planning.

3 one-hour lectures and one tutorial per fortnight.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and in-course assessment (20%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (80%) and in-course assessment mark (20%).

PO 2503
PRINCIPLES OF PROPERTY VALUATION
CREDIT POINTS 15

Course Co-ordinator: Mr K Petrie

Pre-requisite(s): PO 1001

  1. The property market and property profession.

  2. Property use, investment and development.

  3. Definitions of value and measurement practice.

  4. The valuation process.

  5. Introduction to the five principal methods of property valuation.

  6. Analysis of comparables.

  7. Revision of financial mathematics.

  8. Application of valuation techniques to various property types and interests.

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight, occasional half-day site visits.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%), continuous assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

 

> Level 3
PO 3003
HOUSING ECONOMICS
CREDIT POINTS 30

Course Co-ordinator: Dr Q Xiao

Pre-requisite(s): PO 2501, or EC 2002 or PO 2501.

Note(s):Elective for Property single and joint honours and MA Economics single and joint honours.

The microeconomics of housing markets. Housing market segmentation, disequilibrium in housing, defining neighbourhoods. Analysis of house price models. Housing and the macroeconomy, the behaviour of the finance industry and its impact on housing markets. The interaction between housing and labour markets. Housing taxation and right to buy. Institutional and policy influences in housing markets. The impact of the planning system, housing supply.

3 one-hour lectures and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and two pieces of in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and two pieces of in-course assessment (40%).

PO 3004
APPLIED VALUATION
CREDIT POINTS 30

Course Co-ordinator: Professor N Hutchison

Pre-requisite(s): Principles of Property Valuation

This course will examine current issues in investment appraisal. It will cover calculations of worth, growth explicit DCF techniques, surrender and renewal valuations; valuation accuracy and variation; business valuations; rent reviews; valuation reports; national taxation and valuation for rating purposes.

3 one-hour lectures per week. 1 two-hour tutorial and/or practical workshop per week.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment mark (40%).

PO 3501
INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MARKET ANALYSIS
CREDIT POINTS 30

Course Co-ordinator: Mr S Devaney

Pre-requisite(s): PO 2501 or EC 2002 or AC 2026. Available to students in Programme Year 3 or above.

This course analyses the structure of international property markets, focusing on Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific. It examines the impact of global and local economic forces and national institutional characteristics on the behaviour and development of property markets in various countries. It discusses how these factors affect the attractiveness of different property markets for international investors. It also examines how real estate service providers have adapted to a changing international business environment.

1 two-hour lecture per week and 1 one-hour seminar per week.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and in-course assessment (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour examination (60%) and original in-course assessment mark (40%).

 

> Level 4

PLEASE NOTE: Resit: (for Honours students only): Candidates achieving a CAS mark of 6-8 may be awarded compensatory level 1 credit. Candidates achieving a CAS mark of less than 6 will be required to submit themselves for re-assessment and should contact the Course Co-ordinator for further details.

PO 4002
PROPERTY PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT (LEVEL 4)
CREDIT POINTS 30

Course Co-ordinator: To be confirmed

Pre-requisite(s): PO 2501 or EC 2002 or AC 2026. Available to students in Programme Year 4 only.

This course examines theories and issues relevant to investment in property in the contexts of both mixed-asset and property portfolios. Themes include risk and return; the application of Modern Portfolio Theory (including the Capital Asset Pricing Model, capital market line) and security market line; market efficiency and the implications for investors; risk and duration; property market modelling and forecasting. Drawing these themes together, benchmarking and property portfolio strategy and management are examined in the context of practical examples.

2 one-hour lectures per week and a total of 5 one-hour tutorials/seminars.

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%) and in-course assessment: two multiple choice tests (40%).

PO 4503
DISSERTATION
CREDIT POINTS 30

Course Co-ordinator: Mr S Devaney

Pre-requisite(s): Available to Senior Honours students who have passed MS 4032.

Personal research supported by formal introduction to research methods (in associated course) and by regular supervision.

Required field work: discussion with supervisor.

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: submission of dissertation (including original work) on topic approved by the Dissertation Coordinator (100%).