Continuing EducationElective

Land Valuation 101 for Real Estate Agents

Vacant land is one of the most underserved segments of the real estate market — and for agents ready to step into it, it’s a real opportunity.
  • Connecticut
  • Approval # RCE.0001464-CRS
  • 3 hours CE
  • 59 lessons
  • 10 quizzes
  • Online · self-paced

About this course

Vacant land is one of the most underserved segments of the real estate market — and for agents ready to step into it, it’s a real opportunity. Developers, builders, investors, and buyers looking to build from the ground up all need an agent who understands how land is evaluated, priced, and positioned. That’s a client base few agents tap into — not because they can’t, but because no one ever taught them how.

This course gives you the tools to confidently work with vacant land. You’ll learn how land is valued, what makes one parcel worth more than another, and how factors like zoning, utilities, topography, wetlands, and access all drive the number. You’ll also learn how to work with the types of clients that land transactions attract — developers evaluating a site, builders sourcing lots, and buyers planning a custom home.

Adding land to your skill set doesn’t just make you more knowledgeable — it opens doors to new clients, new referral sources, and a part of the market where the competition is thin and the relationships are long-term.

What you’ll learn

  • How vacant land is valued and why it requires a different approach than improved properties
  • What zoning, utilities, topography, wetlands, and access mean for a parcel’s value
  • How to evaluate subdivision potential and highest and best use
  • How to read a survey, tax map, and zoning regulations for vacant parcels
  • How to work with developers, builders, and individual lot buyers
  • How to build a new client base in a market segment with very little competition

Course content

10 sections · 59 lessons · 10 quizzes · 3 hours
01 Before You Begin1 lesson
  1. Start Here
02 Foundations of Land Value7 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Introduction to Valuing Undeveloped Land
  2. What is Undeveloped/Vacant Land?
  3. Key Factors Influencing Land Value
  4. Location and Its Impact on Value
  5. Size and Shape
  6. Topography
  7. Utilities and Infrastructure
  8. Section 1 Quiz: Foundations of Land Value
03 Deed Restrictions and Highest and Best Use6 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Deed Restrictions
  2. Deed Restriction Examples and Impact
  3. Historical Areas and Deed Restrictions
  4. Highest and Best Use
  5. Applying the Four Tests
  6. Exercise – Ranking Land Parcels by Value
  7. Section 2 Quiz: Deed Restrictions and Highest & Best Use
04 Environmental Considerations4 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. How to Identify Wetlands on a Specific Parcel
  2. Wetlands – Valuation Implications
  3. Flood Zones
  4. Environmental Regulations and Considerations
  5. Section 3 Quiz: Environmental Considerations
05 Zoning Fundamentals and Reserch7 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Zoning and Land Use Regulations Overview
  2. How to Research Zoning for Any Parcel
  3. Using Maps for Land Research
  4. Reading a Property Record Card
  5. Zoning Regulations in Detail
  6. Reading Zoning Maps
  7. Sample Zoning Code and What to Look For
  8. Section 4 Quiz: Zoning Fundamentals and Research
06 Zonings Effect on Value9 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Conservation Land and Parks
  2. How Zoning Affects Value – Permitted Uses
  3. How Zoning Affects Value – Cultural and Future Plans
  4. Overlay Zones and Economic Incentives
  5. Appeal Process and Surrounding Zoning
  6. Excess Land vs. Developable Land
  7. Non-Conforming Lots
  8. Non-Conforming Lot Regulations
  9. Zoning Variances
  10. Section 5 Quiz: Zoning’s Effect on Value and Special Lot Conditions
07 Zoning In Practice9 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Zoning Activities Exercise
  2. Zoning Activity Ramifications
  3. Zoning Activity Discussion and Creative Solutions
  4. Case Study – Highest and Best Use Analysis
  5. Exercise – Quiz Questions Part 1
  6. Exercise – Quiz Questions Part 2
  7. Exercise – Buildable Lot Scenario
  8. Case Study – The Zoning Roadblock
  9. Lessons Learned – Due Diligence
  10. Section 6 Quiz: Zoning in Practice
08 Sales Comparison Approach for Land6 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Undeveloped Land Valuation Methodologies
  2. Sales Comparison Approach – Steps
  3. Significance of Comparable Sales Data
  4. Land Sales Analysis – Real Examples
  5. Making Adjustments to Comparable Sales
  6. Sales Comparison Grid – Worked Example
  7. Section 7 Quiz: Sales Comparison Approach for Land
09 Future Use and Building Lot Documentation4 lessons · 1 quiz
  1. Understanding Future Use and Impact on Value
  2. Future Trends and Staying Informed
  3. Documentation for Building Lots
  4. PERC Tests for Building Lots
  5. Section 8 Quiz: Future Use and Building Lot Documentation
10 Financing Vacant Land6 lessons · 2 quizzes
  1. How Financing Vacant Land Works
  2. What Lenders Look For — and What to Expect
  3. How Financing Affects Land Value
  4. Financing Vacant Land — Summary
  5. Financing Vacant Land — Section Quiz
  6. Course Summary – Land Valuation 101
  7. What’s Next
  8. Final Exam — Land Valuation 101

How it works

1

Enroll online

Check out in a few minutes and start right away.

2

Learn at your pace

On your phone, tablet or laptop, with 6 months to finish.

3

Pass and download

Your certificate is ready as soon as you pass the final exam.

Frequently asked questions

Are these courses approved for continuing education credit?

Courses approved for continuing education credit show the approval on the course page. Select your state to see the courses approved for your license.

How long do I have to complete a course?

You have 6 months from enrollment to finish, at your own pace. Just make sure you finish before your state’s CE deadline.

When do I get my certificate of completion?

As soon as you pass the final exam, your certificate of completion is available to download instantly from your dashboard.

Can I access courses on my phone or iPad?

Absolutely. The platform works on any device, so you can learn from your phone, tablet, or computer.

Land Valuation 101 for Real Estate Agents
$30.00 One-time · 3 hours CE
Sign up for this course
This course includes
  • 3 hours of CE credit
  • 59 lessons in 10 sections
  • 10 quizzes
  • Certificate of completion
  • 6 months to finish
  • Phone, tablet or laptop
Questions? 860-713-9278