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Asset management at its essence is a strategic and analytical profession requiring specialized skills. The Consortium for Housing and Asset Management (CHAM), in which NeighborWorks America is a certification/education partner, offers two professional certificates that take candidates through the process of attaining these skills in a progression that builds their careers.
See Below for Program Details:
Asset Management Specialist Overview
Candidates
What You Will Learn
Coursework Requirements
How to Enroll
Certified Housing Asset Manager Overview
Candidates
What You Will Learn
Coursework Requirements
How to Enroll
Asset Management Specialist Overview
The Asset Management Specialist is an intermediate-level designation concerning the fundamentals of asset management with an emphasis on overseeing property performance and fulfilling the owner’s goals. Mastering the basics of asset management equips the candidate to manage the information exchange between development, property management and ownership.
Candidates
- Analysts, asset managers, portfolio managers, especially people new to the field
- Developers
- Property managers
- Individuals who supervise or oversee asset managers, such as executive directors, CEOs and CFOs
Candidates come from nonprofits, for-profits, housing agencies, syndicators, investors, lenders, housing finance agencies and government.
It is recommended that candidates have a basic understanding of affordable housing and a working knowledge of Excel.
What you will learn
- Roles and responsibilities the asset manager plays through the life stages of a property
- Property performance indicators
- Basics of an affordable housing deal and importance of setting up deal books for each property
- Components of property and portfolio asset management plans
- How to apply real estate financial analysis tools to a property and identify options for improving financial performance
Coursework requirements
The following courses are required for the Asset Management Specialist designation. In-person classes are offered at NeighborWorks Training Institutes, as well as on-demand through CHAM's partner HAI Group:
AM121 Nuts and Bolts of Asset Management
AM290 Asset Management Fundamentals
AM291 Financial Fundamentals for Asset Managers
To earn the Asset Management Specialist designation, the candidate needs to pass the final exams for each of the three courses.
How to enroll
Get more information about the AMS courses and how to enroll.
Certified Housing Asset Manager Overview
The Certified Housing Asset Manager is an advanced-level designation that teaches the skills needed to manage the long-term success of affordable housing properties and portfolios. Candidates are typically responsible for implementing asset management in their organizations or are planning a career move into the profession.
Candidates
- Asset managers, portfolio managers, developers, property managers and individuals who supervise or oversee asset managers, such as CEOs and CFOs.
- Candidates come from nonprofits, for-profits, syndicators, investors, lenders, housing finance agencies, public housing authorities and government.
What you will learn
- How to evaluate the performance and cost of real estate assets.
- Techniques for analyzing and managing properties and portfolios to optimize the contribution of the real estate to the owner’s goals (both financial and mission).
- LIHTC topics, including investor return, adjusters, recapture and Year 15 disposition analysis.
- Risk management strategies to prevent or manage problems.
The program concludes with a hands-on practicum where candidates develop an asset management plan for their own organizations.
Coursework requirements
Prerequisite: The Asset Management Specialist designation and proficiency in Excel.
Candidates will take four (4) courses to earn their Certified Housing Asset Manager designation:
- AM321 Advanced Financial Tools for Asset Managers OR AM321vc Advanced Financial Tools for Asset Managers - Part 1 and AM322vc Advanced Financial Tools for Asset Managers - Part 2
- AM351 Advanced Housing Asset Management
- AH211 How to Maintain Compliance in LIHTC Projects OR AH211wk How to Maintain Compliance in LIHTC Projects one-week workshop, OR an approved equivalent Low-Income Housing Tax Credit compliance course from another source.
- A course on affordable housing development or rehabilitation. The course needs to be be the equivalent of a two-day in-person class. (CHAM provides several pre-approved options to choose from and will consider others on a case-by-case basis.)
To earn the designation, the candidate needs to pass the final exams for each of the courses and successfully complete the practicum as part of Advanced Housing Asset Management (AM351).
How to Enroll
The courses to earn the Certified Housing Asset Manager designation are offered through NeighborWorks America. Get more information on the Certified Housing Asset Manager designation and how to enroll.
