This foundational course introduces appraisers to the evolving world of data-driven valuation and sets the stage for a broader transformation into the role of a valuation analyst. Designed as the first installment in the multi-part series “Transforming from Appraiser to Valuation Analyst: A Data-Driven Evolution,” this course explores the evolution of the appraisal profession from the 1980s Savings & Loan Crisis to the current era of modernization and big data. Participants will examine the economic, regulatory, and technological shifts that have shaped appraisal practices, understand the role of data and analytics in modern valuation, and gain insight into key data concepts, sources, and methodologies that enhance objectivity and efficiency in residential and commercial property analysis. By the end of the course, participants will understand the principles behind data-informed decision-making and be prepared to build on these concepts in subsequent courses within the series.