Many A.CRE models, especially those with data tables, are set to Partial Calculation Mode by default to enhance performance. In Partial Mode, Excel only recalculates specific cells when manually prompted, which may trigger the Stale Value Formatting strikethrough.

To resolve the issue and restore your workbook to normal:

1. Switch to Automatic Calculation Mode:
   • Open any Excel file.
   • Go to the Ribbon and navigate to Formulas > Calculation Options > Automatic.
   • This ensures all cells recalculate automatically going forward.
2. Disable Stale Value Formatting (Optional):
   • Go to Formulas > Calculation Options > Format Stale Values and turn it off.
   • This will hide the strikethrough but won’t change the underlying calculation behavior.

How to Avoid This Issue in the Future:

1. Understand Default Settings in A.CRE Models:
   • Models with data tables are optimized for performance using the ‘Partial Calculation Mode.’ If you prefer to avoid potential stale value indicators, switch to Automatic Calculation Mode after opening a model.
2. Check Your Excel Version:
   • The Stale Value Formatting feature is specific to Microsoft’s beta version of Excel. If you’re frequently working with A.CRE models and find this behavior disruptive, consider opting out of the beta program.
3. Tweak Workbook Settings:
   • If using Partial Calculation Mode is beneficial for your workflow but the visual indicators are distracting, disable the Stale Value Formatting in Excel settings (Formulas > Calculation Options > Format Stale Values).

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A bit of background on Excel Macros

First off, we assure you that you can enable Macros in our models with confidence. We use Macros in our Excel models to improve the user experience, speed up the models in cases where there are circular references, and to handle various real estate modeling tasks (e.g. calculating reserve accounts) that Excel out-of-the-box can’t.

Sometime in late 2021/early 2022, Microsoft released an updated version of Microsoft Excel that includes greater security protection related to Excel Macros. This update is meant to protect Excel users from downloading files from the internet that contain malicious macros. Unfortunately, in their zeal to protect Excel users from bad actors, they’ve made using A.CRE models a bit more difficult.

• View more details on Microsoft’s website here

Can I use an A.CRE Model without enabling macros?

Unfortunately, the A.CRE Models that we’ve built with macros won’t function properly unless you enable the macros. Therefore, you will need to enable the macros in order to use the models. Below, we’ve recorded a video and shared instructions (from Microsoft’s website) on how to enable macros in models downloaded from A.CRE.

How to enable macros in models downloaded from A.CRE

1. Download and save the Excel model (i.e. Excel file) to a local hard drive, network share, or cloud share drive.
2. Open Windows File Explorer and go to the folder where you saved the file.
3. Right-click the file and choose Properties from the context menu.
4. At the bottom of the General tab, you should see a section for Security. Select the Unblock checkbox and select OK.
5. Open the file and click ‘Enable Content’

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Troubleshooting Tips for Downloading Models

• I’m unsure where to find the download checkout page. Go to the model’s description page within the ‘Library of Real Estate Financial Models‘. On each model description page, you’ll find a big green ‘Proceed to Download Page’ button. This will take you to the download page where you can follow the instructions below to complete the process.
• I click the ‘Set Price’ button but nothing happens. Once you click the ‘Set Price’ button, the site should automatically scroll the download page down to complete checkout. If after clicking the ‘Set Price’ button, that doesn’t happen. Manually scroll down the page to complete checkout. You will know that the ‘Set Price’ button worked, even though it didn’t automatically scroll down, because your model and price will now appear in the ‘Download Details’ box.
• I click the ‘Set Price’ button but nothing happens and the model does not appear in the ‘Download Details’ box. This usually occurs due to an expired cookie or failing to ‘Accept’ cookies upon first accessing the site. To confirm that the issue is cookie related, open a new ‘incognito’ window and navigate to the model download page. Complete the ‘How to Download a Model’ steps below.
• I complete the download but the link sent to my email doesn’t work. Some email providers include built-in security that deactivate in-email download links. If the link in the email doesn’t work, you can find a link to download the model directly in your ‘My Downloads‘ page.
• I get a ‘Sorry, you have reached your download limit for this file’ message. If you choose the ‘Free (Educational Use – 2 Downloads Available for 7 Days’) download option, your download link will only work for seven days or two downloads, whichever is first. You will need to request a new download link by following the ‘How to Download a Model’ steps below.
• I can’t find the model in my ‘My Downloads’ page. This usually occurs when you’ve chosen the free option and you’ve exhausted your max downloads or the model has expired. Follow the ‘How to Download a Model’ steps below to request a new download link.
• None of the above solves my problem. If you continue to have issues downloading the model, click here to contact us.

How to Download a Model

The team at A.CRE has built the world’s largest library of readily accessible real estate Excel models. In fact, this was A.CRE’s initial primary mission – to make institutional-quality models available to all. As a result, we provide all Excel models in our Library on a “Pay What You’re Able” basis, with no minimum.

To download a model from our library:

1. Browse the library for the model that’s right fit for you.
2. Click on the model to read the description page; all models include written and video tutorials (either on the description page or on a separate page) on how to use it.
3. In the description page of the model, find and click the green “Proceed to Download Page” button.
4. On the model download page, choose either the ‘Free (Educational Use)’ or ‘Paid (Unlimited Downloads + Updates)’ option and then enter a price. A.CRE readers who choose to support the mission of A.CRE by choosing the Paid version of the model, are provided unlimited downloads and lifetime updates of that model. Otherwise, there is no difference between the Educational and Paid versions of the model.
5. Once you’ve clicked ‘Proceed to Download’ you will be taken to your Download Queue (i.e shopping cart).
6. Select ‘Proceed to Download’ in the Download Queue or return to the Library of Real Estate Excel Models to add more models to your queue.
7. Once you’re ready to “checkout”, return to the Download Queue and click ‘Proceed to Download’ to be taken to the checkout page.
8. If you’re an existing A.CRE user and you’re not logged in, use the ‘Click here to login’ button to log into your account from the checkout page.
9. If you’re new to A.CRE, within the ‘Account Details’ section, enter your name, zip code, country, and email address and click ‘Complete Checkout’.
10. Review the ‘Download Details’ box and confirm that you’re downloading the correct model and price. If not, or there are other products within the ‘Download Details’ section you don’t intend to buy/download, simply click the green X next to the product to remove it from the transaction.
11. Check the ‘I have read and agree to the terms and conditions’ button, and then click the ‘Complete Checkout’ button.
12. The system will then process the download, and take you to a page with further instructions. A link to download the model will be added to your A.CRE My Downloads page and will also be emailed directly to you.

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To remedy this issue, try the following:

1) Review your email account history to find the ‘Welcome to the A.CRE Accelerator’ email you received upon joining the program. And then use that email address as the username in order to login. If you’ve forgotten your password, click the ‘Reset Password‘ option

2) Contact us using the ‘Website Tech Support’ option under ‘Reason for Inquiry’, and we’d be happy to find your Accelerator account in our system, reset your password, merge your A.CRE accounts, and help get you logged back in.

The post I’m having a hard time logging into my Accelerator program. I am unable to login and access the dashboard and the course. appeared first on Adventures in CRE Support.

1. Anti-virus or anti-malware software installed on your computer blocks links in certain email messages.
2. Your email client blocks links in email messages from unrecognized senders.
3. The link has expired. Links for free versions of all models expire after 7 days.

The easiest solution to 1 and 2 above is to use the download link in your A.CRE ‘My Downloads‘ page.

The post The link is broken and I can’t download the file appeared first on Adventures in CRE Support.

Since XLSB files are binary, they can be read from and written to much faster, making them extremely useful for very large spreadsheets. XLSB files are also generally smaller than typical XLSX or XLSM Excel. As a result, the guys prefer to use the .XLSB file format for many of their more complex models.

However, to open a .XLSB file you must have a version of Excel 2013 or newer. If you don’t have a compatible version of Excel, and since the XLSB file is a compressed version of an Excel file, your operating system (i.e. Windows or iOS) confuses the XLSB file for a zipped file and attempts to extract the file.

To correct this issue, upgrade your Excel to the latest version. If you prefer to open the file in a different spreadsheet tool or find a workaround, you might check out this online guide:

https://www.lifewire.com/xlsb-file-2622534

The post My system is attempting to extract (unzip) the model I downloaded, but I can’t open it. Why did A.CRE send a zip file and why can’t my system unzip the file? appeared first on Adventures in CRE Support.

You can find the Glossary here:

https://www.adventuresincre.com/glossary/

For metrics that are calculated in Excel, the guys have been creating “bite-sized tutorials” on how to calculate the metrics in Excel. Those videos are added to the Glossary item page, and also featured all together on this page:

https://www.adventuresincre.com/30-second-real-estate-tutorials/

The post Have you considered making a metrics/return calculations glossary? appeared first on Adventures in CRE Support.

https://www.adventuresincre.com/my-account/downloads/

The post I purchased a license a while back, how can I find the latest version of the model? appeared first on Adventures in CRE Support.