FHA Appraiser Eligibility Expansion Act

To amend the National Housing Act to authorize State-licensed appraisers to conduct appraisals in connection with mortgages insured by the FHA and to ensure compliance with the existing appraiser education and competency requirements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the FHA Appraiser Eligibility Expansion Act 2. Appraiser standards (a) Certification or licensing (1) In general Section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5) (A) be certified or licensed by the State in which the property to be appraised is located; (B) be knowledgeable of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and the appraisal requirements established by the Federal Housing Administration; (C) meet the competency requirements described in the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice before accepting an assignment; and (D) have demonstrated verifiable education in the appraisal requirements established by the Federal Housing Administration under this subsection, which shall include the completion of a course or seminar that educates appraisers on those appraisal requirements and is provided by the Federal Housing Administration or is approved by the Course Approval Program of the Appraiser Qualification Board of the Appraisal Foundation or a State appraiser certifying and licensing agency. . (2) Application Subparagraph (D) of section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5) 12 U.S.C. 1707 (b) Compliance with verifiable education and competency requirements Effective beginning on the date on which the mortgagee letter or other guidance or regulations take effect under subsection (c)(3), no appraiser may conduct an appraisal for any mortgage insured under title II of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1707 (1) the appraiser is in compliance with the requirements under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) section 202(g)(5) of such Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5) (2) if the appraiser was not approved to conduct such appraisals before the date on which the mortgagee letter or other guidance or regulations take effect under subsection (c)(3), the appraiser is in compliance with subparagraph (D) of such section 202(g)(5). (c) Implementation Not later than the 240 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue a mortgagee letter or other guidance or regulations that shall— (1) implement the amendments made by subsection (a); (2) clearly set forth all of the specific requirements under section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing Act ( 12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5) 12 U.S.C. 1707 (A) providing that, before the effective date of the mortgagee letter or other guidance or regulations, a demonstration of competency and completion of training that meet the requirements under subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of such section 202(g)(5), as amended by subsection (a), shall be considered to fulfill the requirements under such subparagraphs; and (B) providing a method for appraisers to demonstrate such prior competency and completion; and (3) take effect not later than the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary issues the mortgagee letter or other guidance or regulations.

Summary: FHA Appraiser Eligibility Expansion Act This bill modifies requirements for appraisers of Federal Housing Administration-insured mortgages. Currently, an appraiser must be certified by certain state or national entities. The bill removes the national entities from the list of approved certification entities and provides additional competency and education requirements.