I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6791 
To waive certain requirements with respect to in-person appraisals, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 8, 2020 
Mr. SHERMAN (for himself and Ms. WATERS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addi-
tion to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To waive certain requirements with respect to in-person 
appraisals, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘COVID-19 Safe Home 
Appraisal Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that as the United States con-
tinues to grapple with the impact of the spread of 
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19), several adjust-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:46 May 21, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6791.IH
H6791
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
ments are needed to ensure that mortgage processing can 
continue to function without significant delays, despite re-
quirements that would otherwise require in-person inter-
actions. 
SEC. 3. WAIVER OF IN-PERSON APPRAISAL REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) WAIVER.—During the period that begins upon 
the date of the enactment of this Act and ends on the 
date of the termination by the Federal Emergency Man-
agement Agency of the emergency declared on March 13, 
2020, by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Dis-
aster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
4121 et seq.) relating to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID–19) pandemic, any appraisal that is conducted 
for a loan for a single-family residential property with re-
spect to which applicable law or policy would otherwise 
require the performance of an interior inspection may be 
performed without an interior inspection, if— 
(1) an exterior-only inspection appraisal is per-
formed in conjunction with other methods, including 
borrower (or prospective borrower) observations or 
verifiable contemporaneous video or photographic 
documentation by the borrower (or prospective bor-
rower), to the extent they are available; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:46 May 21, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6791.IH
H6791
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) the applicable lender, guarantor, regulating 
agency, or insurer may order additional services to 
include an interior inspection at a later date; and 
(3) the lender certifies that an appraiser re-
jected the assignment over health and safety con-
cerns related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 
19). 
(b) EXCEPTION TO EXTERIOR ONLY APPRAISALS.— 
If an exterior-only inspection appraisal pursuant to sub-
section (a)(1) is prevented by State or local laws or orders, 
a desktop appraisal shall be utilized in conjunction with 
other methods, including borrower (or prospective bor-
rower) observations or verifiable contemporaneous video or 
photographic documentation by the borrower (or prospec-
tive borrower), to the extent they are available. 
(c) STIPULATION.—An appraiser conducting an ap-
praisal without an interior inspection pursuant to this sec-
tion shall stipulate an extraordinary assumption that the 
property’s interior quality, condition, and physical charac-
teristics are as described and consistent with the exterior 
view, and shall employ all available methods to maximize 
accuracy while maintaining safety. 
(d) RULEMAKING.—Not later than the end of the 7- 
day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:46 May 21, 2020
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6791.IH
H6791
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS