Regulatory Resources

In 1989 the US Congress passed Title XI of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA), more commonly known as the Savings and Loan Bailout Bill.  FIRREA established a real estate appraiser regulatory system involving the Federal Government, the states, and The Appraisal Foundation (Foundation).

Each US state or territory has a real estate appraiser regulatory agency that is responsible for licensing and certifying real estate appraisers and supervising their appraisal-related activities, as required by Federal law.

The Appraisal Subcommittee  (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council monitors and reviews the work of The Foundation. The ASC also maintains oversight authority over the states to ensure the minimum qualifying criteria to license and certify real estate appraisers are implemented and that appraisers are held to a professional set of ethical standards.  The  Foundation’s Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) sets the minimum Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria and the Appraisal Standards Board (ASB) develops the generally accepted standards of practice for the appraisal profession (the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice).

You can click here to learn more about the appraiser regulatory system in the United States. A full list of state appraiser regulatory agencies is available here on our website. 

Regulatory Resources

Enforcement and Complaints
The Appraisal Foundation is not an enforcement agency and does not have the authority to receive or process complaints against appraisers. You can learn more about the regulatory system governing the appraisal profession on our Enforcement and Complaints page. 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
Established by the U.S. Congress, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) helps protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws.  The CFPB works to ensure that consumers obtain all the necessary information to make informed financial decisions.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity
HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) works to eliminate housing discrimination, promote economic opportunity, and achieve diverse, inclusive communities.

Appraisal Complaint National Hotline
The Appraisal Complaint National Hotline (Hotline) is a referral system for complaints on alleged violations of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) and/or appraisal independence requirements. 

State Real Estate Appraiser Regulatory Boards
Each US State or Territory has a state appraiser regulatory agency, which is responsible for licensing and certifying real property appraisers and supervising their appraisal-related activities, as required by Federal law. A complete list of state agencies and their contact information.

Fair Housing Assistance Program Agencies 
HUD maintains a list of state level agencies and organizations that can assist consumers who believe they have experienced housing discrimination.