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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>87406</law_id><section_number>54.1-2009</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>33.2-1001</reference><reference>36-27</reference><reference>54.1-2017.1</reference><reference>54.1-2020</reference><reference>54.1-2021</reference><reference>54.1-2021.1</reference><reference>54.1-2022</reference><reference>55.1-906</reference><reference>60.2-212</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="20.1">Real Estate Appraisers</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
		&#x201C;Appraisal&#x201D; means an <span class="dictionary">analysis</span>, <span class="dictionary">opinion</span>, or conclusion relating to the nature, quality, value, or utility of specified interests in, or aspects of, identified real estate or identified <span class="dictionary">real property</span>. An appraisal may be classified by subject matter into either a <span class="dictionary">valuation</span> or <span class="dictionary">analysis</span>. A &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">valuation</span>&#x201D; is an estimate of the value of real estate or <span class="dictionary">real property</span>. An &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">analysis</span>&#x201D; is a study of real estate or <span class="dictionary">real property</span> other than estimating value. The term &#x201C;appraiser&#x201D; or &#x201C;appraisal&#x201D; may be used only by a person licensed or certified by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Appraisal report</span>&#x201D; means any communications, written or oral, of an appraisal.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Board</span>&#x201D; means the Real Estate Appraiser <span class="dictionary">Board</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Certified general real estate appraiser</span>&#x201D; means an individual who meets the requirements for licensure that relate to the appraisal of all types of real estate and <span class="dictionary">real property</span> and is licensed as a <span class="dictionary">certified general real estate appraiser</span>. This designation is identified in Title 11, &#xA7;&#xA0;1116 (a) of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;3345 (a)) as a &#x201C;state certified real estate appraiser.&#x201D;
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Certified residential real estate appraiser</span>&#x201D; means an individual who meets the requirements for licensure for the appraisal of (i) all types of real estate and <span class="dictionary">real property</span> that a <span class="dictionary">licensed residential real estate appraiser</span> is permitted to appraise and (ii) such other real estate and <span class="dictionary">real property</span> as the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, by <span class="dictionary">regulation</span>, may permit.
		To the extent permitted by federal <span class="dictionary">law</span> and <span class="dictionary">regulation</span>, a <span class="dictionary">certified residential real estate appraiser</span> shall be considered a state certified real estate appraiser within the meaning of Title 11, &#xA7;&#xA0;1116 (a) of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. &#xA7;&#xA0;3345 (a)).
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Department</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Professional and Occupational <span class="dictionary">Regulation</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Director</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Director</span> of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Professional and Occupational <span class="dictionary">Regulation</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Evaluation</span>&#x201D; means an <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the market value of <span class="dictionary">real property</span> or real estate that may be utilized in connection with a <span class="dictionary">real estate-related financial transaction</span> where an appraisal by a state-certified or state-licensed appraiser is not required by the state or federal financial institution&#x2019;s regulatory agency engaging in, contracting for, or regulating such <span class="dictionary">real estate-related financial transaction</span> or regulating the financial institution or lender engaged in or about to engage in such <span class="dictionary">real estate-related financial transaction</span>. An <span class="dictionary">evaluation</span> is limited in its scope and development to the requirements for <span class="dictionary">evaluations</span> as set forth in the Interagency Appraisal and <span class="dictionary">Evaluation</span> Guidelines promulgated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency et al. (75 F.R. 77450).
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the National Credit Union Administration, the Resolution Trust Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Federally related transaction</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">real estate-related financial transaction</span> which:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> A federal financial institutions regulatory agency engages in, <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> for or regulates; and <a id="paragraph-312938" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2009/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Requires the services of an appraiser.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">General real estate appraisal</span>&#x201D; means an appraisal conducted by an individual licensed as a <span class="dictionary">certified general real estate appraiser</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Licensed residential real estate appraiser</span>&#x201D; means an individual who meets the requirements for licensure for the appraisal of any residential real estate or <span class="dictionary">real property</span> of one to four family residential units as the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, by <span class="dictionary">regulation</span>, may permit, and such other real estate and <span class="dictionary">real property</span> as the <span class="dictionary">Board</span>, by <span class="dictionary">regulation</span>, may permit.
			This designation is identified in Title 11, &#xA7; 1116 (c) of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. &#xA7; 3345 (c)) as a &#x201C;state-licensed appraiser.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Real estate&#x201D; means an identified parcel or tract of land, including improvements thereon, if any.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Real estate-related financial transaction</span>&#x201D; means any transaction involving: <a id="paragraph-312939" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2009/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> The sale, lease, purchase, investment in or exchange of <span class="dictionary">real property</span>, including interests in property, or the financing thereof; <a id="paragraph-312940" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2009/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> The refinancing of <span class="dictionary">real property</span> or interests in <span class="dictionary">real property</span>; or <a id="paragraph-312941" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2009/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The use of <span class="dictionary">real property</span> or interests in <span class="dictionary">real property</span> as security for a loan or investment, including mortgage-backed securities.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Real property</span>&#x201D; means one or more defined interests, benefits or rights inherent in the ownership of real estate.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Regulation</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">regulations</span> promulgated by the Real Estate Appraiser <span class="dictionary">Board</span> pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.).
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Residential real estate appraisal</span>&#x201D; means an appraisal conducted by a <span class="dictionary">licensed residential real estate appraiser</span> or a <span class="dictionary">certified residential real estate appraiser</span>. <a id="paragraph-312942" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-2009/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1990, c. 459; 1995, c. 327; 2018, c. 644.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
