§3415.2. Definitions

            As used in this Chapter, the following words have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

            (1) "Administrative review", "compliance review", "quality check", or "QC" means a process that checks an appraisal report for compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or other stipulated requirements.

            (2) "Appraisal" means the act or process of developing an opinion of value of real property following the appraisal process defined by the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice.

            (3) "Appraisal management company" means, in connection with valuing properties collateralizing mortgage loans or mortgages incorporated into a securitization, any third party that annually oversees a network panel of more than fifteen licensed appraisers in the state or twenty-five or more licensed appraisers in two or more states and is authorized either by a creditor of a consumer credit transaction secured by a consumer's principal dwelling or by an underwriter of, or other principal in, the secondary mortgage markets to do both of the following:

            (a) Recruit, select, contract with, or otherwise retain an appraiser for the purpose of performing an appraisal and to verify any work performed by the appraiser for compliance with applicable state and federal requirements.

            (b) Manage the process of having an appraisal performed, including but not limited to providing administrative duties, receiving appraisal orders and appraisal reports, submitting completed appraisal reports to creditors and underwriters, collecting fees from creditors and underwriters for services provided, and reimbursing appraisers for services performed.

            (4) "Appraisal management services" means the process of receiving a request for the performance of real estate appraisal services from a client, and for a fee paid by the client, entering into an agreement with one or more independent appraisers to perform the real estate appraisal services contained in the request.

            (5) "Appraisal review" means the act or process of developing and communicating an opinion about the quality of another appraiser's work that was performed as part of an appraisal assignment. The term shall not include an examination of an appraisal for grammatical, typographical, mathematical, or other similar administrative errors that do not involve the appraiser's professional judgment, including compliance with the elements of the client's statement of work.

            (6) "Appraiser" is defined as one who is expected to perform valuation services competently and in a manner that is independent, impartial, and objective.

            (7) "Appraiser panel" means a group of appraisers that has been selected by an appraisal management company to perform real estate appraisal services for the appraisal management company on behalf of lenders or other clients.

            (8) "Board" means the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board.

            (9) "Client" means any person or entity that contracts with or otherwise enters into an agreement for the performance of residential real estate appraisal services.

            (10) "Controlling person" means any of the following:

            (a) An owner, officer, or director of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity seeking to offer appraisal management services in this state.

            (b) An individual employed, appointed, or authorized by an appraisal management company who has the authority to enter into a contractual relationship with clients to contract for the performance of appraisal management services and has the authority to enter into agreements with independent appraisers for the performance of real estate appraisal services.

            (c) An individual who possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an appraisal management company.

            (11) "Fee appraiser" means a person who is not an employee of the mortgage loan originator or appraisal management company engaging the appraiser and is one of the following:

            (a) A state-licensed or certified appraiser who receives a fee for performing an appraisal and certifies that the appraisal has been prepared in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

            (b) A company not subject to the requirements of Section 1124 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, 12 U.S.C. 3331 et seq., that utilizes the services of state-licensed or certified appraisers and receives a fee for performing appraisals in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

            (12) "Real estate appraisal services" means residential valuation services performed by an individual acting as an appraiser, including but not limited to appraisal, appraisal review, or appraisal consulting, as these services are defined under the Uniform Standards for Professional Appraisal Practice.

            Acts 2009, No. 502, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 429, §1, eff. May 31, 2012; Acts 2022, No. 415, §1, eff. June 15, 2022.