(a) A person shall not directly or indirectly engage or attempt to engage in business as an appraisal management company, directly or indirectly perform or attempt to perform appraisal management services or advertise or hold itself out as engaging in or conducting business as an appraisal management company without first obtaining a registration issued by the Council pursuant to this section, regardless of the entity’s use of appraisal management company, mortgage technology company or any other name.

(b) A person who wishes to be registered as an appraisal management company in this State must file a written application with the Council on a form prepared and furnished by the Council and pay a fee in an amount to be determined by the Division of Professional Regulation. The registration required by subsection (a) of this section shall include:

(1) The name, residence address, business address and telephone number of the applicant and the location of each principal office and branch office at which the appraisal management company will conduct business in this State.

(2) The name under which the applicant will conduct business as an appraisal management company.

(3) The name, residence address, business address and telephone number of each person who will have an interest in the appraisal management company as a principal, partner, officer, director or trustee, specifying the capacity and title of each person.

(4) If the person seeking registration is a corporation that is not domiciled in this State, the name and contact information for the company’s registered agent for service of process in this State.

(5) A certification that the person seeking registration has a system and process in place to verify that a person being added to the appraiser panel for the appraisal management company’s appraisal management services in this State holds a license or certification in good standing in this State.

(6) A certification that the person seeking registration has a system in place to review the work of all independent appraisers that are performing real property appraisal services for the appraisal management company on a periodic basis to confirm that the real property appraisal services are being conducted in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

(7) A certification that the person maintains a detailed record of each service request that it receives and the independent appraiser that performs the real property appraisal services for the appraisal management company.

(8) A certification that the person seeking registration has a system in place to train those who select individual appraisers for real property services in this State, to ensure that the selectors have appropriate training in placing appraisal assignments.

(9) Proof of a surety bond of $20,000.

(10) A registration fee to cover the cost of enrollment in the federal roster or registry.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  82 Del. Laws, c. 19, § 1; 

Nothing in this chapter shall apply to:

(1) An appraisal management company that is a subsidiary owned and controlled by a financial institution that is subject to direct regulation by an agency of the United States government or of this State.

(2) A corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, subsidiary or other business entity that employs real estate appraisers exclusively on an employer and employee basis for the performance of all real property appraisal services in the normal course of its business and that is responsible for ensuring that the real property appraisal services being performed by its employees are being performed in accordance with Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and federal and state law.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

(a) An applicant for initial and renewal registration as an appraisal management company shall submit to the Council an application on a form prescribed by the Council.

(b) An initial registration granted by the Council pursuant to this chapter is valid for 1 year. Registration renewals are renewed annually.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  83 Del. Laws, c. 532, § 1; 

(a) An appraisal management company applying for registration may not be owned by a person or have any principal of the company who has had any financial, real estate or mortgage lending industry license or certificate refused, denied, canceled, revoked or voluntarily surrendered in this State or in any other state, unless such license or certificate was subsequently granted or reinstated. This requirement may be waived by appeal and at the discretion of the Council.

(b) Each person that owns an appraisal management company in this State shall:

(1) Submit, at the applicant’s expense, fingerprints and other necessary information in order to obtain the following:

a. A report of the applicant’s entire criminal history record from the State Bureau of Identification or a statement from the State Bureau of Identification that the State Central Repository contains no such information relating to that person.

b. A report of the applicant’s entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. § 534). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Council on Real Estate Appraisers shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records.

c. An applicant may not be registered until the applicant’s criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction that is substantially related to the practice of real estate appraisal may not be registered by the Council unless a waiver is granted pursuant to § 4008(a)(4) of this title. The State Bureau of Identification may release any subsequent criminal history to the Council.

(2) Certify to the Council that the person has never had any financial, real estate or mortgage lending industry license or certificate refused, denied, canceled, revoked or voluntarily surrendered in this State or in any other state, unless such license or certificate was subsequently granted or reinstated. This requirement may be waived by appeal and at the discretion of the Council.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  82 Del. Laws, c. 88, § 3;  83 Del. Laws, c. 433, § 28; 

(a) Each appraisal management company applying to the Council for registration in this State shall designate 1 controlling person that will be the main contact for all communication between the Council and the appraisal management company.

(b) To serve as a controlling person of an appraisal management company, a person shall:

(1) Certify to the Council that the person has never had any financial, real estate or mortgage lending industry license or certificate issued by this State, or any other state, refused, denied, canceled, revoked or voluntarily surrendered, unless such license or certificate was subsequently granted or reinstated. This requirement may be waived by appeal and at the discretion of the Council.

(2) a. A report of the applicant’s entire federal criminal history record pursuant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation appropriation of Title II of Public Law 92-544 (28 U.S.C. § 534). The State Bureau of Identification shall be the intermediary for purposes of this section and the Council on Real Estate Appraisers shall be the screening point for the receipt of said federal criminal history records.

b. An applicant may not be registered until the applicant’s criminal history reports have been produced. An applicant whose record shows a prior criminal conviction that is substantially related to the practice of real estate appraisal may not be registered by the Council unless a waiver is granted pursuant to § 4008(a)(4) of this title. The State Bureau of Identification may release any subsequent criminal history to the Council.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  83 Del. Laws, c. 433, § 28; 

Any employee of an appraisal management company that performs an appraisal review shall have demonstrated knowledge of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and hold a valid appraiser license or certification in this or any state.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

An appraisal management company registered in this State pursuant to this chapter may not enter into contracts or agreements with an independent appraiser for the performance of real property appraisal services in this State unless that person is licensed or certified in good standing with the Council.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

(a) Each appraisal management company registered in this State shall certify to the Council on an annual basis at the time of renewal, on a form prescribed by the Council and after paying the appropriate fee, that the appraisal management company has a system and process in place to verify that a person being added to the appraiser panel of the appraisal management company holds a license or certificate in good standing in this State pursuant to the Council.

(b) Each appraisal management company registered in this State shall certify to the Council on an annual basis, at the time of renewal, that it has a system in place to review the quality of appraisals of all independent appraisers that are performing real property appraisal services for the appraisal management company on a periodic basis to confirm that the real property appraisal services are being conducted in accordance with uniform standards of professional appraisal practice.

(c) Each appraisal management company registered shall certify to the Council on an annual basis, at the time of renewal, that it maintains a detailed record of each service request that it receives and the name of the independent appraiser that performs the real property appraisal services for the appraisal management company. An appraisal management company shall maintain a detailed record for the same time period that an appraiser is required to maintain an appraisal record for the same real property appraisal activity.

(d) Each appraisal management company registered shall certify to the Council on an annual basis, at the time of renewal, that it has a system in place to train those who select individual appraisers for real property services in this State, to ensure that the selectors have appropriate training in placing appraisal assignments.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  83 Del. Laws, c. 532, § 1; 

The appraisal management company shall not prohibit the appraiser from reporting in the appraisal report the fee paid to the appraiser.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

(a) Any employee, director, officer or agent of an appraisal management company registered pursuant to this chapter shall not influence or attempt to influence the development, reporting or review of an appraisal through coercion, extortion, collusion, compensation, inducement, intimidation, bribery or any other manner, including:

(1) Withholding or threatening to withhold timely payment for an appraisal.

(2) Withholding or threatening to withhold future business for an independent appraiser or demoting or terminating, or threatening to demote or terminate, an independent appraiser.

(3) Expressly or implicitly promising future business, promotions or increased compensation for an independent appraiser.

(4) Conditioning the request for an appraisal service or the payment of an appraisal fee or salary or bonus on the opinion, conclusion or valuation to be reached or on a preliminary estimate or opinion requested from an independent appraiser.

(5) Requesting that an independent appraiser provide an estimated, predetermined or desired valuation in an appraisal report or provide estimated values or comparable sales at any time before the independent appraiser’s completion of an appraisal service.

(6) Providing to an independent appraiser an anticipated, estimated, encouraged or desired value for a subject property or a proposed or target amount to be loaned to the borrower, except that a copy of the sales contract for purchase transactions may be provided.

(7) Providing to an independent appraiser, or any entity or person related to the appraiser, stock or other financial or nonfinancial benefits.

(8) Allowing the removal of an independent appraiser from an appraiser panel, without prior written notice to the appraiser.

(9) Obtaining, using or paying for a second or subsequent appraisal or ordering an automated valuation model in connection with a mortgage financing transaction, unless such action is required by law or there is a reasonable basis to believe that the initial appraisal was flawed or tainted and the basis is clearly and appropriately noted in the loan file or unless the appraisal or automated valuation model is done pursuant to a bona fide prefunding or postfunding appraisal review or quality control process.

(10) Engaging in any other act or practice that impairs or attempts to impair an appraiser’s independence, objectivity or impartiality.

(b) An appraisal fee offered or paid may not be based on the predetermined appraised value or range of appraised value of the subject property or the amount of the transaction price.

(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not prohibit an appraisal management company from requesting that an independent appraiser either:

(1) Provide additional information about the basis for a valuation.

(2) Correct objective factual errors in an appraisal report.

(3) Consider additional appropriate property information.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

Except in cases of breach of contract or substandard performance of services, each appraisal management company shall make payment to an independent appraiser for the completion of an appraisal or valuation assignment within 45 days after the date on which the independent appraiser transmits or otherwise provides the completed appraisal or valuation study to the appraisal management company or its assignee.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

An appraisal management company shall not:

(1) Alter, modify, revise or otherwise change a completed appraisal report submitted by an independent appraiser, including removing the signature of the appraiser.

(2) Use an appraisal report submitted by an independent appraiser for any purpose other than the intended use stated in the report.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

(a) An appraisal management company shall not remove an appraiser from its appraiser panel, or otherwise refuse to assign requests for real property appraisal services to an independent appraiser, without notifying the appraiser in writing of the reasons for the appraiser being removed from the appraiser panel of the appraisal management company.

(b) An independent appraiser that is removed from the appraiser panel of an appraisal management company for alleged illegal conduct, violation of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or violation of state licensing standards may file a complaint with the Council for a review of the decision of the appraisal management company, except that in no case shall the Council make any determination regarding the nature of the business relationship between the appraiser and the appraisal management company that is unrelated to the actions specified in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) If an independent appraiser files a complaint against an appraisal management company pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the Council shall adjudicate the complaint within a reasonable time.

(d) If after opportunity for a hearing and review, the Council determines that an independent appraiser did not commit a violation of law, a violation of the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice or a violation of this chapter, the Council shall order that the appraiser be added to the appraiser panel of the appraisal management company that was the subject of the complaint. The Council shall furnish the appraisal management company with all written documentation and investigation records that support the Council’s findings.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;  82 Del. Laws, c. 88, § 4; 

The Council may censure an appraisal management company, conditionally or unconditionally suspend or revoke any registration issued under this chapter or impose civil penalties not to exceed $15,000 per violation if, after a hearing, the Council finds that an appraisal management company is attempting to perform, has performed or has attempted to perform any of the following acts:

(1) Committing any act in violation of this chapter.

(2) Violating any rule adopted by the Council in the interest of the public and consistent with this chapter.

(3) Knowingly making or causing to be made to the Council any false representation of material fact.

(4) Suppressing or withholding from the Council any information that the applicant possesses and that, if submitted by the applicant, would have rendered the applicant ineligible to be registered pursuant to rules adopted by the Council.

(5) Violating the Federal Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the act of July 21, 2010 [P. L. 111-203, 124 Stat. 2190].

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

(a) The Council may conduct disciplinary proceedings in accordance with subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29.

(b) The written notice required by subchapter III of Chapter 101 of Title 29 shall be satisfied by personal service on the controlling person of the registrant or the registrant’s agent for service of process in this State or by sending the notice by certified mail to the controlling person of the registrant to the registrant’s address on file with the Council.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

The Council shall adopt rules that are reasonably necessary to implement, administer and enforce this subchapter.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2; 

All appraisal management companies operating in this State as of July 1, 2013, must become registered on or before July 1, 2014.

79 Del. Laws, c. 163, §  2;