# Title 43 — Occupations and Professions

## Chapter 43-23.5 — Appraisal Management Companies

### § 43-23.5-01. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Appraisal firm" means any person or entity that exclusively employs persons on an
employer and employee basis for the performance of real estate appraisal services in
the normal course of its business and the real estate appraisal services being
performed are in accordance with the uniform standards of professional appraisal
practices.
2. "Appraisal management company" means, in connection with valuing properties
collateralizing mortgage loans or mortgages incorporated into a securitization, any
external third party that oversees a network or panel of more than fifteen certified or
licensed appraisers in this state or twenty-five or more nationally within a given year,
that is authorized either by a creditor of a consumer credit transaction secured by a
consumer's principal dwelling or by an underwriter or other principal in the secondary
mortgage markets that engages in appraisal management services.
3. "Appraisal management services" means to, directly or indirectly, perform any of the
following functions on behalf of a lender, financial institution, client, or any other person
in conjunction with a consumer credit transaction that is secured by a consumer's
primary dwelling:
a. Administer an appraiser panel.
b. Recruit, retain, or select appraisers.
c. Qualify, verify licensing or certification, and negotiate fees and service level
expectations with persons who are part of an appraiser panel.
d. Contract with appraisers to perform appraisal assignments.
e. Receive an order for an appraisal from one person, and deliver the order for the
appraisal to an appraiser that is part of an appraiser panel for completion.
f. Manage the process of having an appraisal performed, including providing
administrative duties, such as receiving appraisal orders and reports, submitting
completed appraisal reports to creditors and underwriters, collecting fees from
creditors and underwriters for services provided, and reimbursing appraisers for
services performed.
g. Track and determine the status of appraisal orders.
h. Conduct an appraisal review or other quality control of a completed appraisal
prior to the delivery of the appraisal to the person that ordered the appraisal.
i. Provide a completed appraisal performed by an appraiser to one or more clients.
4. "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 related to the appraiser's data collection, analysis, opinions,
conclusions, estimate of value, or compliance with the uniform standards of
professional appraisal practice. This term does not include:
a. A general examination for grammatical, typographical, or other similar errors.
b. A general examination for completeness, including regulatory client requirements,
or both, as specified in the agreement process that does not communicate an
opinion.
5. "Appraiser panel" means a network of licensed or certified appraisers who have:
a. Responded to an invitation, request, or solicitation from an appraisal
management company, in any form, to perform appraisals for persons that have
ordered appraisals through the appraisal management company, or to perform
appraisals for the appraisal management company directly, on a periodic basis,
as requested and assigned by the appraisal management company.
b. Been selected and approved by an appraisal management company to perform
appraisals for any client of the appraisal management company that has ordered
an appraisal through the appraisal management company, or to perform

appraisals for the appraisal management company directly, on a periodic basis,
as assigned by the appraisal management company.
6. "Board" means the North Dakota real estate appraiser qualifications and ethics board.
7. "Controlling person" means:
a. An officer, director, or owner of greater than a ten percent interest of a
corporation, partnership, or other business entity seeking to act as an appraisal
management company in this state.
b. An individual employed, appointed, or authorized by an appraisal management
company that has the authority to enter a contractual relationship with other
persons for performance of services requiring registration as an appraisal
management company and has the authority to enter agreements with appraisers
for the performance of appraisals.
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.
8. "Federal financial institutions regulatory agencies" includes the board of governors of
the federal reserve system, the federal deposit insurance corporation, the office of the
comptroller of the currency, and the national credit union administration.
9. "Federally regulated appraisal management company" means an appraisal
management company that is owned and controlled by an insured depository
institution, as defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813 and regulated by the office of the comptroller
of the currency, the board of governors of the federal reserve system, or the federal
deposit insurance corporation.
10. "Federally related transaction" means any real estate-related financial transaction
which a federal financial institutions regulatory agency or the resolution trust
corporation engages in, contracts for, or regulates, and requires the services of an
appraiser.
11. "Real estate-related financial transaction" means any transaction involving:
a. The sale, lease, purchase, investment in, or exchange of real property, including
interests in property or the financing thereof.
b. The refinancing of real property or interests in real property.
c. The use of real property or interests in property as security for a loan or
investment, including mortgage-backed securities.
### § 43-23.5-02. Rulemaking authority.

The board shall have the authority to adopt rules that are reasonably necessary to
implement, administer, and enforce the provisions of this chapter.
### § 43-23.5-03. Registration required.

It is unlawful for a person to directly or indirectly engage or to attempt to engage in business
as an appraisal management company, to directly or indirectly perform or to attempt to perform
appraisal management services, or to advertise or hold itself out as engaging in or conducting
business as an appraisal management company without first obtaining a registration issued by
the board.
### § 43-23.5-04. Registration process.

An applicant for registration as an appraisal management company shall submit to the
board an application on forms prescribed by the board and pay a fee established by the board.
The forms shall require information necessary to determine eligibility for registration.
### § 43-23.5-05. Consent to service of process.

An applicant for registration as an appraisal management company that is not domiciled in
this state shall complete an irrevocable consent to service of process, as prescribed by the
secretary of state.

### § 43-23.5-06. Expiration of registration.

Registrations will expire on September thirtieth of each year. The expiration date of the
registration must appear on the registration and no other notice of its expiration need be given
to the registrant.
### § 43-23.5-07. Exemptions.

The provisions of this chapter do not apply to:
1. An appraisal firm.
2. A federally regulated appraisal management company, or a financial institution,
including a department or unit within the institution, that is regulated by an agency of
this state or the United States government.
3. A person that enters an agreement with an appraiser for the performance of an
appraisal that upon completion results in a report signed by both the appraiser who
completed the appraisal and the appraiser who requested completion of the appraisal.
4. An appraisal management company with an appraisal panel of fewer than sixteen
certified or licensed appraisers in this state or fewer than twenty-five nationally within a
given year.
5. An appraisal management company that is a subsidiary owned and controlled by a
financial institution that is subject to appraisal independence standards at least as
stringent as those under chapter 43-23.5-21, if regulated by an agency of this state, or
the Truth in Lending Act [15 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.], if regulated by the United States
government.
### § 43-23.5-08. Owner requirements.

1. An appraisal management company applying for, holding, or renewing a registration
under this chapter may not be, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, owned by an
individual who has had an appraiser license or certification in this state or in any other
state refused, denied, canceled, surrendered in lieu of revocation, or revoked in any
jurisdiction for a substantive cause, as determined by the board.
2. Each person that owns more than ten percent of an appraisal management company
applying for, holding, or renewing a registration under this chapter:
a. Must be of good moral character.
b. Shall submit to a criminal background investigation for an initial application or as
required by the board.
3. Each appraisal management company applying for a registration or for renewal of a
registration under this chapter shall certify to the board on a form prescribed by the
board that the company has reviewed each entity that owns the appraisal
management company and that no entity that owns the appraisal management
company is owned by an individual that has had an appraiser license or certification in
this state or any other state refused, denied, canceled, surrendered in lieu of
revocation, or revoked in any jurisdiction for a substantive cause, as determined by the
board.
4. An appraisal management company is not barred from registration if the license or
certificate of the appraiser with an ownership interest was not revoked for a
substantive cause and has not been reinstated by the jurisdiction in which the
appraiser was licensed or certified.
### § 43-23.5-09. Controlling person.

An appraisal management company applying for a registration or for renewal of a
registration in this state shall designate one controlling person that shall serve as the main
contact for all communication between the board and the company. The controlling person shall:
1. Remain in good standing in this state or in any other state that the controlling person
holds a licensure or certification permit from; however, nothing in this chapter shall
require that a designated controlling person hold an appraiser license or certification in
any jurisdiction.

2. Have never had an appraiser license or certification in this state or any other state
refused, denied, canceled, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of a pending disciplinary
proceeding in any jurisdiction and not subsequently reinstated or granted.
3. Be of good moral character.
4. Submit to a criminal background investigation for an initial application or as required by
the board.
### § 43-23.5-10. Employee requirements.

An appraisal management company that applies to the board for a registration or to renew a
registration to do business in this state as an appraisal management company may not:
1. Knowingly employ any person for the performance of appraisal or appraisal
management services who has had an appraiser license or certification in this state or
any other state refused, denied, canceled, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of a pending
disciplinary proceeding in any jurisdiction and not subsequently reinstated or granted.
2. Knowingly enter any independent contractor arrangement, whether in verbal, written,
or other form, for the performance of appraisal or appraisal management services, with
any person that has had an appraiser license or certification in this state or any other
state refused, denied, canceled, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of a pending
disciplinary proceeding in any jurisdiction and not subsequently reinstated or granted.
3. Knowingly enter any contract, agreement, or other business relationship, whether in
verbal, written, or any other form, with any entity that employs, has entered an
independent contract arrangement, or has entered any contract, agreement, or other
business relationship, whether in verbal, written, or any other form, for the
performance of appraisal or appraisal management services, with any person that has
had an appraiser license or certification in this state or any other state refused, denied,
canceled, revoked, or surrendered in lieu of a pending disciplinary proceeding in any
jurisdiction and not subsequently reinstated or granted.
### § 43-23.5-11. Appraiser engagement.

Before or at the time of placing an assignment with an appraiser on the appraiser panel of
an appraisal management company, the appraisal management company shall verify that the
appraiser receiving the assignment holds a permit in good standing in this state.
### § 43-23.5-12. Appraisal review.

Any employee of, or independent contractor to, the appraisal management company that
performs an appraisal review for a property located in this state must be:
1. A certified or licensed appraiser in good standing in this state; or
2. A certified or licensed appraiser in good standing in another state.
### § 43-23.5-13. Verification of licensure or certification.

1. An appraisal management company registered in this state may not enter any contract
or agreement with an appraiser for the performance of appraisals unless the company
verifies that the appraiser is licensed or certified in good standing in this state.
2. An appraisal management company seeking to be registered in this state or to renew
a registration in this state shall certify to the board on a form prescribed by the board
that the company has a system and process in place to verify that an individual being
added to the appraiser panel of the company for appraisal services holds a permit in
good standing in this state.
### § 43-23.5-14. Appraisal management company certification of appraisal review system.

Each appraisal management company seeking to be registered or to renew a registration in
this state shall certify to the board on a form prescribed by the board that the company has a
system in place to perform an appraisal review of the work product of a statistically significant
number of appraisal reports submitted by independent appraisers performing appraisals for the
appraisal management company on a periodic basis to validate that the appraisals are being

conducted in accordance with the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice, and
chapter 43-23.3, and the rules adopted under this chapter. An appraisal management company
shall report to the board the results of any appraisal reviews in which an appraisal is found to be
substantially noncompliant with the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice.
### § 43-23.5-15. Retention of records.

1. Each appraisal management company seeking to be registered or to renew an existing
registration in this state shall certify to the board on a form prescribed by the board
that the company maintains a detailed record of each service request that the
company receives for appraisal of real property located in this state.
2. An appraisal management company registered in this state shall retain for five years
all records required to be maintained under this chapter as described in rules. This
five-year period shall commence on the date of the final action by the appraisal
management company for each individual transaction or, if the appraisal management
company is notified that the transaction is involved in litigation, the five-year period
shall commence on the date the litigation is finally disposed.
3. All records required to be maintained by the registered appraisal management
company must, upon request by the board, be made available for inspection and
copying by the board on reasonable notice to the appraisal management company.
### § 43-23.5-16. Fee disclosure system requirement.

1. An appraisal management company registered in this state shall disclose to its clients
the fees paid for appraisal management services and the fees paid to the independent
appraiser for the completion of an appraisal assignment.
2. An appraisal management company registered in this state shall not prohibit an
independent appraiser that is part of an appraiser panel from recording the fee that the
appraiser was paid by the appraisal management company for the performance of the
appraisal within the communication of the appraisal.
### § 43-23.5-17. Requirement of appraisal management company's payment to appraiser.

1. An appraisal management company shall, except in bona fide cases of breach of
contract or substandard performance of services, make payment to an independent
appraiser for the completion of an appraisal or valuation assignment within forty-five
days of the date on which the appraiser transmits or otherwise provides the completed
appraisal or valuation assignment to the company or its assignee unless a mutually
agreed-upon alternate arrangement has been previously established.
2. An appraisal management company seeking to be registered or to renew an existing
registration in this state shall certify that the company will require appraisals to be
conducted independently as required by the appraisal independence standards under
section 129E of the Truth in Lending Act, including the requirements of payment or a
reasonable and customary fee to independent appraisers when the appraisal
management company is providing services for a consumer credit transaction secured
by the principal dwelling of a consumer.
### § 43-23.5-18. Appraisal management company registration numbers.

1. The board shall issue a registration number to each appraisal management company
that is registered in this state.
2. The board shall maintain a list of the appraisal management companies that are
registered with the board.
3. An appraisal management company registered in this state shall place its registration
number on engagement documents utilized by the appraisal management company
for procurement of appraisal services in this state.

### § 43-23.5-19. Fees - Bonds.

1. The board may charge the appraisal management company reasonable fees to help
offset costs of operating the board. The board shall establish fees by rule.
2. The board may require by rule a surety bond of not more than twenty-five thousand
dollars.
### § 43-23.5-20. Mandatory reporting.

An appraisal management company that has a reasonable basis to believe an appraiser
has failed to comply with applicable laws or rules or has substantially violated the uniform
standards of professional appraisal practice shall refer the matter to the board.
### § 43-23.5-21. Prohibited conduct.

A violation of this section may constitute grounds for discipline against an appraisal
management company registered in this state. However, an appraisal management company
may request an appraiser provide additional information about the basis for a valuation, correct
objective factual errors in an appraisal report, or consider additional appropriate property
information. No employee, director, officer, agent, independent contractor, or other third party
acting on behalf of an appraisal management company may:
1. Procure or attempt to procure a registration by knowingly making a false statement,
submitting false information, refusing to provide complete information in response to a
question in an application for registration, or through fraud or misrepresentation.
2. Willfully violate this chapter or rules of the board.
3. Improperly influence or attempt to improperly influence the development, reporting,
result, or a review of an appraisal through intimidation, coercion, extortion, bribery, or
any other manner, including:
a. Withholding payment for appraisal services.
b. Threatening to exclude an appraiser from future work or threatening to demote or
terminate in order to improperly obtain a desired result.
c. Conditioning payment of an appraisal fee upon the opinion, conclusion, or
valuation to be reached.
d. Requesting an appraiser to report a predetermined opinion, conclusion, or
valuation or the desired valuation of any person or entity.
4. Require an appraiser to provide the appraisal management company with the
appraiser's digital signature or seal.
5. Alter, amend, or change an appraisal report submitted by an appraiser without the
appraiser's knowledge and written consent.
6. Remove an independent appraiser from an appraiser panel without prior written notice
to the appraiser, with the prior written notice including evidence of the following, if
applicable:
a. The appraiser's illegal conduct.
b. A violation of the uniform standards of professional appraisal practice, this
chapter, or the rules adopted by the board.
c. Improper or unprofessional conduct.
7. Require an appraiser to sign any indemnification agreement that would require the
appraiser to defend and hold harmless the appraisal management company or any of
its agents or employees for any liability, damage, losses, or claims arising out of the
services performed by the appraisal management company or its agents, employees,
or independent contractors and not the services performed by the appraiser.
8. Prohibit lawful communications between the appraiser and any other person who the
appraiser, in the appraiser's professional judgment, believes possesses information
that would be relevant.
9. Engage in any other act or practice that impairs or attempts to impair a real estate
appraiser's independence, objectivity, and impartiality.
10. Submit or attempt to submit false, misleading, or inaccurate information in any
application for registration or renewal.
11. Fail to timely respond to any subpoena or any other request for information.

12. Fail to timely obey an administrative order of the board.
13. Fail to fully cooperate in any investigation.
### § 43-23.5-22. Disciplinary proceedings.

The board may deny, suspend, revoke, impose a monetary penalty, issue a letter of
reprimand, refuse to issue or renew the registration of an appraisal management company, or
take other disciplinary action when:
1. The applicant or any partner has, within twelve months preceding the date of the
application, violated any provision of this chapter.
2. The applicant is not of good moral character.
3. The applicant has been the holder of a registration revoked or suspended for cause, or
surrendered in lieu of disciplinary proceedings.
4. The applicant, in the case of an application for renewal of any registration, would not
be eligible for such registration on a first application.
5. The issuance of the registration applied for would result in a violation of any provision
of this chapter or the rules adopted by the board.
6. In the conduct of affairs under the registration, demonstrated incompetency, or
untrustworthiness, or conduct or practices rendering the registrant unfit to carry on
appraisal management services or making continuance in the business detrimental to
the public interest, or that the licensee is no longer in good faith carrying on appraisal
management services, and for this conduct is found by the board to be a source of
detriment, injury, or loss to the public.
7. Committed any act in violation of this chapter.
8. Violated any rule or regulation adopted by the board in the interest of the public and
consistent with the provisions of this chapter.
9. Procured a registration or a renewal of a registration for the appraisal management
company or committed any other act by fraud, misrepresentation, or deceit.
### § 43-23.5-23. Criminal history background checks.

The board shall require an applicant for registration under section 43-23.5-03, an owner
under section 43-23.5-08, or a controlling person under section 43-23.5-09 to submit to a
statewide and nationwide criminal history record check. The nationwide criminal history record
check must be conducted in the manner provided in section 12-60-24. All costs associated with
obtaining a background check are the responsibility of the applicant or the regulated individual.
### § 43-23.5-24. Penalty.

Any person who performs appraisal management services without a certificate of
registration as required by this chapter is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
