[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 68 (Monday, April 9, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15019-15036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06960]



 ========================================================================
 Rules and Regulations
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents 
 having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed 
 to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published 
 under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
 
 The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. 
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 68 / Monday, April 9, 2018 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 15019]]



DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

12 CFR Part 34

[Docket No. OCC-2017-0011]
RIN 1557-AE18

FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 225

[Docket No. R-1568; RIN 7100 AE-81]

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

12 CFR Part 323

RIN 3064 AE-56


Real Estate Appraisals

AGENCY: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Treasury (OCC); 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board); and Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The OCC, Board, and FDIC (collectively, the agencies) are 
adopting a final rule to amend the agencies' regulations requiring 
appraisals of real estate for certain transactions. The final rule 
increases the threshold level at or below which appraisals are not 
required for commercial real estate transactions from $250,000 to 
$500,000. The final rule defines commercial real estate transaction as 
a real estate-related financial transaction that is not secured by a 
single 1-to-4 family residential property. It excludes all transactions 
secured by a single 1-to-4 family residential property, and thus 
construction loans secured by a single 1-to-4 family residential 
property are excluded. For commercial real estate transactions exempted 
from the appraisal requirement as a result of the revised threshold, 
regulated institutions must obtain an evaluation of the real property 
collateral that is consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

DATES: This final rule is effective on April 9, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    OCC: G. Kevin Lawton, Appraiser (Real Estate Specialist), (202) 
649-7152, Mitchell E. Plave, Special Counsel, Legislative and 
Regulatory Activities Division, (202) 649-5490, or Joanne Phillips, 
Attorney, Bank Activities and Structure Division, (202) 649-5500, 
Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 400 7th Street SW, 
Washington, DC 20219. For persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, TTY 
users may contact (202) 649-5597.
    Board: Constance Horsley, Deputy Associate Director, (202) 452-
5239, or Carmen Holly, Senior Supervisory Financial Analyst, (202) 973-
6122, Division of Supervision and Regulation; or Gillian Burgess, 
Senior Counsel, (202) 736-5564, Matthew Suntag, Counsel, (202) 452-
3694, or Kirin Walsh, Attorney, (202) 452-3058, Legal Division, Board 
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 20th and C Streets NW, 
Washington, DC 20551. For the hearing impaired only, Telecommunications 
Device for the Deaf (TDD) users may contact (202) 263-4869.
    FDIC: Beverlea S. Gardner, Senior Examination Specialist, Division 
of Risk Management and Supervision, (202) 898-3640, Mark Mellon, 
Counsel, Legal Division, (202) 898-3884, or Lauren Whitaker, Senior 
Attorney, Legal Division, (202) 898-3872, Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation, 550 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20429. For the hearing 
impaired only, TDD users may contact (202) 925-4618.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background and Summary of the Proposed Rule

    In July 2017, the agencies invited comment on a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (proposal or proposed rule) \1\ that would amend the 
agencies' appraisal regulations promulgated pursuant to Title XI of the 
Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 
(Title XI).\2\ Specifically, the proposal would have increased the 
monetary threshold at or below which financial institutions that are 
regulated by the agencies (regulated institutions) would not be 
required to obtain appraisals in connection with commercial real estate 
transactions (commercial real estate appraisal threshold) from $250,000 
to $400,000. The proposal followed the completion in early 2017 of the 
regulatory review process required by the Economic Growth and 
Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act (EGRPRA).\3\ During the EGRPRA 
process, the agencies received numerous comments related to the Title 
XI appraisal regulations, including recommendations to increase the 
thresholds at or below which transactions are exempt from the Title XI 
appraisal requirements. Among other proposals developed through the 
EGRPRA process, the agencies recommended increasing the commercial real 
estate appraisal threshold to $400,000.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 82 FR 35478 (July 31, 2017).
    \2\ 12 U.S.C. 3331 et seq.
    \3\ Public Law 104-208, Div. A, Title II, section 2222, 110 
Stat. 3009-414, (1996) (codified at 12 U.S.C. 3311).
    \4\ See FFIEC, Joint Report to Congress: Economic Growth and 
Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act, (March 2017), (EGRPRA Report), 
available at https://www.ffiec.gov/pdf/2017_FFIEC_EGRPRA_Joint-Report_to_Congress.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Title XI directs each federal financial institutions regulatory 
agency \5\ to publish appraisal regulations for federally related 
transactions within its jurisdiction. The purpose of Title XI is to 
protect federal financial and public policy interests \6\ in real 
estate-related transactions by requiring that real estate appraisals 
used in connection with federally related transactions (Title XI 
appraisals) be performed in accordance with uniform standards, by 
individuals whose competency has been demonstrated, and whose 
professional conduct will be subject to effective supervision.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ ``Federal financial institutions regulatory agency'' means 
the Board, the FDIC, the OCC, the National Credit Union Association 
(NCUA), and, formerly, the Office of Thrift Supervision. 12 U.S.C. 
3350(6).
    \6\ These interests include those stemming from the federal 
government's roles as regulator and deposit insurer of financial 
institutions that engage in real estate lending and investment, 
guarantor or lender on mortgage loans, and as a direct party in real 
estate-related financial transactions. These federal financial and 
public policy interests have been described in predecessor 
legislation and accompanying Congressional reports. See Real Estate 
Appraisal Reform Act of 1988, H.R. Rep. No. 100-1001, pt. 1, at 19 
(1988); 133 Cong. Rec. 33047-33048 (1987).
    \7\ 12 U.S.C. 3331.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 15020]]

    Title XI directs the agencies to prescribe appropriate standards 
for Title XI appraisals under the agencies' respective 
jurisdictions,\8\ including, at a minimum, that appraisals be: (1) 
Performed in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional 
Appraisal Practice (USPAP); \9\ (2) written appraisals, as defined by 
the statute, by licensed or certified appraisers; \10\ and (3) subject 
to appropriate review for compliance with USPAP. All federally related 
transactions must have Title XI appraisals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ 12 U.S.C. 3339. The agencies' Title XI appraisal regulations 
apply to transactions entered into by the agencies or by 
institutions regulated by the agencies that are depository 
institutions or bank holding companies or subsidiaries of depository 
institutions or bank holding companies. See OCC: 12 CFR 34, subpart 
C; Board: 12 CFR 225.61(b); 12 CFR part 208, subpart E; and FDIC: 12 
CFR part 323.
    \9\ USPAP is written and interpreted by the Appraisal Standards 
Board of the Appraisal Foundation. USPAP contains generally 
recognized ethical and performance standards for the appraisal 
profession in the United States, including real estate, personal 
property, and business appraisals. See http://www.appraisalfoundation.org/imis/TAF/Standards/Appraisal_Standards/Uniform_Standards_of_Professional_Appraisal_Practice/TAF/USPAP.aspx?hkey=a6420a67-dbfa-41b3-9878-fac35923d2af.
    \10\ Title XI defines ``written appraisal'' as ``a written 
statement used in connection with a federally related transaction 
that is independently and impartially prepared by a licensed or 
certified appraiser setting forth an opinion of defined value of an 
adequately described property as of a specific date, supported by 
presentation and analysis of relevant market information. 12 U.S.C. 
3350(10).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Title XI defines a ``federally related transaction'' as a real 
estate-related financial transaction that is regulated or engaged in by 
a federal financial institutions regulatory agency and requires the 
services of an appraiser.\11\ A real estate-related financial 
transaction is defined as any transaction that involves: (i) The sale, 
lease, purchase, investment in or exchange of real property, including 
interests in property, or financing thereof; (ii) the refinancing of 
real property or interests in real property; and (iii) the use of real 
property or interests in real property as security for a loan or 
investment, including mortgage-backed securities.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \11\ 12 U.S.C. 3350(4).
    \12\ 12 U.S.C. 3350(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have authority to determine those real estate-related 
financial transactions that do not require the services of a state 
certified or state licensed appraiser and are therefore exempt from the 
appraisal requirements of Title XI. These real estate-related financial 
transactions are not federally related transactions under the statutory 
or regulatory definitions, because they do not require the services of 
an appraiser.\13\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \13\ See 59 FR 29482 (June 7, 1994).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have exempted several categories of real estate-
related financial transactions from the Title XI appraisal 
requirements.\14\ The agencies have determined that these categories of 
transactions do not require appraisals by state certified or state 
licensed appraisers in order to protect federal financial and public 
policy interests or to satisfy principles of safe and sound banking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \14\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a); Board: 12 CFR 225.63(a); and 
FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In 1992, Congress amended Title XI, expressly authorizing the 
agencies to establish a threshold level at or below which an appraisal 
by a state certified or state licensed appraiser is not required in 
connection with federally related transactions if the agencies 
determine in writing that the threshold does not represent a threat to 
the safety and soundness of financial institutions.\15\ As noted above, 
transactions at or below the threshold level are exempt from the Title 
XI appraisal requirements and thus are not federally related 
transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-
550, section 954, 106 Stat. 3894 (amending 12 U.S.C. 3341).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Under the current thresholds, established in 1994,\16\ all real 
estate-related financial transactions with a transaction value \17\ of 
$250,000 or less, as well as certain real estate-secured business loans 
(qualifying business loans or QBLs) with a transaction value of $1 
million or less, do not require Title XI appraisals.\18\ QBLs are 
business loans \19\ that are real estate-related financial transactions 
and that are not dependent on the sale of, or rental income derived 
from, real estate as the primary source of repayment.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \16\ See 59 FR at 29482. The NCUA has promulgated similar rules 
with similar thresholds. See 60 FR 51889 (October 4, 1995) and 66 FR 
58656 (November 23, 2001).
    \17\ For loans and extensions of credit, the transaction value 
is the amount of the loan or extension of credit. For sales, leases, 
purchases, investments in or exchanges of real property, the 
transaction value is the market value of the real property. For the 
pooling of loans or interests in real property for resale or 
purchase, the transaction value is the amount of each loan or the 
market value of each real property, respectively. See OCC: 12 CFR 
34.42(m); Board: 12 CFR 225.62(m); and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.2(m).
    \18\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a)(1) and (5); Board: 12 CFR 
225.63(a)(1) and (5); and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a)(1) and (5).
    \19\ The Title XI appraisal regulations define ``business loan'' 
to mean ``a loan or extension of credit to any corporation, general 
or limited partnership, business trust, joint venture, pool, 
syndicate, sole proprietorship, or other business entity.'' OCC: 12 
CFR 34.42(d); Board: 12 CFR 225.62(d); and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.2(d).
    \20\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a)(5); Board: 12 CFR 225.63(a)(5); 
and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For real estate-related financial transactions that are exempt from 
the Title XI appraisal requirement because they are at or below the 
applicable thresholds or qualify for the exemption for certain existing 
extensions of credit,\21\ the Title XI appraisal regulations require 
regulated institutions to obtain an evaluation of the real property 
collateral that is consistent with safe and sound banking 
practices.\22\ An evaluation should contain sufficient information and 
analysis to support the financial institution's decision to engage in 
the transaction.\23\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ Transactions that involve an existing extension of credit 
at the lending institution are exempt from the Title XI appraisal 
requirements, but are required to have evaluations, provided that 
there has been no obvious and material change in market conditions 
or physical aspects of the property that threatens the adequacy of 
the institution's real estate collateral protection after the 
transaction, even with the advancement of new monies; or there is no 
advancement of new monies, other than funds necessary to cover 
reasonable closing costs. See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a)(7) and (b); 
Board: 12 CFR 225.63(a)(7) and (b); and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a)(7) and 
(b).
    \22\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(b); Board: 12 CFR 225.63(b); and 
FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(b).
    \23\ Evaluations are not required to be performed in accordance 
with USPAP or by state certified or state licensed appraisers. The 
agencies have provided supervisory guidance for conducting 
evaluations in a safe and sound manner in the Interagency Appraisal 
and Evaluation Guidelines (Guidelines) and the Interagency Advisory 
on the Use of Evaluations in Real Estate-Related Financial 
Transactions (Evaluations Advisory, and together with the 
Guidelines, Evaluation Guidance). See, 75 FR 77450 (December 10, 
2010); OCC Bulletin 2016-8 (March 4, 2016); Board SR Letter 16-5 
(March 4, 2016); and Supervisory Expectations for Evaluations, FDIC 
FIL-16-2016 (March 4, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies proposed to increase the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000. The proposal would have 
defined commercial real estate transaction to include all real estate-
related financial transactions, except for those secured by a 1-to-4 
family residential property,\24\ but including loans that finance the 
construction of 1-to-4 family properties and that do not include 
permanent financing.\25\ Under the proposal, regulated institutions 
would have been required to obtain evaluations consistent with safe and 
sound banking

[[Page 15021]]

practices in connection with commercial real estate transactions at or 
below the proposed $400,000 threshold. The agencies did not propose 
increasing the thresholds for other types of real estate-related 
financial transactions, but solicited comment on the appropriateness of 
raising the threshold for residential real estate transactions and 
QBLs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \24\ A 1-to-4 family residential property is a property 
containing one, two, three, or four individual dwelling units, 
including manufactured homes permanently affixed to the underlying 
land (when deemed to be real property under state law). See OCC: 12 
CFR part 34 subpart D, Appendix A; Board: 12 CFR 208, Appendix C; 
and FDIC: 12 CFR part 365, subpart A, Appendix A.
    \25\ The second part of the definition was intended to clarify, 
not be an exception to, the first part.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The comment period closed on September 29, 2017. The agencies 
collectively received over 200 comments from appraisers, appraiser 
trade organizations, financial institutions, financial institutions 
trade organizations, and individuals.
    As noted in the proposal, increases in commercial property values 
over time have required regulated institutions to obtain Title XI 
appraisals for a larger proportion of commercial real estate 
transactions than in 1994 when the current $250,000 threshold was 
established. This increase in the number of appraisals required may 
have contributed to increased burden for regulated institutions in 
terms of time and cost. The proposal was intended to reduce regulatory 
burden consistent with federal financial and public policy interests in 
real estate-related financial transactions. Based on supervisory 
experience and available data, the agencies published the proposal to 
accomplish these goals without posing a threat to the safety and 
soundness of financial institutions.

II. Revisions to the Title XI Appraisal Regulations

Overview of Changes

    After carefully considering the comments and conducting further 
analysis, the agencies are adopting a final rule that increases the 
commercial real estate appraisal threshold with three modifications 
from the proposal. First, the agencies have decided to increase the 
commercial real estate appraisal threshold to $500,000 rather than 
$400,000 as proposed. Second, the final rule also makes a conforming 
change to the section requiring state certified appraisers to be used 
for federally related transactions that are commercial real estate 
transactions above the increased threshold.
    Third, the final rule also reflects a change to the proposed 
definition of commercial real estate transaction, which no longer 
includes construction loans secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property, regardless of whether the loan is for initial 
construction only or includes permanent financing. Thus, under the 
final rule, a loan that is secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property, including a loan for construction, will remain 
subject to the $250,000 threshold.\26\ The agencies made this change in 
the final rule after consideration of the comments, which suggested 
that including 1-to-4 family constructions loans that do not include 
permanent financing in the definition, but excluding those that do not, 
would not significantly reduce burden.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \26\ Residential construction loans secured by more than one 1-
to-4 family residential property will be considered commercial real 
estate transactions subject to the higher threshold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    These changes are discussed in more detail below, in the order in 
which they appear in the rule. As described in more detail below, the 
effective date for the rule will be the date of its publication in the 
Federal Register. In the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer 
Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act),\27\ Congress amended the threshold 
provision to require ``concurrence from the Consumer Financial 
Protection Bureau (CFPB) that such threshold level provides reasonable 
protection for consumers who purchase 1-4 unit single-family 
residences.'' \28\ The agencies have received concurrence from the CFPB 
that the commercial real estate appraisal threshold being adopted 
provides reasonable protection for consumers who purchase 1-4 unit 
single family residential properties.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \27\ Public Law 111-203, 124 Stat.1376.
    \28\ Dodd-Frank Act, Sec.  1473, 124 Stat. 2190 (amending 12 
U.S.C. 3341(b)).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments on the Proposed Increase to the Commercial Real Estate 
Appraisal Threshold

    The agencies received a range of comments regarding the proposal to 
increase the commercial real estate appraisal threshold. Comments from 
financial institutions and financial institutions trade associations 
generally supported an increase, although many requested a higher 
increase than proposed. Comments from appraisers and appraiser-related 
trade associations generally opposed an increase.
    Commenters supporting a threshold increase stated that an increase 
would be appropriate, given the increases in real estate values since 
the current threshold was established, the cost and time savings to 
lenders and borrowers the higher threshold would provide, and the 
burden relief it would provide to financial institutions in rural and 
other areas where there are reported shortages of state licensed or 
state certified appraisers, which may have caused transaction delays 
and increased lending costs. Commenters supporting a threshold increase 
also asserted that it would provide burden relief for financial 
institutions, without sacrificing sound risk management principles or 
safe and sound banking practices, and that an increase would help 
justify the cost and return of originating smaller and less complex 
commercial real estate loans. Several commenters asserted the higher 
threshold could be implemented easily and would result in burden 
relief, for example, by reducing loan costs and minimizing delays in 
loan processing. One commenter asserted that the proposed increase 
would support local and regional economies, and another represented 
that it would assist small builders. This same commenter asserted that 
reducing burden on lenders would facilitate financing to builders 
generally, as they rely heavily on commercial banks for financing.
    Commenters opposing an increase to the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold asserted that an increase would elevate risks to 
financial institutions, the banking system, borrowers, small business 
owners, commercial property owners, and taxpayers. Several of these 
commenters asserted that the increased risk would not be justified by 
burden relief. Other commenters asserted that the proposed increase 
contradicts publicly stated concerns of the agencies relating to the 
state of the commercial real estate market and the quality of 
evaluation reports. Another commenter asserted that the inclusion of 
construction loans extended to consumers as commercial real estate 
transactions would magnify risk, as the commenter viewed such loans as 
particularly risky. One commenter expressed concern that the proposal 
would lead to increased use of automated valuations, which the 
commenter asserted are not adequate substitutes for appraisals, or 
would eliminate collateral verifications altogether.
    Some commenters opposing the threshold raised issues unrelated to 
risk. A few asserted that appraisals are relatively inexpensive and, 
thus, that the proposed increase would not materially reduce costs. One 
commenter expressed the view that an increase in the commercial real 
estate appraisal threshold would be contrary to consumer protection 
objectives. Another commenter asserted that the agencies are required 
by Title XI to receive concurrence from the CFPB for a threshold 
change. In support of its opposition to the proposal, a commenter cited 
a 2012 U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, contending 
that the report found no

[[Page 15022]]

support for raising the threshold.\29\ Another commenter asserted that 
the proposed threshold increase is contrary to Congressional intent and 
also asserted that most commenters during the EGRPRA process were 
against a threshold increase.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \29\ See GAO, ``Real Estate Appraisals: Appraisal Subcommittee 
Needs to Improve Monitoring Procedures,'' GAO-12-147 (January 2012).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Several commenters rejected assertions that there was an appraiser 
shortage warranting regulatory relief, some asserting that any shortage 
is caused by appraisers' unwillingness to work for appraisal management 
companies (AMCs) at the reduced fees being offered to appraisers by 
AMCs. Two commenters questioned the impact of the proposed commercial 
real estate appraisal threshold on appraiser shortages, one asserting 
that the number of commercial real estate appraisers has remained 
relatively steady in recent years and the other asserting that 
appraiser shortages are primarily related to residential property 
valuations.
    Many commenters opposing the proposal highlighted the benefits that 
state licensed or state certified appraisers bring to the process of 
valuing real estate collateral. One of these commenters asserted that 
appraisers serve a necessary function in real estate lending and 
expressed concerns that bypassing them to create a more streamlined 
valuation process could lead to fraud and another real estate crisis. 
Several commenters highlighted that appraisers are the only unbiased 
party in the valuation process, in contrast to buyers, agents, lenders, 
and sellers, who each have an interest in the underlying transactions. 
One commenter asserted that appraisers have a unique vantage point 
during the property inspection process to provide lenders with 
information, in addition to a valuation, that may be critical to the 
lending decision and help to avoid bad loans and fraud.
    Some commenters who were supportive of the proposal also discussed 
the role of appraisals and appraisers. One of these commenters asserted 
that appraisals are an integral part of the safety and soundness of the 
real estate industry, but believed that certain transactions are well 
served by alternative valuation methods. Some other commenters 
expressed skepticism about the value of appraisals prepared by 
independent appraisers. In this regard, one commenter asserted that 
banks have a better understanding of property values in their 
communities than appraisers from other areas, while another expressed 
concern for the reliability of appraisals and whether appraisers' 
valuations are keeping up with property growth trends. Another 
commenter expressed concern that appraisers' access to sales contracts 
can lead to an over-abundance of appraised values at or above the 
amounts in the contracts.
    After carefully considering the comments received, the agencies 
have decided to increase the commercial real estate appraisal 
threshold. As discussed in the proposal and further detailed below, 
increasing the commercial real estate appraisal threshold will provide 
regulatory relief for financial institutions by removing the appraisal 
requirement for a material number of transactions without threatening 
the safety and soundness of financial institutions.
    The agencies are increasing the threshold based on express 
statutory authority to do so if they determine in writing that the 
threshold does not represent a threat to the safety and soundness of 
financial institutions.\30\ The agencies have made this safety and 
soundness determination and a detailed analysis is provided below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \30\ 12 U.S.C. 3341(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Regarding consumer protection concerns, the agencies do not expect 
that this increase will affect a significant number of consumer 
transactions. As discussed in more detail below, the final rule is only 
raising the threshold for commercial real estate transactions. This 
definition was revised to exclude construction loans secured by a 
single 1-to-4 family residential property, which would have included 
construction loans to consumers. As a result of this change, the final 
rule will not affect a material number of consumer transactions.
    Regarding the efficacy of Title XI appraisals, the agencies 
recognize and are supportive of the role that appraisers play in 
ensuring a safe and sound real estate lending process, regardless of 
whether it is in connection with an appraisal or an evaluation. Indeed, 
the Title XI appraisal regulations, appraiser independence 
requirements, and the Guidelines emphasize the importance of an 
independent opinion of collateral value in the process of real estate 
lending. Through the agencies' supervisory experience with loans that 
were exempted by the current thresholds and an analysis of loan losses 
over prior credit cycles for such loans, the agencies have found that 
evaluations can be an effective valuation method for lower-risk 
transactions. Even when the transaction amount is at or below the 
threshold, the Evaluation Guidance encourages regulated institutions to 
obtain Title XI appraisals when necessary for risk management and to 
preserve the safety and soundness of the institution.

A. Threshold Increase for Commercial Real Estate Transactions

Definition of Commercial Real Estate Transaction
    The commercial real estate appraisal threshold increase applies 
only to transactions defined as ``commercial real estate 
transactions.'' Under the proposed definition, a commercial real estate 
transaction would have included construction loans for 1-to-4 family 
residential units, but not those providing permanent financing. 
Accordingly, the proposed definition would have included a loan 
extended to finance the construction of a consumer's dwelling, but 
would have excluded construction loans that provide both the initial 
construction funding and permanent financing.
    The agencies received several comments related to the proposed 
definition. Most comments were not supportive of the proposed treatment 
of loans to finance the construction of 1-to-4 family residential 
properties. The one commenter in support of the proposal to include 1-
to-4 family construction-only loans in the definition of a commercial 
real estate transaction asserted that these loans are underwritten 
similar to commercial real estate transactions.
    Some commenters supported excluding all loans to finance the 
construction of 1-to-4 family residential properties from the 
definition. Some commenters maintained that it would be safer from a 
risk perspective to keep construction loans for 1-to-4 family 
properties in the residential loan category subject to the $250,000 
threshold. These commenters asserted that 1-to-4 family construction 
loans are riskier than conventional residential lending, and maintained 
that evaluations lack the market analysis needed for a phased 
construction project. One commenter asserted that there may be limited 
benefit to including transactions to finance the construction of 1-to-4 
family residential properties without permanent financing in the 
definition of commercial real estate transaction, because an appraisal 
would be required prior to the permanent financing phase and prudent 
risk management would dictate obtaining the appraisal prior to initial 
funding. Another commenter asserted that the implementation of two 
thresholds for 1-to-4 family residential construction loans would cause

[[Page 15023]]

confusion and increase regulatory burden on financial institutions.
    A few commenters expressed the view that all residential 
construction loans should be included in the definition and subject to 
the higher threshold. One commenter noted that an increasing percentage 
of 1-to-4 family properties are rental properties and that the proposed 
definition would have excluded a class of rent-dependent real estate 
that should be classified as commercial real estate. Another commenter 
recommended that ``construction-to-permanent'' loans be included in the 
definition of commercial real estate transaction to increase the 
financing available for new home construction, indicating that strict 
underwriting and active engagement among the bank, home builder, and 
home buyer alleviate risks for these loans. This commenter supported 
subjecting all construction loans to the same treatment, and asserted 
that doing so would reduce regulatory burden, provide consistency, and 
allow for more efficient processes. Another commenter indicated that 
including all 1-to-4 family construction loans in the definition would 
avoid creating additional complications by distinguishing such loans 
into two different classes.
    After carefully considering the comments, the agencies have adopted 
a definition of commercial real estate transaction that excludes 
construction loans secured by single 1-to-4 family residential 
properties. Specifically, the final rule defines commercial real estate 
transaction as a real estate-related financial transaction that is not 
secured by a single 1-to-4 family residential property. This definition 
eliminates the distinction between construction loans secured by a 
single 1-to-4 family residential property that only finance 
construction and those that provide both construction and permanent 
financing. Under the definition in the final rule, neither of these 
types of loans will be commercial real estate transactions; they will 
both remain subject to the $250,000 threshold.
    This approach addresses the potential confusion from subjecting two 
classes of construction loans secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property to different threshold levels. The revised 
definition also reflects comments stating that Title XI appraisals are 
typically conducted for loans for construction of a single 1-to-4 
family residential property regardless of whether the loan provides 
only financing for construction or provides ``construction-to-
permanent'' financing.
    The agencies have included the term ``single'' in the definition to 
clarify that only transactions secured by one 1-to-4 family residential 
property are excluded from the definition of ``commercial real estate 
transaction,'' whether financing construction or for other purposes. 
This change addresses potential confusion about whether a loan for the 
construction of multiple residential properties would meet the 
definition of ``commercial real estate transaction;'' a loan that is 
secured by multiple 1-to-4 family residential properties (for example, 
a loan to construct multiple properties in a residential neighborhood) 
would meet the definition of commercial real estate transaction and 
thus be subject to the higher threshold.
    This approach addresses concerns about consumer protection, because 
a large portion of loans to finance the purchase or initial 
construction of a single 1-to-4 family residential property that are 
secured by the property are likely to be extended to consumers who will 
use the property as their dwelling. By contrast, transactions secured 
by multiple 1-to-4 family properties are more likely to be transactions 
to real estate developers or investors in rental properties.
    The agencies note that they proposed to treat construction-only 
loans to consumers as commercial real estate transactions to maintain 
consistency with agency reporting standards and other regulations and 
guidance that address construction loans to consumers in other 
contexts. As in the proposal, the definition being adopted generally 
aligns with the categories of commercial real estate transactions under 
the Call Report \31\ and other agency guidance,\32\ with the exception 
that construction loans secured by a single 1-to-4 family property 
would not be considered a commercial real estate transaction for 
purposes of this rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ The following four categories of real-estate secured loans 
in the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (Call Report) 
(FFIEC 031; RCFD 1410) are largely captured in the definition of 
commercial real estate transaction in the rule: (1) For 
construction, land development, and other land loans; (2) secured by 
farmland; (3) secured by residential properties with five or more 
units; or (4) secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties. As 
discussed in the proposal, loans that provide construction funding 
and are secured by a single 1-to-4 family residential property are 
typically reported as ``for construction, land development, and 
other land loans.'' The definition applies to corresponding 
categories of real estate-secured loans in the FFIEC 041 and FFIEC 
051 forms of the Call Report.
    \32\ Other interagency guidance includes all construction loans 
in one category: Real Estate Lending: Interagency Statement on 
Prudent Risk Management for Commercial Real Estate Lending, OCC 
Bulletin 2015-51 (December 18, 2015); Statement on Prudent Risk 
Management for Commercial Real Estate Lending, Board SR Letter 15-17 
(December 18, 2015); Statement on Prudent Risk Management for CRE 
Lending, FDIC FIL-62-2015 (December 18, 2015); Guidance on Prudent 
Loan Workouts, OCC Bulletin 2009-32 (October 30, 2009); Policy 
Statement on Prudent Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts, Board SR 
Letter 09-07 (October 30, 2009); Policy Statement on Prudent 
Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts, FDIC FIL-61-2009 (October 30, 
2009); Concentrations in Commercial Real Estate Lending, Sound Risk 
Management Practices, 71 FR 74580 (December 12, 2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have determined that, on balance, the benefits of 
adopting this definition of commercial real estate transaction outweigh 
the drawbacks of the limited inconsistency with other agency issuances 
relating to commercial real estate lending. Those issuances are for 
different purposes than the Title XI appraisal regulations, and a 
different set of considerations is relevant for determining what types 
of transactions are appropriately exempt from the Title XI appraisal 
requirement on the basis of transaction size. The definition of 
commercial real estate transaction in the final rule ensures that loans 
made to consumers are largely treated consistently, remaining subject 
to the $250,000 threshold. In addition, by categorizing residential 
construction loans more clearly, the definition of commercial real 
estate transaction being adopted can facilitate compliance and enhance 
the burden reduction benefits of the rule.
Threshold Increase
    The agencies proposed increasing the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $400,000. In determining the level 
of increase, the agencies considered the change in prices for 
commercial real estate measured by the Federal Reserve Commercial Real 
Estate Price Index (CRE Index). As described in the proposal, the CRE 
Index \33\ is a direct measure of the changes in commercial real estate 
prices in the United States.\34\

[[Page 15024]]

The CRE Index is comprised of data from the CoStar Commercial Repeat 
Sale Index,\35\ which uses repeat sale regression analysis of 1.7 
million commercial property sales records to compare the change in 
price for the same property between its most recent and previous sale 
transactions.\36\ The data incorporated into this index covers 
properties across the country and across all price ranges,\37\ from 
before 1994 through the present.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \33\ The Board publishes data on the flow of funds and levels of 
financial assets and liabilities, by sector and financial 
instrument; full balance sheets, including net worth, for households 
and nonprofit organizations, nonfinancial corporate businesses, and 
nonfinancial noncorporate businesses; Integrated Macroeconomic 
Accounts; and additional supplemental detail. See Board of Governors 
of the Federal Reserve System, Financial Accounts of the United 
States, https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/current/default.htm.
    \34\ The CRE Index is quarterly and not seasonally adjusted. See 
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Series analyzer 
for FL075035503.Q, https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/fof/SeriesAnalyzer.aspx?s=FL075035503&t=&bc=:FI075035503,FL075035503&suf=Q; Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Series 
Structure, https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/fof/SeriesStructure.aspx.
    \35\ Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Series 
analyzer for FL075035503.Q, https://www.federalreserve.gov/apps/fof/SeriesAnalyzer.aspx?s=FL075035503&t=&bc=:FI075035503,FL075035503&suf=Q. Data for years prior to 1996 are comprised of a weighted average 
of three appraisal-based commercial property series from National 
Real Estate Investor. Id.
    \36\ CoStar, Federal Reserve's Flow of Funds to Incorporate 
CoStar Group's Price Indices, CoStar (June 4, 2012), http://www.costar.com/News/Article/Federal-Reserves-Flow-of-Funds-To-Incorporate-CoStar-Groups-Price-Indices/138998.
    \37\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the CRE Index, a commercial property that sold for 
$250,000 as of June 30, 1994, would be expected to sell for 
approximately $760,000 as of December 2016.\38\ However, because the 
price of commercial real estate can be particularly volatile, the 
agencies proposed to base the increased threshold on the value of the 
CRE Index when commercial real estate prices were at their lowest point 
in the most recent downturn, which was $423,000 in March 2010. The 
agencies invited comment on the proposed level for the commercial real 
estate appraisal threshold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ Since the proposal was published, the CRE Index data points 
for some of the recent quarters were revised. The numbers in this 
document reflect the revised CRE Index.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Most of the commenters, who supported increasing the threshold to 
at least $400,000, supported a higher amount. Some of these commenters 
also advocated for automatically increasing or reevaluating the level 
more frequently than every ten years as real estate prices rise and 
valuation technology changes. Some commenters urged the agencies to 
conduct further analysis to determine whether the threshold could be 
increased to a higher amount, but did not specify an amount. Some 
commenters supported increasing the threshold to $500,000 and suggested 
that this higher figure would avoid the need for additional changes to 
the threshold in the near-term due to expected increases in prices. A 
few commenters supported raising the threshold to $750,000 or higher, 
claiming the methodology in the proposal was unnecessarily 
conservative.
    Some commenters supported lowering the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold to unspecified amounts. Some of those commenters 
specifically objected to the methodology used by the agencies in the 
proposal, asserting that adjusting the previous $250,000 level for 
changes in prices was inappropriate because that level was not itself 
the result of an inflation adjustment.
    After careful consideration of the comments, the agencies have 
increased the commercial real estate appraisal threshold to $500,000, 
rather than the proposed $400,000 level. The proposed $400,000 
threshold was based on the value of the CRE Index in March 2010, when 
commercial real estate prices were at their lowest point in the most 
recent downturn. The agencies proposed this conservative approach, due 
to the volatility of commercial real estate prices over time. The 
agencies based the beginning point of this analysis on $250,000, 
because supervisory experience with the $250,000 threshold has 
confirmed that this threshold level did not threaten the safety and 
soundness of financial institutions. Based on the CRE Index, a 
commercial property that sold for $250,000 as of June 30, 1994, would 
be expected to sell for $423,600 in March 2010, which was the trough of 
the CRE price cycle. Following this trend, that property would be 
expected to have a conservative value of approximately $509,000 as of 
December 2017 (as shown below). Based on the comments received and this 
further review of the CRE Index, as well as the safety and soundness 
analysis discussed below, the agencies have decided to finalize the 
threshold at $500,000.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR09AP18.006


[[Page 15025]]


    Regarding the suggestion to raise the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold to $750,000 or higher, the agencies also note that 
$750,000 was close to the high point on the volatile CRE Index, as 
discussed above. Given the volatility in commercial real estate prices, 
raising the threshold to this amount or higher would raise safety and 
soundness concerns. Finally, a possible threshold increase to $750,000 
or higher may pose too great a risk to smaller institutions, as such 
transactions may represent a higher percentage of capital for such 
firms than has historically been permitted under the 1994 threshold.
    In the proposal, the agencies also invited comment on how having 
three threshold levels ($250,000 for all transactions, $400,000 for 
commercial real estate transactions, and $1 million for QBLs) rather 
than the two threshold levels applicable to Title XI appraisals ($1 
million for QBLs and $250,000 for all other transactions) would affect 
burden on regulated institutions. Three commenters supported the 
proposal, noting that having three thresholds would have minimal impact 
on operations. One commenter opposed having three thresholds, asserting 
that it will increase complexity, particularly for small community 
banks with less rigorous compliance operations. The agencies have 
determined that the burden reduction associated with a higher threshold 
for commercial real estate transactions outweighs the potential burden 
of implementing three thresholds.
Safety and Soundness Considerations for Increasing the Threshold for 
Commercial Real Estate Transactions
    Under Title XI, the agencies may set a threshold at or below which 
a Title XI appraisal is not required if they determine in writing that 
such a threshold level does not pose a threat to the safety and 
soundness of financial institutions.\39\ The analysis of supervisory 
experience and available data presented in the proposal indicated that 
the proposed threshold level of $400,000 for commercial real estate 
transactions would not have posed a threat to the safety and soundness 
of financial institutions. The agencies invited comment on their 
preliminary finding and the data used. Taking into consideration those 
comments and updated analysis, discussed below, the agencies determined 
that the threshold level of $500,000 for commercial real estate 
transactions does not pose a threat to the safety and soundness of 
financial institutions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \39\ 12 U.S.C. 3341(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Multiple financial institutions trade associations, financial 
institutions, individuals, and home builder and realtor associations 
supported the agencies' analysis showing that an increase to the 
appraisal threshold for commercial real estate would not have a 
significant impact on the safety and soundness of financial 
institutions. A few commenters noted that appraisals are only one part 
of the underwriting process, one asserting that loans are primarily 
underwritten on borrowers' ability to repay, with collateral as a 
secondary consideration. Another commenter asserted that commercial 
borrowers tend to be larger entities, with the capital to withstand 
detrimental financial events and shifts in the market. This commenter 
also indicated that the proposal would not increase safety and 
soundness risk, given that the increased threshold would affect a 
relatively small number of transactions in the commercial real estate 
lending market.
    Some commenters noted that evaluations would be required where 
appraisals were not obtained, and some asserted that the increased use 
of evaluations with these less complex loans would not increase risk if 
prepared with adequate analysis. One of these commenters asserted that 
evaluations for smaller transactions provide more targeted and precise 
data than appraisals performed by someone from another area.
    The agencies received comments from appraisers, appraiser-related 
groups and individuals opposing the proposed increase, many of whom 
asserted that appraisals are key to preserving the safety and soundness 
of financial institutions and the economy. Several of these commenters 
claimed that evaluations were not an appropriate substitute for 
appraisals, some suggesting that they are less reliable and prepared by 
individuals that are not held to the same standards as appraisers. One 
commenter asserted that the increase would pose safety and soundness 
risks because commercial loans are riskier than residential loans. 
Another commenter suggested that entry-level properties that are lower 
in price and close to the threshold are more likely to have performance 
issues compared to more expensive properties. One commenter raised 
concerns that the rule focused on time and cost savings to financial 
institutions in selecting an appropriate valuation method, rather than 
risk.
    Several commenters voiced concerns about recent price increases, 
increasing delinquencies, or volatility in the commercial real estate 
market, which, some asserted, may be indicative of a market ``bubble.'' 
Some commenters suggested that it is the wrong time to relax valuation 
standards, given their view that past market bubbles have been preceded 
by loosening of underwriting and appraisal standards, and that poor 
valuation practices contributed to losses during past financial crises. 
One of these commenters asserted that there is increasing risk in 
commercial real estate lending, particularly among smaller community 
and regional banks, which the commenter believed are less likely to 
have robust collateral risk management policies, practices and 
procedures.
    Multiple commenters noted a 2015 appraiser trade association survey 
of appraisal industry professionals, including chief appraisers and 
appraisal managers at financial institutions, which showed that the 
majority of those surveyed opposed increasing the current $250,000 
threshold and believed that increases to the threshold could increase 
risk to lenders.
    The agencies received a limited number of comments in response to 
the request for comment on the data sources used for the agencies' 
safety and soundness analysis from financial institutions, financial 
institution trade associations and appraiser trade associations. 
Multiple commenters asserted that the data in the proposal supports the 
increase in the commercial real estate threshold, and indicated that 
they did not know of other sources of data that the agencies should 
consider. A number of commenters asserted that the agencies' analysis 
was too conservative, that past housing crises do not imply current 
volatility, and that the data suggest the threshold could be increased 
further than proposed without threatening safety and soundness of 
financial institutions. One commenter opposing the proposal suggested 
that the data used in the agencies' safety and soundness analysis was 
weak and questioned why the agencies did not provide specific numbers 
to support the assertion that the data related to charge-offs from 
2007-2012 is ``no worse than'' those from the years 1991-1994, except 
for marked increases in construction loan charge-offs.\40\ This 
commenter also

[[Page 15026]]

asserted that the agencies' analysis of the CoStar data should have 
considered that newly exempted loans under the higher threshold would 
more likely be extended to small businesses, which by nature are more 
vulnerable to market volatility and the potential for business failure.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ During the 1991-1994 credit cycle, the net charge-off rate 
for commercial real estate loans reached a high of about 4.5 
percent. During the 2007-2012 credit cycle, net charge-off rates 
reached a high of about 3.5 percent. These are the numbers the 
agencies used to support their conclusion that the data related to 
charge-offs from 2007 to 2012 was no worse than that from the years 
1991 to 1994. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco: Aggregate Net 
Charge-Off Rate Database as derived from the Federal Financial 
Institutions Examination Council Consolidated Reports of Condition 
and Income, FFIEC031 4Q 2016: http://www.frbsf.org/banking/data/aggregate-data/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on their supervisory experiences, the agencies disagree that 
increasing the commercial real estate appraisal threshold would 
increase risks to financial institutions, including smaller 
institutions. As outlined earlier, the agencies closely examined a 
variety of data and metrics indicating that the relative risks 
associated with the new threshold in terms of the scope of covered 
transactions were similar to those presented by the 1994 threshold. The 
agencies specifically examined the information from smaller insured 
depository institutions (IDIs) from Call Reports to assess the 
concentration risk for institutions and concluded that these risks were 
similar to those presented for larger IDIs. The agencies also note that 
smaller IDIs are often better positioned than larger institutions to 
understand and quantify local real estate market values since they 
serve a smaller, more defined market area.
    Regarding comments concerning evaluations as a valuation method, in 
the agencies' views, evaluations are an effective valuation method for 
smaller commercial real estate transactions and other transactions 
under the thresholds. As provided in the Title XI appraisal 
regulations, evaluations for each transaction must be consistent with 
safe and sound banking practices. The Evaluation Guidance provides 
guidance on appropriate evaluation practices. In adopting the increased 
threshold for commercial real estate transactions, the agencies note 
that regulated institutions have the flexibility to choose to obtain a 
Title XI appraisal when markets are volatile or when an appraisal is 
warranted for other reasons.\41\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \41\ 75 FR 77450, 77460.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have no evidence that increasing the appraisal 
threshold to $500,000 for commercial real estate transactions will 
materially increase the risk of loss to financial institutions. 
Analysis of supervisory experience concerning losses on commercial real 
estate transactions suggests that faulty valuations of the underlying 
real estate collateral since 1994 have not been a material cause of 
losses in connection with transactions at or below $250,000.\42\ In the 
last three decades, the banking industry suffered two crises in which 
poorly underwritten and administered commercial real estate loans were 
a key feature in elevated levels of loan losses and bank failures. 
Supervisory experience and an examination of material loss reviews 
covering those decades suggest that larger acquisition, development, 
and construction transactions pose greater credit risk, due to the lack 
of appropriate underwriting and administration of issues unique to 
larger properties, such as longer construction periods, extended 
``lease up'' periods (the time required to lease a building after 
construction), and the more complex nature of the construction of such 
properties.\43\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \42\ See 82 FR at 35484.
    \43\ See id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In addition to considering the agencies' supervisory experience 
since 1994, the agencies reviewed how the coverage of transactions 
exempted by the threshold would change, both in terms of number of 
transactions and aggregate value, in order to consider the potential 
impact on safety and soundness of increasing the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold to $500,000. In the proposal, the agencies used 
three different metrics to estimate the overall coverage of the 
existing threshold and the proposed threshold: (1) The number of 
commercial real estate transactions at or under the threshold as a 
share of the number of all commercial real estate transactions; (2) the 
dollar volume of commercial real estate transactions at or under the 
threshold as a share of the total dollar volume of all commercial real 
estate transactions; and (3) the dollar volume of commercial real 
estate transactions at or under the threshold relative to IDIs' capital 
and the allowance for loan and lease losses, which act as buffers to 
absorb losses, as explained below. The agencies examined data reported 
on the Call Report and data from the CoStar Comps database to estimate 
the volume of commercial real estate transactions covered by the 
existing threshold and increased thresholds.
    The Call Report data shows that the scope of the exemption in 1994, 
in terms of the number of transactions impacted, decreased 
significantly over time, and implies that raising the commercial real 
estate appraisal threshold to $500,000 will not involve a greater 
number of transactions than when the thresholds were established in 
1994.
    Due to the manner in which IDIs report information on nonfarm 
nonresidential (NFNR) loans in the Call Report, this data set does not 
enable the agencies to calculate the percentage of loans that would 
fall under any threshold amount between $250,000 and $1 million.\44\ 
The percentage of the total dollar volume of loans that fall beneath 
the $250,000 threshold is now less than one third of what it was when 
the threshold was established in 1994.\45\ This is true even for 
institutions under $1 billion in assets, who are more likely to hold 
smaller loans. Based in part on this analysis, the agencies conclude 
that the exposure of financial institutions will remain at acceptable 
levels with a $500,000 commercial real estate appraisal threshold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \44\ As described in the proposal, IDIs annually report 
information on NFNR loans in the Call Report by three separate size 
categories: (1) Loans with original amounts of $100,000 or less; (2) 
loans with original amounts of more than $100,000, but $250,000 or 
less; and (3) loans with original amounts of more than $250,000, but 
$1 million or less. They also annually report the dollar amount of 
all NFNR loans, including those over $1 million. Using this data, 
the agencies calculated the dollar amount of NFNR loans at or under 
the current $250,000 threshold as a percentage of the dollar amount 
of all NFNR loans.
    \45\ In the proposal, the agencies explained that 18 percent of 
the dollar volume of all NFNR loans reported by IDIs had original 
loan amounts of $250,000 or less when the current appraisal 
threshold was established in 1994, but as of the fourth quarter of 
2016, approximately 4 percent of the dollar volume of such loans had 
original loan amounts of $250,000 or less. 82 FR at 35485.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The CoStar Comps database provides sales value data on specific 
commercial real estate transactions and allows for an analysis of the 
estimated coverage at any potential threshold level. As described in 
the proposal, the agencies used this dataset to analyze the impact of 
increasing the commercial real estate appraisal threshold to $400,000, 
and have recently updated this analysis to evaluate the impact of a 
$500,000 threshold. An analysis of the CoStar Comps database for the 
most recent year available suggests that increasing the amount to 
$500,000 would significantly increase the number of commercial real 
estate transactions exempted from the Title XI appraisal requirements, 
but the portion of the total dollar volume of commercial real estate 
transactions that would be exempted by the threshold would be 
comparatively minimal.
    At the existing $250,000 threshold and the proposed $400,000 
threshold, the percentage of commercial properties with loans in the 
CoStar Comps database that would be exempted from the Title XI 
appraisal regulations would have been 16.1 percent and 26.3

[[Page 15027]]

percent, respectively.\46\ The $500,000 threshold that the agencies are 
adopting will increase the percentage of transactions affected by 
another 5.5 percent, resulting in 31.9 percent of loans in the CoStar 
database being exempt from the appraisal requirement, or 15.7 percent 
more transactions than under the $250,000 threshold. The proposed 
$400,000 threshold would have increased the percentage of exempted 
transactions by dollar volume from 0.5 percent, under the current 
threshold, to 1.2 percent. Increasing the threshold to $500,000 would 
increase the dollar volume by an additional 0.5 percent, so that a 
total of 1.8 percent of the dollar volume of loans in the CoStar 
database will be exempt from the appraisal requirement, or 1.3 percent 
more of the dollar volume than under the $250,000 threshold. Thus, this 
analysis indicates that the increased threshold will affect a low 
aggregate dollar volume, but a material number of transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \46\ Certain percentages shown here differ from the values 
presented in the proposal because of ongoing refinements to the 
database and filters used to extract the information. The 
methodology was further refined to improve its ability to reflect 
the relevant population of commercial real estate transactions. 
Also, values presented here may not sum due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies have used this analysis and the Call Report analysis 
to determine that increasing the commercial real estate appraisal 
threshold to $500,000 does not pose a threat to safety and soundness. 
In reaching this determination, the agencies also considered the fact 
that evaluations would be required for such transactions. The 
Guidelines provide regulated institutions with guidance on establishing 
parameters for ordering Title XI appraisals for transactions that 
present significant risk, even if those transactions are eligible for 
evaluations under the regulation.\47\ Regulated institutions are 
encouraged to continue using a risk-focused approach when considering 
whether to order an appraisal for real estate-related financial 
transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ See Guidelines, Section XI.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Use of Evaluations

Overview
    The Title XI appraisal regulations require regulated institutions 
to obtain evaluations for three categories of real estate-related 
financial transactions that the agencies have determined do not require 
a Title XI appraisal, including commercial and residential real-estate 
related financial transactions of $250,000 or less and QBLs with a 
transaction value of $1 million or less.\48\ Accordingly, the agencies 
proposed to require that regulated institutions entering into 
commercial real estate transactions at or below the proposed commercial 
real estate appraisal threshold obtain evaluations that are consistent 
with safe and sound banking practices unless the institution chooses to 
obtain an appraisal for such transactions.\49\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \48\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a)(1) and (5); Board: 12 CFR 
225.63(a)(1) and (5); and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a)(1) and (5).
    \49\ An evaluation is not required when real estate-related 
financial transactions meet the threshold criteria and also qualify 
for another exemption from the appraisal requirements where no 
evaluation is required by the regulation.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies are adopting this aspect of the proposal in the final 
rule without change.\50\ An evaluation estimates the market value of 
real estate, but is not subject to the same requirements as a Title XI 
appraisal. For example, a Title XI appraisal must be performed by a 
state certified or state licensed appraiser and must conform to USPAP 
standards, whereas evaluations are not required to be performed by 
individuals with specific credentials or to conform to USPAP standards. 
As noted above, the agencies have issued guidance on the preparation of 
evaluations.\51\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ The agencies are adopting the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold at $500,000, which is higher than proposed. 
Financial institutions will be required to obtain evaluations for 
commercial real estate transactions with transaction values of 
$500,000 or less.
    \51\ See Evaluation Guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies requested comment on the proposed requirement that 
regulated institutions obtain evaluations for commercial real estate 
transactions at or below the proposed commercial real estate appraisal 
threshold. The agencies also asked related questions concerning whether 
additional guidance is needed by institutions to support the increased 
use of evaluations as well as questions concerning burden and costs 
related to the use of evaluations.
Evaluations Required at or Below the Threshold
    Several commenters generally supported the proposal that regulated 
institutions obtain evaluations for commercial real estate transactions 
at or below the threshold. Other commenters expressed concern regarding 
the competency and credentialing of persons performing evaluations, as 
well as concerns regarding difficulty in locating persons qualified to 
perform evaluations.\52\ Some of these commenters also expressed 
concern over the lack of standards for evaluations and the lack of 
oversight and regulation for persons performing evaluations. One 
commenter urged the agencies to increase the qualification requirements 
for those completing evaluations if the commercial real estate 
appraisal threshold were increased.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \52\ A commenter highlighted two sentences in the proposal that 
appeared to conflict with the requirements of the appraisal 
regulations. First, the commenter disagreed with the following 
statement in the proposal: ``Unlike appraisals, evaluations may be 
performed by a lender's own employees and are not required to comply 
with USPAP.'' The agencies agree with the commenter that regulations 
do not prohibit employees of regulated institutions from preparing 
appraisals if they are so qualified and independent of the real 
estate-related financial transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As discussed in the proposal, institutions must obtain evaluations 
that are consistent with safe and sound banking practices. The agencies 
have provided guidance to regulated institutions on evaluations.\53\ 
The Guidelines state that evaluations should be performed by persons 
who are competent and have the relevant experience and knowledge of the 
market, location, and type of real property being valued. An evaluation 
is not required to be completed by a state licensed or state certified 
appraiser, but may be completed by an employee of the regulated 
institution or by a third party, as addressed in the Evaluations 
Advisory.\54\ However, the agencies' final rule does not prohibit 
regulated institutions from using state licensed or state certified 
appraisers to prepare evaluations. A Title XI appraisal would satisfy 
the requirement for an ``appropriate evaluation of real property 
collateral that is consistent with safe and sound banking practices;'' 
thus, regulated institutions that choose to obtain Title XI appraisals 
for real estate-related financial transactions that require evaluations 
are not in violation of the Title XI appraisal regulations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \53\ See Evaluation Guidance.
    \54\ OCC Bulletin 2016-8 (March 4, 2016); Board SR Letter 16-05 
(March 4, 2016); and Supervisory Expectations for Evaluations, FDIC 
FIL-16-2016 (March 4, 2016).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Evaluation Guidance
    The agencies also requested comment on the type of additional 
guidance, if any, regulated institutions need to support the increased 
use of evaluations. In response, the agencies received comments 
indicating concern regarding the clarity of, and the burden produced 
by, the existing guidance on evaluations. A few commenters requested 
that the agencies provide additional guidance, such as guidance 
relating to the adequacy of evaluation products available on the market 
or examples of acceptable industry practices for evaluations. Some 
other

[[Page 15028]]

commenters requested that the agencies revisit and relax the current 
guidance pertaining to evaluations and ensure examiners accept 
evaluations when permissible. One commenter expressed the view that a 
simplification would make the current existing guidance for evaluations 
less time consuming and complex for lower value transactions. Another 
commenter suggested there should be no need for a review of internal 
evaluations where the direct lender did not complete the evaluation.
    The Evaluation Guidance provides information to help ensure that 
evaluations provide a credible estimate of the market value of the 
property pledged as collateral for the loan. The current Evaluation 
Guidance provides flexibility to regulated institutions for developing 
evaluations that are appropriate for the type and risk of the real 
estate financial transaction and does not prescribe specific valuation 
approaches or products to use tools in the development of evaluations. 
Also, in addition to various valuation approaches, the Guidelines 
discuss the possible use of several analytical methods and 
technological tools in the development of evaluations, such as 
automated valuation models and tax assessment values. The agencies will 
continue to assess the adequacy of agency guidance on evaluations.
Cost and Burden of Evaluations
    The agencies invited comment regarding whether the use of 
evaluations reduces burden and cost as compared to the use of Title XI 
appraisals. The agencies also invited comment on whether evaluations 
are currently prepared by in-house staff or outsourced to appraisers or 
other qualified professionals.
    The agencies received several comments indicating that the proposed 
increase in the commercial real estate appraisal threshold and the 
increased use of evaluations would provide cost and time savings for 
consumers and institutions, because evaluations tend to cost less that 
appraisals and take less time to prepare. One commenter asserted that 
third-party evaluations are approximately 25 percent of the cost of an 
appraisal. Another commenter indicated noted that some financial 
institutions prefer to conduct them in-house to maintain consistency of 
the product and because of staff knowledge of the marketplace. One 
commenter asserted that appraiser-developed evaluations are 
unnecessarily expensive, necessitating evaluations to be conducted in-
house. Another commenter indicated that increasing the threshold would 
provide cost savings for portfolio loans but would not address issues 
related to secondary market requirements, which are outside the 
agencies' purview.
    On the other hand, some commenters asserted that the agencies had 
overstated how much the proposal would reduce burden for regulated 
institutions, and questioned the agencies' methods for estimating the 
reduction in burden. Some commenters expressed concern regarding the 
length of time required to review an evaluation. A few commenters 
suggested that the agencies' cost analysis reflected a lack of 
precision and absence of detailed research to determine the cost 
differential of appraisals and evaluations between the current and 
proposed threshold. This same commenter asserted that evaluations lack 
the detail of appraisals, and, as a result, lenders are often required 
to perform additional research in determining whether evaluations are 
credible, which reduces cost and time savings produced by the proposal. 
One commenter implied that the limited guidance for performing 
evaluations creates confusion, which results in added costs. One 
commenter asserted that it is not true that evaluations contain less 
detailed information or take less time to review than appraisals.\55\ 
Another commenter asserted that, because evaluations provide less 
detail than appraisals, lenders may be required to do more research to 
determine whether the value conclusion is credible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \55\ Two commenters disagreed with the agencies' use of the term 
``loan officer'' relative to the estimated time for reviewing an 
appraisal or evaluation, and asserted that the usage of the term 
could be perceived to imply that originators are permitted to be 
involved in the appraisal review process, which is contrary to the 
agencies' appraiser independence requirements. The agencies were 
using the term ``loan officer'' in its broadest context, and did not 
intend to imply that the officer originating the credit may conduct 
appraisal or evaluation reviews relating to that credit. The use of 
the term ``loan officer'' was not intended to change standards 
established on appraiser independence or any implementing guidance.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies carefully considered these comments in evaluating the 
rule's impact on the time to obtain and review Title XI appraisals and 
evaluations. The agencies conclude that there may be less delay in 
finding appropriate personnel to perform an evaluation than to perform 
a Title XI appraisal, particularly in rural areas, because evaluations 
are not required to be prepared by a certified or licensed appraiser. 
Requiring regulated institutions to procure the services of a state 
licensed or state certified appraiser to prepare evaluations for 
commercial real estate transactions at or below the threshold could 
impose significant additional costs on lenders and borrowers without 
materially increasing the safety and soundness of the transactions. The 
agencies' data and analysis reflect that the increase in the commercial 
real estate appraisal threshold and corresponding increased use of 
evaluations could result in a cost savings of several hundred dollars 
for each commercial real estate transaction, as discussed below.
    Based on supervisory experience the agencies conclude that 
regulated institutions generally need less time to review evaluations 
than Title XI appraisals, because the content of the report can be less 
comprehensive than an appraisal report. Transactions permitting the use 
of an evaluation typically have a lower dollar value, often are less 
complex, or are subsequent to previous transactions for which Title XI 
appraisals were obtained. Therefore, a consolidated analysis is more 
likely to be used in an evaluation. The agencies estimate that, on 
average, the time to review an evaluation for an affected transaction 
under the final rule will be approximately 30 minutes less than the 
time to review an appraisal.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ The agencies recognize some evaluations take longer to 
review than some appraisals; yet, on average, evaluations are likely 
to take less time to review than appraisals. This view is based on 
supervisory experience as well as discussions with regulated 
institutions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In evaluating this rule, the agencies considered the impact of 
obtaining evaluations instead of Title XI appraisals on regulated 
institutions and borrowers. As noted in the proposal, based on 
information from industry participants, the cost of third-party 
evaluations of commercial real estate generally ranges from $500 to 
over $1,500, whereas the cost of appraisals of such properties 
generally ranges from $1,000 to over $3,000. Commercial real estate 
transactions with transaction values above $250,000, but at or below 
$500,000, are likely to involve smaller and less complex properties, 
and appraisals and evaluations on such properties would likely be at 
the lower end of the cost range. This third-party pricing information 
suggests a savings of several hundred dollars per transaction affected 
by the proposal. Comments from financial institutions generally 
affirmed similar information presented in the proposal.
    In considering the aggregate effect of this rule, the agencies 
considered the number of transactions affected by the increased 
threshold. As previously discussed, the agencies estimate that the 
number of commercial real estate transactions that would be exempted by

[[Page 15029]]

the threshold is expected to increase by approximately 16 percent under 
the rule. Thus, while the precise number of affected transactions and 
the precise cost reduction per transaction cannot be determined, the 
rule is expected to lead to significant cost savings for regulated 
institutions that engage in commercial real estate lending.
Competitive Disadvantage of Evaluations
    The agencies received comments from financial institutions, 
individuals, and a trade association representing valuation 
professionals, indicating concern that the proposal would put smaller 
banks that do not have in-house expertise to prepare evaluations at a 
competitive disadvantage to larger banks. Commenters asserted that 
these banks hire outside parties to prepare evaluations and pass the 
cost along to borrowers, making their loans more expensive than 
comparable loans at larger financial institutions.
    In evaluating the final rule, the agencies considered these 
concerns. In response, the agencies note that the cost for completing 
an evaluation would be less than the cost for completing a Title XI 
appraisal for the same property, which thereby reduces burden. The goal 
of the agencies with this increase is to provide flexibility to 
regulated institutions in approaching property valuation. Some 
institutions may not currently be in a position to take advantage of 
this flexibility. However, raising the threshold will help those 
regulated institutions that choose to train in-house staff to perform 
evaluations and would reduce costs for those institutions that choose 
to outsource evaluations.

C. State Certified Appraiser Required

    As described in the proposal, the current Title XI appraisal 
regulations require that ``[a]ll federally related transactions having 
a transaction value of $250,000 or more, other than those involving 
appraisals of 1-to-4 family residential properties, shall require an 
appraisal prepared by a State certified appraiser.'' \57\ In order to 
make this paragraph consistent with the other proposed changes to the 
appraisal regulations, the agencies proposed to change its wording to 
introduce the $400,000 threshold and use the term ``commercial real 
estate transaction.'' The agencies did not receive any comments on this 
proposed change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \57\ OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(d); Board: 12 CFR 225.63(d)(2); and FDIC: 
12 CFR 323.3(d)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Given the change from the proposed rule from a $400,000 threshold 
to a $500,000 threshold, the final rule makes a corresponding change to 
this section. The amendment to this provision is a technical change 
that does not alter any substantive requirement.

III. Effective Date

    The agencies proposed to make the final rule, if adopted, effective 
upon publication in the Federal Register. The agencies reasoned that a 
delayed effective date was not required by applicable law because the 
proposal exempted additional transactions from the Title XI appraisal 
requirements and did not impose any new requirements on regulated 
institutions.\58\ The agencies requested comment on whether the 
proposed effective date was appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \58\ See 82 FR at 35482.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The agencies received three comments on the proposed effective 
date. One commenter supported the proposed effective date and did not 
think it would pose challenges to financial institutions. The other two 
commenters disagreed with an immediate effective date, asserting that 
financial institutions required time to adjust policies and procedures 
to implement the proposed changes. One commenter recommended a six-
month to one-year implementation period, while the other suggested an 
effective date 180 days after the final rule is published.
    The agencies have retained the proposed effective date, which is 
the date of publication in the Federal Register.\59\ In doing so, the 
agencies balanced the need for some financial institutions to update 
policies and procedures to incorporate evaluations for transactions 
exempted by the revised threshold with the benefit of an immediate 
effective date, which will enable institutions to benefit from lower 
costs and regulatory relief upon or shortly after the effective date of 
the final rule. The agencies note that an effective date immediately 
upon publication in the Federal Register is the approach used in 
adopting the 1994 amendments to the Title XI appraisal regulations. The 
agencies are not aware of any evidence that using an immediate 
effective date in connection with the 1994 amendments caused a 
competitive disadvantage or hardship to regulated institutions. The 
agencies also note that regulated institutions have the discretion to 
use Title XI appraisals in lieu of evaluations for any exempt 
transaction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \59\ As discussed in Section V.A of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION, the 30-day delayed effective date required under the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) is waived pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1), which provides a waiver when a substantive rule grants or 
recognizes an exception or relieves a restriction. Additionally, the 
Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994, 
Public Law 103-325, 108 Stat. 2163 (Riegle Act) provides that rules 
imposing additional reporting, disclosures, or other new 
requirements on IDIs generally must take effect on the first day of 
a calendar quarter that begins on or after the date on which the 
regulations are published in final form. 12 U.S.C. 4802(b). As 
discussed further in the Section V.D of the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION, the final rule does not impose any new requirements on 
IDIs, and, as such, the effective date requirement of the Riegle Act 
is inapplicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

IV. Other Efforts To Relieve Burden

Residential and Qualifying Business Loan Thresholds

    The agencies explained in the proposal that they were not proposing 
any threshold increases for transactions secured by a single 1-to-4 
family residential property (residential transactions) or QBLs in 
connection with this rulemaking. The agencies requested comment on 
whether there are other factors that should be considered in evaluating 
the current appraisal threshold for residential transactions. The 
agencies also invited comment and supporting data on the 
appropriateness of raising the current $1 million threshold for QBLs 
and posed a number of specific questions related to regulated 
institutions' experiences with QBLs.
    Numerous commenters, particularly financial institutions and their 
trade associations, encouraged the agencies to consider increasing the 
threshold for residential transactions, though few introduced new 
factors for the agencies' consideration. Many of these commenters 
asserted that an increase would produce cost and time savings that 
would benefit regulated institutions and consumers without threatening 
the safety and soundness of financial institutions. In support of its 
position that an increase would not threaten safety and soundness, one 
of these commenters asserted that there is less risk in the homogenous 
loan pool of 1-to-4 family residential loans than there is in 
commercial real estate. One commenter asserted that the consumer 
benefits of appraisals have been overstated, that appraisals are 
primarily for the benefit of financial institutions, and that consumers 
could always order their own appraisals.
    Several commenters supporting an increase in the threshold for 
residential transactions noted that an increase in the threshold would 
be justified by increases in residential property values since the 
current threshold was established. Some commenters represented that 
relief would be particularly beneficial for lending in

[[Page 15030]]

rural communities that often have shortages in state licensed and state 
certified appraisers. One of these commenters cited feedback from 
several state bank supervisory agencies indicating that access to 
appraisers, particularly for residential transactions, is limited in 
rural areas within their states and that federal appraisal regulations 
are causing significant burden. A few commenters noted that the 
government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) waive appraisal requirements 
for certain residential mortgage loans that they purchase and they 
expected the GSEs to expand eligibility for such waivers. In this 
regard, they asserted that increasing the threshold in the appraisal 
regulations would provide burden relief. One of these commenters 
asserted that as the GSEs expand their appraisal waiver programs, 
regulated institutions that hold residential mortgage loans in 
portfolio will be at a competitive disadvantage if the current 
threshold in the appraisal regulations is not increased. Another 
commenter asserted that, even if inconsistent GSE requirements would 
negate some of the burden reduction, the agencies should raise the 
residential threshold now if, by doing so, safety and soundness would 
not be jeopardized. A separate commenter suggested that the agencies 
should provide a de minimis exemption from appraisal requirements for 
residential mortgage loans that are retained in portfolio by regulated 
institutions. This same commenter urged the agencies to consider more 
regional data in deciding whether to make future changes to the 
threshold for residential transactions.
    Many commenters, particularly appraisers and appraiser trade 
associations, supported with the agencies' decision not to propose an 
increase in the threshold for residential transactions. Several 
commenters pointed to the safety and soundness and consumer protection 
benefits of obtaining appraisals in connection with residential 
transactions. Several commenters also asserted that the appraisal 
regulations already exempt a significant percentage of residential 
mortgage loans. One commenter suggested that the agencies should not 
rely on policies of other federal entities, such as the GSEs, in making 
decisions about the appraisal regulations. Another commenter expressed 
concern that the potential negative consequences of raising the 
threshold could be exacerbated by the loosening of appraisal standards 
by the GSEs for some transactions. Another commenter asserted that 
increasing the threshold for residential transactions could discourage 
entrance into the appraisal profession and cause further appraiser 
shortages.
    Regarding an increase to the appraisal threshold for QBLs, the 
majority of comments received opposed an increase. These commenters, 
who were appraisers or their trade associations, cautioned against a 
loosening of standards that could raise safety and soundness concerns. 
Commenters supporting an increase in the QBL threshold asserted that 
the value of real estate offered as collateral on a QBL is a secondary 
consideration, because the primary source of repayment is not the 
income from or sale of that collateral. Some commenters also supported 
an increase in the threshold due to limited availability of appraisers 
in their states. Commenters advocated a range of increases from $1.5 
million to $3 million.
    Few commenters specifically addressed the agencies' questions 
regarding unique risks that may be posed by QBLs, data regarding QBLs, 
and regulated institutions' experiences in applying the current QBL 
threshold. Regarding risks posed by QBLs, one financial institutions 
trade association commented that its members consider QBLs to be 
higher-risk loans. An appraiser trade association that was opposed to 
an increase asserted that small business loans are riskier than others 
and that lenders with concentrations in such loans are at greater risk. 
The commenter also noted that such loans are usually held in portfolio, 
thus increasing risk. Regarding the agencies' requests for data on 
QBLs, a commenter expressed surprise that the agencies lack data on QBL 
concentrations, and asserted this lack of data further supports not 
increasing the threshold. In response to the agencies' question 
regarding regulated institutions' experiences in applying the QBL 
threshold, a commenter asserted that many loan officers are poorly 
trained in classifying loans as either real estate or business. The 
commenter recommended that the agencies provide examples of these types 
of loans. In addition, two commenters asked the agencies to clarify the 
QBL threshold relative to transactions secured by farmland.
    The agencies appreciate the issues raised by the commenters 
relating to the thresholds for residential transactions and QBLs. As 
discussed in the proposal, the agencies decided not to propose any 
change to these thresholds in connection with this rulemaking. 
Nevertheless, the comments reflect a variety of issues that the 
agencies would consider if they decide to propose changes to the 
residential or QBL thresholds in the future.
    Regarding the requests for clarification of the QBL threshold, the 
Title XI appraisal regulations have established a $1 million threshold 
that is applicable to any business loans that are not dependent on the 
sale of, or rental income derived from, real estate as the primary 
source of repayment.\60\ For example, a loan secured by a farm, which 
could include a situation where one or more affiliated limited 
liability companies own the farmland securing the loan, could be 
treated as a QBL subject to the $1 million threshold, if repayment is 
primarily from the proceeds from the farm business (e.g., sale of crops 
and related payments). However, a real estate-related financial 
transaction secured by farmland whose repayment is primarily from 
rental income from renting or leasing the farmland to a non-affiliated 
entity would be subject to the final rule's $500,000 threshold.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \60\ See OCC: 12 CFR 34.43(a)(5); Board: 12 CFR 225.63(a)(5); 
and FDIC: 12 CFR 323.3(a)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Proposals and Clarifications
    The agencies received several comments suggesting additional ways 
the agencies could reduce burden under the Title XI appraisal 
regulations. One commenter urged the agencies to review the appraisal 
requirements of other federal agencies and pursue ways to make 
appraisal requirements across agencies more consistent. The agencies 
have publically articulated their interest in seeking ways to 
coordinate appraisal standards across various government agencies that 
are involved in residential mortgage lending.\61\ The agencies have 
begun conducting outreach to government agencies to implement this goal 
and will continue to consider opportunities to do so.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \61\ See EGRPRA Report at 36; 82 FR at 35482.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Another commenter asserted that the agencies should focus on 
allowing the use by appraisers of products that streamline the 
valuation process, instead of exempting additional transactions from 
the appraisal requirements. Several commenters, including a financial 
institution and a financial institutions trade association, suggested 
that certain transactions could be added to the list of exemptions from 
the appraisal requirements to further reduce regulatory burden without 
sacrificing safety and soundness. These suggestions included exemptions 
for transactions secured by real estate outside the United States; 
loans below a threshold that a bank originates and

[[Page 15031]]

retains ``in-house;'' transactions involving mortgage-backed securities 
and pools of mortgages; and loans made to certain community development 
organizations. An association of state bank supervisors requested that 
the agencies release further guidance on the Title XI process for 
temporary waivers of appraiser certification and licensing requirements 
and also requested that the education requirements for appraiser 
qualifications be relaxed. A financial institution suggested 
establishing an additional threshold of $50,000, below which certain 
transactions would not require appraisals or evaluations.
    These comments concerning additional potential exemptions from the 
appraisal regulations and additional burden relieving measures are 
outside the scope of this rulemaking. However, the agencies appreciate 
the suggestions for ways to expand burden relief beyond what was 
proposed.

V. Regulatory Analysis

A. Waiver of Delayed Effective Date

    This final rule is effective on April 9, 2018. The 30-day delayed 
effective date required under the APA is waived pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(1), which provides for waiver when a substantive rule grants or 
recognizes an exemption or relieves a restriction. The amendment 
adopted in this final rule exempts additional transactions from the 
Title XI appraisal requirements, which has the effect of relieving 
restrictions. Consequently, the amendment in this final rule meets the 
requirements for waiver set forth in the APA.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    OCC: The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq., 
generally requires that, in connection with a rulemaking, an agency 
prepare and make available for public comment a regulatory flexibility 
analysis that describes the impact of the rule on small entities. 
However, the regulatory flexibility analysis otherwise required under 
the RFA is not required if an agency certifies that the rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities (defined in regulations promulgated by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) to include commercial banks and savings 
institutions, and trust companies, with assets of $550 million or less 
and $38.5 million or less, respectively) and publishes its 
certification and a brief explanatory statement in the Federal Register 
together with the rule.
    The OCC currently supervises approximately 956 small entities. Data 
currently available to the OCC are not sufficient to estimate how many 
OCC-supervised small entities make commercial real estate loans in 
amounts that fall between the current and final thresholds. Therefore, 
we cannot estimate how many small entities may be affected by the 
increase threshold. However, because the final rule does not contain 
any new recordkeeping, reporting, or compliance requirements, the final 
rule will not impose costs on any OCC-supervised institution. 
Accordingly, the OCC certifies that the final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    Board: The Board is providing a regulatory flexibility analysis 
with respect to this final rule. The RFA requires that an agency 
prepare and make available a final regulatory flexibility analysis in 
connection with a final rulemaking that the agency expects will have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
The commercial real estate appraisal threshold increase applies to 
certain IDIs and nonbank entities that make loans secured by commercial 
real estate.\62\ The SBA establishes size standards that define which 
entities are small businesses for purposes of the RFA.\63\ The size 
standard to be considered a small business is: $550 million or less in 
assets for banks and other depository institutions; and $38.5 million 
or less in annual revenues for the majority of non-bank entities that 
are likely to be subject to the final rule.\64\ Based on the Board's 
analysis, and for the reasons discussed below, the final rule may have 
a significant positive economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \62\ For its RFA analysis, the Board considered all Board-
regulated creditors to which the proposed rule would apply.
    \63\ U.S. SBA, Table of Small Business Size Standards Matched to 
North American Industry Classification System Codes, available at 
https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/Size_Standards_Table.pdf.
    \64\ Asset size and annual revenues are calculated according to 
SBA regulations. See 13 CFR 121 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board requested comment on all aspects of the initial 
regulatory flexibility analysis it provided in connection with the 
proposal. The comments received are addressed below.
A. Reasons for the Threshold Increase
    In response to comments received in the EGRPRA process and in 
connection with the proposal, the agencies are increasing the 
commercial real estate appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $500,000. 
Because commercial real estate prices have increased since 1994, when 
the current $250,000 threshold was established, a smaller percentage of 
commercial real estate transactions are currently exempted from the 
Title XI appraisal requirements than when the threshold was 
established. This threshold adjustment is intended to reduce the 
regulatory burden associated with extending credit secured by 
commercial real estate in a manner that is consistent with the safety 
and soundness of financial institutions.
B. Statement of Objectives and Legal Basis
    As discussed above, the agencies' objective in finalizing this 
threshold increase is to reduce the regulatory burden associated with 
extending credit in a safe and sound manner by reducing the number of 
commercial real estate transactions that are subject to the Title XI 
appraisal requirements.
    Title XI explicitly authorizes the agencies to establish a 
threshold level at or below which a Title XI appraisal is not required 
if the agencies determine in writing that the threshold does not 
represent a threat to the safety and soundness of financial 
institutions and receive concurrence from the CFPB that such threshold 
level provides reasonable protection for consumers who purchase 1-to-4 
unit single-family homes.\65\ Based on available data and supervisory 
experience, the agencies tailored the size and scope of the threshold 
increase to ensure that it would not pose a threat to the safety and 
soundness of financial institutions or erode protections for consumers 
who purchase 1-to-4 unit single-family homes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \65\ 12 U.S.C. 3341(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Board's final rule applies to state chartered banks that are 
members of the Federal Reserve System (state member banks), as well as 
bank holding companies and nonbank subsidiaries of bank holding 
companies that engage in lending. There are approximately 601 state 
member banks and 35 nonbank lenders regulated by the Board that meet 
the SBA definition of small entities and would be subject to the 
proposed rule. Data currently available to the Board do not allow for a 
precise estimate of the number of small entities that will be affected 
by the final rule because the number of small entities that will engage 
in commercial real estate transactions at or below the commercial real 
estate appraisal threshold is unknown.

[[Page 15032]]

C. Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements
    The final rule would reduce reporting, recordkeeping, and other 
compliance requirements for small entities. For transactions at or 
below the threshold, regulated institutions will be given the option to 
obtain an evaluation of the property instead of an appraisal. 
Evaluations may be performed by a lender's own employees and are not 
required to comply with USPAP. As discussed in detail in Section II.B 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, the cost of obtaining appraisals and 
evaluations can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of the 
property, the party performing the valuation, and market conditions 
where the property is located. Additionally, the costs of obtaining 
appraisals and evaluations may be passed on to borrowers. Because of 
this variation in cost and practice, it is not possible to precisely 
determine the cost savings that regulated institutions will experience 
due to the decreased cost of obtaining an evaluation rather than an 
appraisal. However, based on information available to the Board, it is 
likely that small entities and borrowers engaging in commercial real 
estate transactions could experience significant cost reductions.
    In addition to costing less to obtain than appraisals, evaluations 
also require less time to review than appraisals because they contain 
less detailed information. As discussed further in Section II.B of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, an evaluation takes approximately 30 minutes 
less to review than an appraisal. Thus, the agencies believe that the 
final rule will alleviate approximately 30 minutes of employee time per 
affected transaction for which the lender obtains an evaluation instead 
of an appraisal. As discussed above, some commenters provided anecdotal 
evidence to show that the agencies' estimate of time savings was 
incorrect. The agencies recognize that certain evaluations may take 
longer to review than others; however, this variation was taken into 
account in the agencies' estimate of the average time savings that are 
expected to occur.
    As previously discussed, the Board estimates that the percentage of 
commercial real estate transactions that would be exempted by the 
threshold is expected to increase by approximately 16 percent under the 
final rule. The Board expects this percentage to be higher for small 
entities, because a higher percentage of their loan portfolios are 
likely to be made up of small, below-threshold loans than those of 
larger entities. Thus, while the precise number of transactions that 
will be affected and the precise cost reduction per transaction cannot 
be determined, the final rule is expected to have a significant 
positive economic impact on small entities that engage in commercial 
real estate lending.
D. Identification of Duplicative, Overlapping, or Conflicting Federal 
Regulations
    The Board has not identified any federal statutes or regulations 
that would duplicate, overlap, or conflict with the final rule.
E. Discussion of Significant Alternatives
    The agencies considered additional burden-reducing measures, such 
as increasing the commercial threshold to an amount higher than 
$500,000 and increasing the residential and business loan thresholds, 
but did not implement such measures for the safety and soundness and 
consumer protection reasons discussed in the proposal. For transactions 
exempted from the Title XI appraisal requirements under the commercial 
real estate appraisal threshold, the final rule requires regulated 
institutions to get an evaluation if they do not choose to obtain a 
Title XI appraisal. The agencies believe this requirement is necessary 
to protect the safety and soundness of financial institutions, which is 
a legal prerequisite to the establishment of any appraisal threshold. 
The Board is not aware of any other significant alternatives that would 
reduce burden on small entities without sacrificing the safety and 
soundness of financial institutions or consumer protections.
    FDIC: The RFA generally requires that, in connection with a 
rulemaking, an agency prepare and make available for public comment an 
initial regulatory flexibility analysis describing the impact of the 
proposed rule on small entities.\66\ A regulatory flexibility analysis 
is not required, however, if the agency certifies that the rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The SBA has defined ``small entities'' to include banking 
organizations with total assets less than or equal to $550 million.\67\ 
For the reasons described below and pursuant to section 605(b) of the 
RFA, the FDIC certifies that the final rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \66\ 5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.
    \67\ 13 CFR 121.201 (as amended, effective December 2, 2014).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FDIC supervises 3,675 depository institutions,\68\ of which 
2,950 are defined as small banking entities by the terms of the 
RFA.\69\ According to the Call Report 2,950 small entities reported 
holding some volume of real estate-related financial transactions that 
meet the final rule's definition of a commercial real estate 
transaction.\70\ Therefore, 2,950 small entities could be affected by 
the final rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \68\ FDIC-supervised institutions are set forth in 12 U.S.C. 
1813(q)(2).
    \69\ FDIC Call Report, September 30, 2017.
    \70\ The definition of ``commercial real estate transaction'' 
would largely capture the following four categories of loans secured 
by real estate in the Call Report (FFIEC 031; RCFD 1410), namely 
loans that are: (1) For construction, land development, and other 
land loans; (2) secured by farmland; (3) secured by residential 
properties with five or more units; or (4) secured by NFNR 
properties. However, loans secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property would be excluded from the definition. The 
definition applies to corresponding categories of real estate-
secured loans in the FFIEC 041 and FFIEC 051 forms of the Call 
Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule will raise the appraisal threshold for commercial 
real estate transactions from $250,000 to $500,000. Any commercial real 
estate transaction with a value in excess of the $500,000 threshold is 
required to have an appraisal by a state licensed or state certified 
appraiser. Any commercial real estate transaction at or below the 
$500,000 threshold requires an evaluation.
    To estimate the dollar volume of commercial real estate 
transactions the change could potentially affect, the FDIC used 
information on the dollar volume and number of loans in the Call Report 
for small institutions from two categories of loans included in the 
definition of a commercial real estate transaction. The Call Report 
data reflect that 3.92 percent of the dollar volume of NFNR loans 
secured by real estate has an original amount between $1 and $250,000, 
while 10.19 percent have an original amount between $250,000 and $1 
million. The Call Report data also reflect that 7.30 percent of the 
dollar volume of agricultural loans secured by farmland has an original 
amount between $1 and $250,000, while 6.05 percent have an original 
amount between $250,000 and $500,000.\71\ Assuming that the original 
amount of NFNR loans secured by real estate and the original amount of 
agricultural loans secured by farmland are normally distributed, the 
FDIC estimates that 6.28 and 13.35 percent of loan volume is at or 
below the $500,000 threshold for these categories, respectively.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \71\ FDIC Call Report, September 30, 2017.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, raising the appraisal threshold from $250,000 to 
$500,000 for commercial real estate transactions

[[Page 15033]]

could affect an estimated 2.36 to 6.05 percent of the dollar volume of 
all commercial real estate transactions originated each year for small 
FDIC-supervised institutions. This estimate assumes that the 
distribution of loans for the other loan categories within the 
definition of commercial real estate transactions is similar to those 
loans secured by NFNR properties or farmland.
    The final rule is likely to reduce valuation review costs for 
covered institutions. The FDIC estimates that it takes a loan officer 
an average of 40 minutes to review an appraisal to ensure that it meets 
that standards set forth in Title XI, but 10 minutes to perform a 
similar review of an evaluation, which does not need to meet the Title 
XI standards for appraisals. The final rule increases the number of 
commercial real estate transactions that would require an evaluation by 
raising the appraisal threshold from $250,000 to $500,000. Assuming 
that 15 percent of the outstanding balance of commercial real estate 
transactions for small entities gets renewed or replaced by new 
originations each year, the FDIC estimates that small entities 
originate $31.8 billion in new commercial real estate transactions each 
year. Assuming that 2.36 to 6.05 percent of annual originations 
represent loans with an origination amount greater than $250,000 but 
not more than $500,000, the FDIC estimates that the proposed rule will 
affect approximately 2,003 to 5,138 loans per year,\72\ or 0.68 to 1.74 
loans on average for small FDIC-supervised institutions. Therefore, 
based on an estimated hourly rate, the final rule would reduce loan 
review costs for small entities by $67,391 to $172,868, on average, 
each year.\73\ If lenders opt to not utilize an evaluation and require 
an appraisal on commercial real estate transaction greater than 
$250,000 but not more than $500,000 any reduction in costs would be 
smaller.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \72\ Multiplying $31.8 billion by 2.36 percent then dividing the 
product by an average loan amount of $375,000 equals 2,003 loans and 
multiplying $31.8 billion by 6.05 percent then dividing the product 
by an average loan amount of $375,000 equals 5,138 loans.
    \73\ The FDIC estimates that the average hourly compensation for 
a loan officer is $67.29 an hour. The hourly compensation estimate 
is based on published compensation rates for Credit Counselors and 
Loan Officers ($43.40). The estimate includes the September 2017 
75th percentile hourly wage rate reported by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and 
Wage Estimates for the Depository Credit Intermediation sector. The 
reported hourly wage rate is grossed up by 155.0 percent to account 
for non-monetary compensation as reported by the 3rd Quarter 2017 
Employer Costs for Employee Compensation Data. Based on this 
estimate, loan review costs would decline between $67,391 (2,003 
loans multiplied by 30 minutes and multiplied by $67.29 per hour) 
and $172,868 (5,138 loans multiplied by 30 minutes and multiplied by 
$67.29 per hour).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any associated recordkeeping costs are unlikely to change for small 
FDIC-supervised entities as the amount of labor required to satisfy 
documentation requirements for an evaluation or an appraisal is 
estimated to be the same at about five minutes for either an appraisal 
or evaluation.
    The final rule also is likely to reduce the loan origination costs 
associated with real estate appraisals for commercial real estate 
borrowers. The FDIC assumes that these costs are always paid by the 
borrower for this analysis. Anecdotal information from industry 
participants indicates that a commercial real estate appraisal costs 
between $1,000 to over $3,000, or about $2,000 on average, and a 
commercial real estate evaluation costs between $500 to over $1,500, or 
about $1,000 on average. Based on the prior assumptions, the FDIC 
estimates that the final rule will affect approximately 2,003 to 5,138 
transactions per year,\74\ or 0.68 to 1.74 loans on average for small 
FDIC-supervised institutions. Therefore, the final rule could reduce 
loan origination costs for borrowers doing business with small entities 
by $2.0 to $5.1 million on average per year.\75\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \74\ Multiplying $31.8 billion by 2.36 percent then dividing the 
product by an average loan amount of $375,000 equals 2,003 loans and 
multiplying $31.8 billion by 6.05 percent then dividing the product 
by an average loan amount of $375,000 equals 5,138 loans.
    \75\ Multiplying 2,003 loans by $1,000 savings equals $2.0 
million and multiplying 5,138 loans by $1,000 savings equals $5.1 
million.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    By lowering valuation costs on commercial real estate transactions 
greater than $250,000 but less than or equal to $500,000 for small 
FDIC-supervised institutions, the final rule could marginally increase 
lending activity. As discussed previously, commenters in the EGRPRA 
review noted that appraisals can be costly and time consuming. By 
enabling small FDIC-supervised institutions to utilize evaluations for 
more commercial real estate transactions, the final rule will reduce 
transaction costs. The reduction in loan origination fees could 
marginally increase commercial real estate lending activity for loans 
with an origination value greater than $250,000 and not more than 
$500,000.

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    Certain provisions of the final rule contain ``collection of 
information'' requirements within the meaning of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995.\76\ In accordance with the requirements of 
the PRA, the agencies may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is 
not required to respond to, an information collection unless it 
displays a currently-valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
control number. The OMB control number for the OCC is 1557-0190, the 
Board is 7100-0250, and the FDIC is 3064-0103, which will be extended, 
without revision. The agencies have concluded that the final rule does 
not contain any changes to the current information collections; 
however, the agencies are revising the methodology for calculating the 
burden estimates. There were no comments received regarding the PRA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \76\ 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The OCC and the FDIC submitted the information collection 
requirements to OMB in connection with the proposal under section 
3507(d) of the PRA \77\ and section 1320.11 of the OMB's implementing 
regulations.\78\ OMB filed a comment pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.11(c) 
instructing the agencies to examine public comment in response to the 
proposal and describe in the supporting statement of its next 
collection (the final rule) any public comments received regarding the 
collection as well as why (or why it did not) incorporate the 
commenter's recommendation and include the draft final rule in its next 
submission. The OCC and the FDIC have resubmitted the collection to OMB 
in connection with the final rule. The Board reviewed the final rule 
under the authority delegated to the Board by OMB.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \77\ 44 U.S.C. 3507(d).
    \78\ 5 CFR 1320.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information Collection
    Title of Information Collection: Recordkeeping Requirements 
Associated with Real Estate Appraisals and Evaluations.
    Frequency of Response: Event generated.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profit.
    Respondents:
    OCC: National banks, federal savings associations.
    Board: State member banks (SMBs) and nonbank subsidiaries of bank 
holding companies (BHCs).
    FDIC: Insured state nonmember banks and state savings associations, 
insured state branches of foreign banks.
    General Description of Report: For federally related transactions, 
Title XI requires regulated institutions \79\ to

[[Page 15034]]

obtain appraisals prepared in accordance with USPAP promulgated by the 
Appraisal Standards Board of the Appraisal Foundation. Generally, these 
standards include the methods and techniques used to estimate the 
market value of a property as well as the requirements for reporting 
such analysis and a market value conclusion in the appraisal. Regulated 
institutions are expected to maintain records that demonstrate that 
appraisals used in their real estate-related lending activities comply 
with these regulatory requirements. For commercial real estate 
transactions exempted from the Title XI appraisal requirements by the 
final rule, regulated institutions will still be required to obtain an 
evaluation to justify the transaction amount. The agencies estimate 
that the recordkeeping burden associated with evaluations is the same 
as the recordkeeping burden associated with appraisals for such 
transactions.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \79\ National banks, federal savings associations, SMBs and 
nonbank subsidiaries of BHCs, insured state nonmember banks and 
state savings associations, and insured state branches of foreign 
banks.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Current Action: The threshold change in the final rule will result 
in lenders being able to use evaluations instead of appraisals for 
certain transactions. It is estimated that the time required to 
document the review of an appraisal or an evaluation is the same. While 
the rulemaking described in this final rule will not change the amount 
of time that institutions spend complying with the Title XI appraisal 
regulation, the agencies are using a more accurate methodology for 
calculating the burden of the information collections based on the 
experience of the agencies. Thus, the PRA burden estimates shown here 
are different from those previously reported. The agencies are (1) 
using the average number of loans per institution as the frequency and 
(2) using 5 minutes as the estimated time per response for the 
appraisals or evaluations.
PRA Burden Estimates
    Estimated average time per response: 5 minutes.
OCC
    Number of Respondents: 1,200.
    Annual Frequency: 1,488.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 148,800 hours.
Board
    Number of Respondents: 828 SMBs; 1,215 nonbank subsidiaries of 
BHCs.
    Annual Frequency: 419; 25.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 28,911 hours; 2,531 hours.
FDIC
    Number of Respondents: 3,675.
    Annual Frequency: 143.
    Total Estimated Annual Burden: 43,794 hours.
    These collections are available to the public at www.reginfo.gov.
    The agencies have an ongoing interest in public comments on its 
burden estimates. Comments on the collection of information should be 
sent to:
    OCC: Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the OCC 
is subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit comments by 
email, if possible. Comments may be sent to: Legislative and Regulatory 
Activities Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 
Attention: 1557-0190, 400 7th Street SW, Suite 3E-218, Mail Stop 9W-11, 
Washington, DC 20219. In addition, comments may be sent by fax to (571) 
465-4326 or by electronic mail to [email protected]. You may 
personally inspect and photocopy comments at the OCC, 400 7th Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20219. For security reasons, the OCC requires that 
visitors make an appointment to inspect comments. You may do so by 
calling (202) 649-6700. Upon arrival, visitors will be required to 
present valid government-issued photo identification and submit to 
security screening in order to inspect and photocopy comments.
    All comments received, including attachments and other supporting 
materials, are part of the public record and subject to public 
disclosure. Do not include any information in your comment or 
supporting materials that you consider confidential or inappropriate 
for public disclosure.
    Board: Nuha Elmaghrabi, Federal Reserve Clearance Officer, Office 
of the Chief Data Officer, Mail Stop K1-148, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System, Washington, DC 20551, with copies of such 
comments sent to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork 
Reduction Project (7100-0250), Washington, DC 20503.
    FDIC: You may submit comments, which should refer to ``Real Estate 
Appraisals, 3064-0103'' by any of the following methods:
     Agency website: http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on the FDIC 
website.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Real Estate 
Appraisals, 3064-0103'' in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Jennifer Jones, Attn: Comments, Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation, 550 17th Street NW, MB-3105, Washington, DC 
20429.
     Hand Delivery: Comments may be hand delivered to the guard 
station at the rear of the 550 17th Street Building (located on F 
Street) on business days between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
    Public Inspection: All comments received will be posted without 
change to http://www.fdic.gov/regulations/laws/federal/ including any 
personal information provided.
    Additionally, commenters may send a copy of their comments to the 
OMB desk officer for the PRA Agencies by mail to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, U.S. Office of Management and 
Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 10235, 725 17th Street NW, 
Washington, DC 20503; by fax to (202) 395-6974; or by email to 
[email protected].

D. Riegle Act

    The Riegle Act requires that each of the agencies, in determining 
the effective date and administrative compliance requirements for new 
regulations that impose additional reporting, disclosure, or other 
requirements on IDIs, consider, consistent with principles of safety 
and soundness and the public interest, any administrative burdens that 
such regulations would place on depository institutions, including 
small depository institutions, and customers of depository 
institutions, as well as the benefits of such regulations.\80\ In 
addition, in order to provide an adequate transition period, new 
regulations that impose additional reporting, disclosures, or other new 
requirements on IDIs generally must take effect on the first day of a 
calendar quarter that begins on or after the date on which the 
regulations are published in final form.\81\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \80\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(a).
    \81\ 12 U.S.C. 4802(b).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The final rule reduces burden and does not impose any reporting, 
disclosure, or other new requirements on IDIs. For transactions 
exempted from the Title XI appraisal requirements by the proposed rule 
(i.e., commercial real estate transactions between $250,000 and 
$500,000), lenders are required to get an evaluation if they chose not 
to get an appraisal. However, the agencies do not view the option to 
obtain an evaluation instead of an appraisal as a new or additional 
requirement for purposes of the Riegle Act. First, the process of 
obtaining an evaluation is not new since IDIs already get evaluations 
for transactions at or below the current $250,000 threshold. Second, 
for commercial real estate transactions between $250,000 and $500,000, 
IDIs

[[Page 15035]]

can continue to get appraisals instead of evaluations. Because the 
final rule imposes no new requirements on IDIs, the agencies are not 
required by the Riegle Act to consider the administrative burdens and 
benefits of the rule or delay its effective date.
    Because delaying the effective date of the rule is not required, 
the agencies are making the threshold increase effective on the first 
day after publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. 
Additionally, although not required by the Riegle Act, the agencies did 
consider the administrative costs and benefits of the rule while 
developing the proposal and finalizing the rule. In designing the scope 
of the threshold increase, the agencies chose to largely align the 
definition of commercial real estate transaction with industry 
practice, regulatory guidance, and the categories used in the Call 
Report in order to reduce the administrative burden of determining 
which transactions were exempted by the rule. The agencies also 
considered the cost savings that IDIs would experience by obtaining 
evaluations instead of appraisals and set the threshold at a level 
designed to provide significant burden relief without sacrificing 
safety and soundness. In the proposal, the agencies invited comments on 
compliance with the Riegle Act, but no such comments were received.

E. Solicitation of Comments on Use of Plain Language

    Section 722 of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act \82\ requires the 
agencies to use plain language in all proposed and final rules 
published after January 1, 2000. The agencies invited comment on how to 
make the rule easier to understand, but no such comments were received.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \82\ Public Law 106-102, section 722, 113 Stat. 1338 1471 
(1999).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

F. OCC Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 Determination

    The OCC has analyzed the final rule under the factors in the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1532). Under this 
analysis, the OCC considered whether the final rule includes a federal 
mandate that may result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal 
governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any one year (adjusted annually for inflation).
    The final rule does not impose new requirements or include new 
mandates. Therefore, we conclude that the final rule will not result in 
an expenditure of $100 million or more by state, local, and tribal 
governments, or by the private sector, in any one year.

List of Subjects

12 CFR Part 34

    Appraisal, Appraiser, Banks, Banking, Consumer protection, Credit, 
Mortgages, National banks, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Savings associations, Truth in lending.

12 CFR Part 225

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, banking, Federal 
Reserve System, Capital planning, Holding companies, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Securities, Stress testing.

12 CFR Part 323

    Banks, banking, Mortgages, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Savings associations.

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency 12 CFR Part 34

    For the reasons set forth in the joint preamble, the OCC amends 
part 34 of chapter I of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations as 
follows:

PART 34--REAL ESTATE LENDING AND APPRAISALS

0
1. The authority citation for part 34 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1, 25b, 29, 93a, 371, 1462a, 1463, 1464, 
1465, 1701j-3, 1828(o), 3331 et seq., 5101 et seq., and 
5412(b)(2)(B), and 15 U.S.C. 1639h.


0
2. Section 34.42 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (e) through (m) 
as paragraphs (f) through (n), respectively, and by adding a new 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  34.42  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (e) Commercial real estate transaction means a real estate-related 
financial transaction that is not secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 34.43 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``or'' at the end of paragraph (a)(11);
0
b. Revising paragraph (a)(12);
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(13); and
0
d. Revising paragraphs (b) and (d)(2).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  34.43  Appraisals required; transactions requiring a State 
certified or licensed appraiser.

    (a) * * *
    (12) The OCC determines that the services of an appraiser are not 
necessary in order to protect Federal financial and public policy 
interests in real estate-related financial transactions or to protect 
the safety and soundness of the institution; or
    (13) The transaction is a commercial real estate transaction that 
has a transaction value of $500,000 or less.
    (b) Evaluations required. For a transaction that does not require 
the services of a State certified or licensed appraiser under paragraph 
(a)(1), (a)(5), (a)(7), or (a)(13) of this section, the institution 
shall obtain an appropriate evaluation of real property collateral that 
is consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) Commercial real estate transactions of more than $500,000. All 
federally related transactions that are commercial real estate 
transactions having a transaction value of more than $500,000 shall 
require an appraisal prepared by a State certified appraiser.
* * * * *

Federal Reserve Board



12 CFR Part 225

    For the reasons set forth in the joint preamble, the Board amends 
part 225 of chapter II of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
as follows:

PART 225--BANK HOLDING COMPANIES AND CHANGE IN BANK CONTROL 
(REGULATION Y)

0
4. The authority citation for part 225 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(13), 1818, 1828(o), 1831i, 1831p-1, 
1843(c)(8), 1844(b), 1972(l), 3106, 3108, 3310, 3331-3351, 3906, 
3907, and 3909; 15 U.S.C. 1681s, 1681w, 6801 and 6805.


0
5. Section 225.62 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (e) through 
(m) as paragraphs (f) through (n), respectively, and by adding a new 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  225.62  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (e) Commercial real estate transaction means a real estate-related 
financial transaction that is not secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property.
* * * * *

0
6. Section 225.63 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``or'' at the end of paragraph (a)(12);
0
b. Revising paragraph (a)(13);
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(14);
0
d. Revising paragraph (b); and
0
e. Revising paragraph (d)(2).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:

[[Page 15036]]

Sec.  225.63  Appraisals required; transactions requiring a State 
certified or licensed appraiser.

    (a) * * *
    (13) The Board determines that the services of an appraiser are not 
necessary in order to protect Federal financial and public policy 
interests in real estate-related financial transactions or to protect 
the safety and soundness of the institution; or
    (14) The transaction is a commercial real estate transaction that 
has a transaction value of $500,000 or less.
    (b) Evaluations required. For a transaction that does not require 
the services of a State certified or licensed appraiser under paragraph 
(a)(1), (a)(5), (a)(7), or (a)(14) of this section, the institution 
shall obtain an appropriate evaluation of real property collateral that 
is consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) Commercial real estate transactions of more than $500,000. All 
federally related transactions that are commercial real estate 
transactions having a transaction value of more than $500,000 shall 
require an appraisal prepared by a State certified appraiser.
* * * * *

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

12 CFR Part 323

    For the reasons set forth in the joint preamble, the FDIC amends 
part 323 of chapter III of title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations 
as follows:

PART 323--APPRAISALS

0
7. Revise the authority citation for part 323 to read as follows:

    Authority:  12 U.S.C. 1818, 1819(a)(Seventh'' and ``Tenth), 
1831p-1 and 3331 et seq.


0
8. Section 323.1 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  323.1  Authority, purpose, and scope.

    (a) Authority. This subpart is issued under 12 U.S.C. 1818, 
1819(a)(Seventh and Tenth), 1831p-1 and title XI of the Financial 
Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (FIRREA) 
(Pub. L. 101-73, 103 Stat. 183, 12 U.S.C. 3331 et seq. (1989)).

0
9. Section 323.2 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (e) through (m) 
as paragraphs (f) through (n), respectively, and by adding a new 
paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  323.2  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (e) Commercial real estate transaction means a real estate-related 
financial transaction that is not secured by a single 1-to-4 family 
residential property.

0
10. Section 323.3 is amended by:
0
a. Removing the word ``or'' at the end of paragraph (a)(11);
0
b. Revising paragraph (a)(12);
0
c. Adding paragraph (a)(13);
0
d. Revising paragraph (b); and
0
e. Revising paragraph (d)(2).
    The revisions and addition read as follows:


Sec.  323.3  Appraisals required; transactions requiring a State 
certified or licensed appraiser.

    (a) * * *
    (12) The FDIC determines that the services of an appraiser are not 
necessary in order to protect Federal financial and public policy 
interests in real estate-related financial transactions or to protect 
the safety and soundness of the institution; or
    (13) The transaction is a commercial real estate transaction that 
has a transaction value of $500,000 or less.
    (b) Evaluations required. For a transaction that does not require 
the services of a State certified or licensed appraiser under paragraph 
(a)(1), (a)(5), (a)(7), or (a)(13) of this section, the institution 
shall obtain an appropriate evaluation of real property collateral that 
is consistent with safe and sound banking practices.
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (2) Commercial real estate transactions of more than $500,000. All 
federally related transactions that are commercial real estate 
transactions having a transaction value of more than $500,000 shall 
require an appraisal prepared by a State certified appraiser.
* * * * *

    Dated: March 16, 2018.
Joseph M. Otting,
Comptroller of the Currency.

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, March 23, 2018.
Ann E. Misback,
Secretary of the Board.

    Dated at Washington, DC on March 20, 2018.

    By order of the Board of Directors.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Valerie J. Best,
Assistant Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-06960 Filed 4-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-33-P; 6210-01-P; 6714-01-P