Division of Real Estate

FLORIDA REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL BOARD

The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board (FREAB) is headquartered in Orlando and consists of nine members. The FREAB administers and enforces the real estate appraiser license law, Chapter 475, Part II, Florida Statutes. The Board is also empowered to pass rules that enable it to implement its statutorily authorized duties and responsibilities. These rules are contained in Chapter 61J1, Florida Administrative Code. The statute and rules, along with Chapters 455, 215, 120, and 20, Florida Statutes, as well as the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) are available under Statutes and Rules.

Real estate appraisers may earn five hours of appraiser continuing education credit for attending an entire board meeting, with a maximum of seven hours during a renewal cycle.

FREAB Meetings Reminder

If you wish to have printed materials to reference during the meeting, you may access these documents through the Meetings and Workshops link found in the left-hand column of this web page. You may access and print all publicly available materials as early as 7 days before the date of the meeting.   We appreciate your understanding as the department endeavors to minimize paper usage in all our business practices.

As of February 2012, the Division of Real Estate will be able to live stream the meetings.  The link can be found on the same page as the meeting materials above. The streaming is not recorded and it has limited space at this time. If you are unable to access the meeting, please try again later as access may become available during the day. If you have connected to the live stream and no longer wish to view the meeting in progress, please be sure to disconnect to allow others to access the live stream.

Also, please note the following FREAB Meeting info:

• The start time for the meeting is 8:30 a.m. for both meeting days.
• The Legal Docket is the first day of the meeting (Monday). Sign-in will begin at 8:00 a.m.
• If you plan to attend to obtain continuing education credit, you will need to attend the full day when the Legal Docket is heard. Sign-in will begin at 8:00 a.m. Please be sure to contact the Division of Real Estate Education Section prior to the meeting to make the proper arrangements to receive credit.

ALERT - Rule Discussion

The Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board AMC Rules Committee will be discussing Rule 61J1-9.002, Florida Administrative Code at a special rules meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, 2012, beginning at 10:00 a.m. via teleconference. This meeting is open to the public.

Place: Zora Neale Hurston Building, 400 West Robinson Street, Suite N901, North Tower Conference Room, Orlando, Florida 32801 or contact Lori Crawford for the phone number and passcode to participate via teleconference.

Purpose: Three designated members of the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board and one former member have been designated as the AMC rules committee. This committee is meeting to discuss language for Rule 61J1-9.002. Florida Administrative Code. A copy of the agenda with teleconference information is available here.

ALERT - National Registry Fee Increase Effective January 1, 2012

With the passing of the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress granted the Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) authority to increase the registration fee for the National Registry from $25.00 per year to $40.00 per year, or a total of $80.00 for a two-year credential.  The fee increase impacts any person who is applying to become a certified appraiser in Florida.

If you are submitting an application to become a certified residential or certified general appraiser on or after January 1, 2012 you must submit an application fee of $360.00 to cover this increased registration cost.

ALERT - Appraiser Rule Changes in Effect for 2012

Calendar year 2011 was a very busy year for the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board as they worked to meet Governor Scott’s initiative of reducing rules and regulations.  Eight subsections of Rule 61J1-1 were repealed with an effective date of January 30, 2012.

In addition, the following rules have been updated to include language incorporating guidelines for Appraisal Management Companies:

61J1-2.003 Inactive Renewal

61J1-7.004 Office

61J1-8.002 Disciplinary Guidelines

61J1-8.005 Revocation

The text of Rule 61J1-7.008 Mailing Address was modified to use the language of “address of record” as defined in Section 455.275(1), Florida Statutes.

Rule 61J1-9.001 has been updated to include the 2012-2013 Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.

The complete text of the above rules may be viewed on the Florida Administrative Code website:  https://www.flrules.org/gateway/Division.asp?DivID=282

Regulation of Appraisal Management Companies – Effective July 1, 2011

On July 21, 2010 President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The Act requires State regulatory agencies to regulate Appraisal Management Companies (AMC). Florida’s regulatory program for AMCs was created in 2010 when House Bill 303 was signed into law. It became Chapter 2010-84 and amends Section 475, Part II, Florida Statutes.

What is an appraisal management company (AMC)?

“Appraisal management company” means a person who performs appraisal management services.

“Appraisal management services” means the coordination or management of appraisal services for compensation by:

1. Employing, contracting with, or otherwise retaining one or more appraisers to perform appraisal services for a client; or

2. Acting as a broker or intermediary between a client and one or more appraisers to facilitate the client’s employing, contracting with, or otherwise retaining the appraisers.

Who will be required to register as an AMC?

475.6235         Registration of appraisal management companies required.—

(1)A person may not engage in appraisal management services for compensation in this state, advertise or represent herself or himself as an appraisal management company, or use the titles “appraisal management company,” “appraiser cooperative,” “appraiser portal,” or “mortgage technology company,” or any abbreviation or words to that effect, unless the person is registered with the department as an appraisal management company under this section. However, an employee of an appraisal management company is not required to obtain a separate registration.

If you are a person who possesses the authority, directly or indirectly, to direct the management or policies of the appraisal management company, whether through ownership, by contract, or otherwise you are considered an authorized representative and must be included in the application process.

Should I close my business while waiting for my license to be issued?

As of July 1, 2011, it is essential for an appraisal management company to immediately file an application to register with the Department; however, you can continue to operate while the Department and/or the board is considering your application for approval. Once approved, you will receive your license in the mail. An application that is denied must comply with the terms of the Final Order issued by the board.

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Real Estate, and the Florida Real Estate Appraisal Board continue to develop the program to meet the needs of our customers. Please refer to the FAQs for AMCs and check back for more information weekly.

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