H.R. 2852House116th Congress (2019-2021)Passed House

Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2019

Introduced May 20, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 5:28 AM UTC

The Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2019 changes the rules for appraisals used in FHA‑insured single‑family mortgages. It requires that appraisers be licensed (or certified) by the state where the property is located and that they complete at least a seven‑hour, HUD‑approved training course on appraisal requirements. The bill also sets deadlines for compliance and directs HUD to issue guidance on how the new standards will be applied.

Key Provisions

  • Appraisers for FHA single‑family mortgages must be state‑licensed; appraisers for multifamily mortgages must be state‑certified.
  • All appraisers of single‑family FHA loans must finish a minimum of 7 hours of approved training on appraisal requirements.
  • An appraiser cannot conduct an appraisal for an FHA single‑family loan unless they meet the new licensing and education standards, with a limited grandfather provision for those approved before the effective date.
  • HUD must publish a mortgagee letter or guidance within 240 days of the bill’s enactment outlining the specific requirements and how appraisers can prove prior training.
  • The new appraisal standards become effective 180 days after HUD’s guidance is issued.

Legislative Activity

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12 earlier actions
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

September 11, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 20, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

May 20, 2019

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

July 11, 2019

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported Without Recommendation (Amended) by Voice Vote.

July 11, 2019

HouseFloor

Mr. San Nicolas moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

September 10, 2019 • 1:15 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7572-7573)

September 10, 2019 • 1:16 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2852.

September 10, 2019 • 1:16 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

September 10, 2019 • 1:26 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7585-7586)

September 10, 2019 • 3:25 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 5 (Roll no. 519).(text: CR H7572)

September 10, 2019 • 3:34 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 419 - 5 (Roll no. 519). (text: CR H7572)

September 10, 2019 • 3:34 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

September 10, 2019 • 3:34 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

September 11, 2019

Bill Text

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Latest
Referred in SenateIssued September 11, 2019

IIB

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2852

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

September 11, 2019

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

AN ACT

To amend the National Housing Act to authorize State-licensed appraisers to conduct appraisals in connection with mortgages insured by the FHA and to require compliance with the existing appraiser education requirement, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Homebuyer Assistance Act of 2019.

2.

Appraisal standards for single-family housing mortgages

(a)

Certification or licensing

Paragraph (5) of section 202(g) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(g)) is amended—

(1)

by striking subparagraph (A) and inserting the following new subparagraph:

(A)
(i)

in the case of an appraiser for a mortgage for single-family housing, be certified or licensed by the State in which the property to be appraised is located; and

(ii)

in the case of an appraiser for a mortgage for multifamily housing, be certified by the State in which the property to be appraised is located; and

; and

(2)

in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period at the end the following: , which, in the case of appraisers for any mortgage for single-family housing, shall include completion of a course or seminar that consists of not less than 7 hours of training regarding such appraisal requirements that is approved by the Course Approval Program of the Appraiser Qualifications Board of the Appraisal Foundation or a State appraiser certifying and licensing agency.

(b)

Compliance with verifiable education requirements; grandfathering

Effective beginning on the date of the effectiveness of the mortgagee letter or other guidance issued pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, notwithstanding any choice or approval of any appraiser made before such date of enactment, no appraiser may conduct an appraisal for any mortgage for single-family housing insured under title II of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1707 et seq.) unless such appraiser is, as of such date of effectiveness, in compliance with—

(1)

all of the requirements under section 202(g)(5) of such Act (12 U.S.C. 1708(g)(5)), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, including the requirement under subparagraph (B) of such section 202(g)(5) (relating to demonstrated verifiable education in appraisal requirements); or

(2)

all of the requirements under section 202(g)(5) of such Act as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act.

(c)

Implementation

Not later than the expiration of the 240-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue a mortgagee letter or other guidance that shall—

(1)

implement the amendments made by subsection (a) of this section;

(2)

clearly set forth all of the specific requirements under section 202(g)(5) of the National Housing Act (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) for approval to conduct appraisals under title II of such Act for mortgages for single-family housing, which shall include—

(A)

providing that the completion, prior to the effective date of such mortgagee letter or guidance, of training meeting the requirements under subparagraph (B) of such section 202(g)(5) (as amended by subsection (a) of this section) shall be considered to fulfill the requirement under such subparagraph; and

(B)

providing a method for appraisers to demonstrate such prior completion; and


(3)

take effect not later than the expiration of the 180-day period beginning upon issuance of such mortgagee letter or guidance.

Passed the House of Representatives September 10, 2019.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk