Regulatory & Platform
Compliance & Technology — USPAP, FIRREA, Dodd-Frank AIR | Harpley Appraisal Management
Compliance & Technology
A full breakdown of the regulatory frameworks we operate under and the platform capabilities that keep your pipeline moving.
Our Approach
Compliance isn't a checkbox. It's how we operate.
The appraisal industry is one of the most heavily regulated segments of the mortgage process — and for good reason. Inaccurate or non-compliant appraisals create repurchase risk, regulatory exposure, and fair lending liability for lenders.
Harpley was built from the ground up to treat compliance as infrastructure, not overhead. Every workflow, every platform feature, and every QC step is designed around the regulatory requirements your institution faces — so you can close loans with confidence.
Regulatory Frameworks
Every regulation. Fully addressed.
Below is a detailed breakdown of each regulatory framework we operate under and how our processes satisfy its requirements.
Every appraisal in our network is completed by a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser in full compliance with USPAP. Our QC team reviews each report against USPAP Standards Rules 1 and 2 before delivery — checking for scope of work, market analysis, reconciliation, and certification language.
- Standards Rules 1 & 2 review on every report
- Appraiser license verification at assignment
- Competency Rule enforcement by geography
- Ethics Rule monitoring and panel management
FIRREA requires federally regulated lenders to obtain independent appraisals for real estate transactions above de minimis thresholds. Harpley operates as a fully independent AMC, maintaining strict separation between lender loan production staff and the appraisal process — satisfying FIRREA Title XI requirements.
- Full independence from lender loan production
- Appraiser selection free from borrower or LO influence
- Documented engagement and fee disclosure
- Appraisal file retention per regulatory requirements
The Dodd-Frank Act codified Appraisal Independence Requirements (AIR) into federal law. Our platform enforces AIR at every step — prohibiting coercion, ensuring appraiser selection is free from conflicts of interest, and maintaining a complete audit trail of all communications between lender staff and appraisers.
- Prohibition on coercion enforced by platform controls
- All lender-appraiser communications logged
- Reconsideration of Value (ROV) process compliant with CFPB guidance
- Appraiser Independence complaint tracking
Our appraisal products and processes are aligned with current Fannie Mae Selling Guide and Freddie Mac Seller/Servicer Guide requirements. We support all GSE-approved appraisal forms and desktop/hybrid products, and our QC checklist is updated with each GSE guideline release.
- All standard FNMA/FHLMC appraisal forms supported
- Desktop and hybrid products per GSE specs
- UAD (Uniform Appraisal Dataset) compliant reports
- UCDP submission support available
FHA and VA appraisals carry additional requirements beyond conventional standards. Our FHA-approved appraisers are drawn from the FHA Appraiser Roster, and our VA appraisals are assigned through the VA Fee Panel. We manage the unique compliance requirements of both programs so lenders don't have to.
- FHA Appraiser Roster compliance
- VA Fee Panel assignment process
- Minimum Property Requirements (MPR) review
- FHA/VA-specific QC checklist applied
Platform Capabilities
Technology built for lender workflows.
Our order management platform is purpose-built for the appraisal process — not adapted from generic project management software.
Intelligent Order Routing
Our platform automatically matches each order to the most qualified available appraiser based on license type, geographic competency, product expertise, and historical performance — in seconds.
Real-Time Status Tracking
Lenders have full visibility into every order from submission to delivery. Status updates are pushed at each milestone — assignment, inspection scheduled, inspection complete, report in QC, delivered.
MISMO XML Delivery
All appraisal reports are delivered in MISMO 2.6 XML format alongside the PDF, enabling seamless integration with your LOS and UCDP/EAD submission workflows.
Automated QC Engine
Every report passes through our automated QC engine before human review — checking for UAD compliance, missing fields, unsupported adjustments, and data consistency against public records.
Secure Document Handling
All documents are transmitted over TLS 1.3 encrypted connections and stored with AES-256 encryption at rest. Access is role-based and every action is logged for audit purposes.
Automated Notifications
Configurable email and webhook notifications keep your team informed without manual follow-up. Set alerts for status changes, due date approaching, or QC holds.
Data Security
Your data — and your borrowers' data — is protected.
Appraisal files contain sensitive borrower and property information. We treat data security as a compliance obligation, not a feature. Our platform is SOC 2 Type II certified, and all data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
- SOC 2 Type II certified infrastructure
- TLS 1.3 encryption for all data in transit
- AES-256 encryption for all data at rest
- Role-based access controls with MFA
- Full audit log of all user and system actions
- GLBA-compliant data handling procedures
Compliance Summary
Ready to Get Started
Questions about our compliance posture?
Our compliance team is available to walk through our processes, answer due diligence questions, or provide documentation for your vendor management review.