Section 43-39A-2. Definitions

   As used in this chapter, the term:

   (1) "Analysis" means a study of real estate or real property other than one estimating value.

   (2) "Appraisal" or "real estate appraisal" means an analysis, opinion, or conclusion prepared by an appraiser relating to the nature, quality, value, or utility of specified interests in, or aspects of, identified real estate. An appraisal may be classified by subject matter into either a valuation or an analysis.

   (3) (A) "Appraisal management company" means a person who for compensation:

         (i) Functions as a third-party intermediary between an appraiser and a user of real estate appraisal services;

         (ii) Administers a network of appraisers performing real estate appraisal services as independent contractors;

         (iii) Enters into an agreement to provide real estate appraisal services with a user of such services and one or more appraisers performing such services as independent contractors; or

         (iv) Otherwise serves as a third-party broker of appraisal services.

      (B) "Appraisal management company" does not include:

         (i) Any person licensed to practice law in this state who orders an appraisal in connection with a bona fide client relationship when that person directly contracts with an appraiser;

         (ii) Any person who contracts with an appraiser acting as an independent contractor for the completion of a real estate appraisal assignment and who, upon the completion of such an assignment, cosigns the appraisal report with the appraiser who is acting as an independent contractor;

         (iii) Any federal, state, or local government or any of its departments, agencies, or authorities that order appraisals;

         (iv) Any person who orders an appraisal on behalf of any federal, state, or local government or its departments, agencies, or authorities as an employee thereof; or

         (v) A relocation company.

   (4) "Appraisal management services" means services performed by an appraisal management company and may include, but are not limited to, such activities as recruiting appraisers, contracting with appraisers to perform real estate appraisal activity, negotiating fees for appraisals, receiving appraisal orders and appraisal reports, and submitting appraisal reports received from appraisers to clients.

   (5) "Appraisal report" means any communication, written or oral, of an appraisal. For purposes of this chapter, the testimony of an appraiser dealing with the appraiser's analyses, conclusions, or opinions concerning identified real property is deemed to be an oral appraisal report.

   (6) "Appraisal review" means the act or process of developing and communicating an opinion about the quality of another appraiser's work that was performed as part of an appraisal assignment, except that an examination of an appraisal for grammatical, typographical, or other similar errors shall not be an appraisal review.

   (7) "Appraisal Subcommittee" means the designees of the heads of the federal financial institutions regulatory agencies established by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Act of 1978 (12 U.S.C. Section 3301, et seq.), as amended.

   (8) "Appraiser" means any person who, for a valuable consideration or with the intent or expectation of receiving the same from another, engages in real estate appraisal activity on any type of real estate or real property.

   (9) "Appraiser classification" means any category of appraiser which the board creates by designating criteria for qualification for such category and by designating the scope of practice permitted for such category, including the registration of real estate appraisal management companies.

   (10) "Appraiser panel" means a group of independent appraisers selected to perform an appraisal valuation or analysis for an appraisal management company.

   (11) "Board" means the Georgia Real Estate Appraisers Board established pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

   (12) "Certified appraisal" or "certified appraisal report" means an appraisal or appraisal report given, signed, and certified as such by a certified real estate appraiser. A certified appraisal or appraisal report represents to the public that it meets the appraisal standards defined in this chapter.

   (13) "Client" means any person who enters into an agreement with an appraiser or an appraisal management company for the performance of real estate appraisal activity.

   (14) "Commission" means the Georgia Real Estate Commission created in Code Section 43-40-2.

   (15) "Commissioner" means the real estate commissioner.

   (16) "Controlling person" means:

      (A) An owner, officer, or director of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity seeking to offer appraisal management services in this state;

      (B) An individual employed, appointed, or authorized by an appraisal management company who has the authority to enter into a contractual relationship with other persons for the performance of appraisal management services and has the authority to enter into agreements with appraisers for the performance of appraisals; or

      (C) An individual who possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of an appraisal management company.

   (17) "Evaluation assignment" means an engagement for which an appraiser is employed or retained to give an analysis, opinion, or conclusion that relates to the nature, quality, or utility of identified real estate or identified real property.

   (18) "Federally related transaction" means any real estate related financial transaction which (A) a federal financial institutions regulatory agency or the Resolution Trust Corporation engages in, contracts for, or regulates; and (B) requires the services of an appraiser.

   (19) "Independent appraisal assignment" means an engagement for which an appraiser is employed or retained to act, or would be perceived by third parties or the public as acting, as a disinterested third party in rendering an unbiased analysis, opinion, or conclusion relating to the nature, quality, value, or utility of identified real estate or identified real property.

   (20) "Owner" means any person who owns 5 percent or more of an appraisal management company.

   (21) "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, corporation, association, or any other legal or commercial entity.

   (22) "Real estate" means condominiums and leaseholds as well as any other interest or estate in land, whether corporeal, incorporeal, freehold, or nonfreehold and whether the real estate is situated in this state or elsewhere. Such term also includes any structure or structures equipped with the necessary service connections and made so as to be readily moveable as a unit or units when such a structure is affixed to land.

   (23) "Real estate appraisal activity" means the act or process of valuation of real estate or real property and preparing an appraisal report.

   (24) "Real estate related financial transaction" means any transaction involving:

      (A) The sale, lease, purchase, or exchange of or investment in real estate or real property or the financing thereof;

      (B) The refinancing of real estate or real property; and

      (C) The use of real estate or real property as security for a loan or investment, including mortgage backed securities.

   (25) "Real property" means one or more defined interests, benefits, and rights inherent in the ownership of real estate.

   (25.1) "Relocation company" means a business entity that acts as an agent or contractor of an employer for the purposes of relocating the employees of such employer and determining an anticipated sales price of the residences of the employees being relocated.

   (26) "Specialized services" means services, other than independent appraisal assignments which are performed by an appraiser. Specialized services may include marketing, financing, and feasibility studies; valuations; analyses; and opinions and conclusions given in connection with activities such as real estate brokerage, mortgage banking, real estate counseling, and real estate tax counseling.

   (27) "State" means any state, district, territory, possession, or province of the United States or Canada and any sovereign nation or any political subdivision of such sovereign nation.

   (28) "Valuation" means an estimate of the value of real estate or real property.

   (29) "Valuation assignment" means an engagement for which an appraiser is employed or retained to give an analysis, opinion, or conclusion that estimates the value of an identified parcel of real estate or identified real property at a particular point in time.

Code 1981, § 43-39A-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 1701, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 266, § 1; Ga. L. 1992, p. 1402, § 1; Ga. L. 1997, p. 405, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 370, § 1; Ga. L. 2010, p. 765, § 2/HB 1050; Ga. L. 2011, p. 752, § 43/HB 142; Ga. L. 2012, p. 1099, §§ 1, 2/SB 365.