Chapter 458

458.01 458.01 Definitions. In this chapter:

458.01(1) (1) “Appraisal” means an analysis, opinion or conclusion relating to the nature, quality, value or utility of specified interests in or aspects of real estate.

458.01(2) (2) “Appraisal foundation” has the meaning given in 12 USC 3350 (9).

458.01(2m) (2m) “Appraisal management company” has the meaning given in 12 CFR 34.211 (c).

458.01(3) (3) “Appraisal report” means a written communication of an appraisal.

458.01(3m) (3m) “Appraisal subcommittee” has the meaning given in 12 USC 3350 (2).

458.01(4) (4) “Appraiser” means a general appraiser or residential appraiser.

458.01(5) (5) “Board” means the real estate appraisers board.

458.01(7) (7) “Certified appraiser” means an appraiser who is certified as a general appraiser or as a residential appraiser under s. 458.06.

458.01(8) (8) “Certified general appraiser” means an individual who is certified as a general appraiser under s. 458.06.

458.01(9) (9) “Certified residential appraiser” means an individual who is certified as a residential appraiser under s. 458.06.

458.01(9m) (9m) “Commercial real estate” means real estate other than residential real estate.

458.01(10) (10) “Federally related transaction” has the meaning given in 12 USC 3350 (4).

458.01(11) (11) “General appraiser” means an individual who conducts appraisals of commercial real estate, or of both commercial real estate and residential real estate, without regard to transaction value.

458.01(11m) (11m) “Licensed appraiser” means an individual who is licensed as an appraiser under s. 458.08.

458.01(12) (12) “Real estate” means an identified parcel or tract of land and any improvements to the land.

458.01(13) (13) “Residential appraiser” means an individual who conducts appraisals of residential real estate or of commercial real estate having a transaction value of not more than $250,000.

458.01(14) (14) “Residential real estate” means real estate that, in the opinion of the appraiser who conducts an appraisal of the real estate, has the highest and best use as a residence of not more than 4 dwelling units.

458.01 History History: 1989 a. 340; 1991 a. 39, 78; 1997 a. 35; 2017 a. 113.

458.01 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See definitions in s. 440.01.

458.01 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. SPS 85.120, Wis. adm. code.

458.02 458.02 Limitations and exceptions. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit a person who is not a certified appraiser or licensed appraiser from appraising real estate or from cosigning an appraisal report with a certified appraiser or licensed appraiser if the person complies with s. 458.055.

458.02 History History: 1989 a. 340; 1991 a. 39, 78.

458.03 458.03 General duties and powers of department and board.

458.03(1) (1) In addition to the other duties and powers of the department under this chapter, the department shall do all of the following:

458.03(1)(a) (a) Grant and issue certificates to appraisers.

458.03(1)(b) (b) Subject to the procedure under s. 458.05, promulgate rules establishing criteria for the approval of educational and continuing educational programs and courses of study for appraisers and establishing criteria for the approval of the courses required under ss. 458.06 (2) (d) and 458.08 (2) (d).

458.03(1)(c) (c) Submit to the board a copy of any legislation proposed by the department relating to appraisers or appraisal management companies or to the board, prior to introduction in the legislature.

458.03(1)(d) (d) Transmit the annual registry fees paid to the department under s. 458.21 to the federal financial institutions examination council or its successor agency.

458.03(1)(dm) (dm) Transmit the annual registry fees paid to the department under s. 458.365 to the federal financial institutions examination council or its successor agency.

458.03(1)(e) (e) Promulgate rules specifying the types of real estate that may be appraised by licensed appraisers.

458.03(1)(f) (f) Promulgate rules specifying the manner in which certified appraisers and licensed appraisers shall place their titles, as described in s. 458.055, and certificate numbers on appraisal reports and written appraisal agreements.

458.03(2) (2) The department may prepare letters and bulletins and conduct clinics disseminating information to appraisers and appraisal management companies.

458.03(3) (3) In addition to the other duties and powers of the board under this chapter, the board shall do all of the following:

458.03(3)(a) (a) Advise the secretary on matters relating to appraisers or appraisal management companies or to the board.

458.03(3)(b) (b) At least once each year, transmit to the appraisal subcommittee a roster listing the names and addresses of certified appraisers and licensed appraisers.

458.03(3)(c) (c) Transmit reports to the appraisal subcommittee on a timely basis of supervisory activities involving appraisal management companies or other 3rd-party providers of appraisals and appraisal management services, as defined in s. 458.31 (2), including investigations initiated and disciplinary actions taken.

458.03(4) (4) The board does not have rule-making authority.

458.03 History History: 1989 a. 340; 1991 a. 39, 78; 1993 a. 3; 1997 a. 225; 2017 a. 113.

458.04 458.04 Advisory committee.

458.04(1) (1) If the secretary creates an advisory committee on examinations under s. 15.04 (1) (c), the advisory committee shall be chaired by an examination specialist, if an examination specialist is employed by the department, and shall report to the board and the secretary.

458.04(2) (2) If the secretary creates an advisory committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c), other than an advisory committee under sub. (1), to provide advice to the department on matters relating to appraisal practice, the advisory committee shall be chaired by a member of the board, if available, and shall report to the board and the secretary.

458.04(3) (3) 

458.04(3)(a) (a) If the secretary creates an advisory committee under s. 15.04 (1) (c), other than an advisory committee under sub. (1), to provide advice to the department on matters relating to appraisal management companies, the advisory committee shall consist of the following members:

458.04(3)(a)1. 1. One controlling individual, as defined in s. 458.31 (6).

458.04(3)(a)2. 2. One public member.

458.04(3)(a)3. 3. One member of the board who is an appraiser, who shall serve as chairperson of the advisory committee.

458.04(3)(b) (b) An advisory committee under par. (a) shall report to the secretary and the board.

458.04 History History: 1989 a. 340; 2017 a. 113.

458.05 458.05 Rules; review of rules.

458.05(2) (2) Before submitting any proposed rules relating to appraisals or to the board to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15, the department shall submit the proposed rules to the board for comment. The board shall have 30 days to submit comments on the proposed rules to the secretary.

458.05(3) (3) When promulgating emergency rules under s. 227.24, the department shall provide a copy of the rules to the board prior to publication of the rules in the official state newspaper.

458.05(4) (4) The chairperson of the board, or his or her designee from the board, may cochair with the secretary, or the secretary’s designee, any public hearing held by the department on proposed rules relating to appraisers or to the board.

458.05(5) (5) The department shall submit to the board a copy of the report required under s. 227.19 (2) on any proposed final rules relating to appraisers or to the board. The board may prepare a dissenting report stating its recommendations on the proposed final rules. Any dissenting report shall be prepared within 10 days from the date of receipt of the department’s report, attached to the department’s report and sent to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature and distributed under s. 227.19 (2). The department shall publish a statement to appear in the Wisconsin administrative register indicating that a dissenting report of the board has been submitted to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature.

458.05(6) (6) The department shall provide staff to assist the board in the review of administrative rules and preparation of comments or dissenting reports.

458.05 History History: 1989 a. 340; 1991 a. 78.

subch. II of ch. 458 SUBCHAPTER II

REAL ESTATE APPRAISERS

458.055 458.055 Prohibited conduct. Except as provided in s. 458.095, no person may do any of the following:

458.055(1) (1) Use the title “Wisconsin certified appraiser,” “Wisconsin certified general appraiser,” “Wisconsin certified residential appraiser,” or any similar title unless the person holds an applicable appraiser certificate issued under s. 458.06.

458.055(2) (2) Describe or refer to an appraisal of real estate located in this state by the term “Wisconsin certified” or any similar term unless the person holds an applicable appraiser certificate issued under s. 458.06.

458.055(3) (3) Use the title “Wisconsin licensed appraiser” or any similar title unless the person is a certified appraiser or licensed appraiser.

458.055(4) (4) Describe or refer to an appraisal of real estate located in this state by the term “Wisconsin licensed” or any similar term unless the person is a certified appraiser or licensed appraiser.

458.055 History History: 1991 a. 78 ss. 10m, 11s, 19m; 1993 a. 3; 2021 a. 238 s. 45.

458.06 458.06 Certification.

458.06(2) (2) Application. All applications for certification under this section shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department. An applicant shall specify on the application whether he or she is applying for a general appraiser certificate or a residential appraiser certificate. No initial certificate may be issued under this section unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:

458.06(2)(a) (a) The applicant is at least 18 years old.

458.06(2)(b) (b) The applicant pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1), except as provided in sub. (4m).

458.06(2)(c) (c) Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322 and 111.335, the applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she does not have an arrest or conviction record.

458.06(2)(d) (d) The applicant attends an educational course that includes at least 15 hours of instruction in the professional standards and code of ethics applicable to appraisers and passes an examination conducted to test the applicant’s knowledge of such standards. The course shall be approved by the department and the examination shall be approved or conducted by the department.

458.06(3) (3) General appraiser certification. The department shall grant and issue a general appraiser certificate to any individual who does all of the following:

458.06(3)(a) (a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).

458.06(3)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has successfully completed the applicable educational and experience requirements specified in the rules promulgated under s. 458.085 (1) and (2).

458.06(3)(d) (d) Passes an examination conducted by the department under s. 458.10 to determine fitness as a general appraiser.

458.06(3)(e) (e) Satisfies any other requirements that the department determines, by rule, are necessary to ensure that a general appraiser is qualified to perform an appraisal in a federally related transaction.

458.06(4) (4) Residential appraiser certification. The department shall grant and issue a residential appraiser certificate to any individual who does all of the following:

458.06(4)(a) (a) Satisfies the conditions in sub. (2).

458.06(4)(b) (b) Submits evidence satisfactory to the department that he or she has successfully completed the applicable educational and experience requirements specified in the rules promulgated under s. 458.085 (1) and (2).

458.06(4)(d) (d) Passes an examination conducted by the department under s. 458.10 to determine fitness as a residential appraiser.

458.06(4)(e) (e) Satisfies any other requirements that the department determines, by rule, are necessary to ensure that a residential appraiser is qualified to perform an appraisal in a federally related transaction.

458.06(4m) (4m) Reciprocal certification. Upon application and payment of the fee specified in s. 440.05 (2), the department shall grant and issue a certificate of certification as a general appraiser or as a residential appraiser, as appropriate, to any applicant to whom any of the following applies:

458.06(4m)(a) (a) The applicant holds a current appraiser certificate in another state or territory of the United States and the department determines that the requirements for obtaining the certificate in the other state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under sub. (3) or (4).

458.06(4m)(b) (b) The applicant meets the requirements established in a reciprocal agreement under s. 458.12 between the department and the regulatory authority in the state or territory where the applicant holds the certificate.

458.06 History History: 1989 a. 340; 1991 a. 39 ss. 3417t to 3419d, 3419i; 1991 a. 78; 1997 a. 225.

458.06 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. SPS 85, Wis. adm. code.

458.08 458.08 Licensure.

458.08(2) (2) Application. An application for licensure under this section shall be submitted to the department on a form provided by the department. No initial certificate of licensure may be issued under this section unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:

458.08(2)(a) (a) The applicant is at least 18 years old.

458.08(2)(b) (b) The applicant pays the fee specified in s. 440.05 (1), except as provided in subs. (3m) and (4).