Last reviewed: 6 October 2026
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Your right to a copy of your home appraisal, explained
When a lender gets an appraisal for your home loan, federal rules say you are entitled to a copy. This page sets out what the rule says about what you get, when you get it and what you can be charged.
What this term means: An appraisal is, in the CFPB’s words, “a written document that shows an opinion of how much a property is worth.”[2] Regulation B defines a valuation more broadly, as “any estimate of the value of a dwelling developed in connection with an application for credit.”[3] Consummation is “the time that a consumer becomes contractually obligated on a closed-end credit transaction,” which is usually at closing.[3]
What Regulation B requires
The rule is 12 CFR § 1002.14, part of Regulation B. The table sets out each element as the regulation words it.[3]
| Element | What § 1002.14 says |
|---|---|
| Which applications | Applications for credit to be secured by a first lien on a dwelling. A “dwelling” is a residential structure with one to four units, and includes an individual condominium or cooperative unit and a mobile or other manufactured home.[3] |
| What you receive | A copy of “all appraisals and other written valuations developed in connection with an application.”[3] |
| When | “Promptly upon completion, or three business days prior to consummation of the transaction … whichever is earlier.”[3] |
| Notice of the right | The lender must mail or deliver a written notice of your right to receive a copy of all written appraisals “not later than the third business day after the creditor receives an application.” If the credit was not to be secured by a first lien on a dwelling at application but the lender later determines it will be, the same notice is due not later than the third business day after that determination.[3] |
| Cost | The lender may not charge you for providing a copy, but “may require applicants to pay a reasonable fee to reimburse the creditor for the cost of the appraisal or other written valuation unless otherwise provided by law.”[3] |
| If credit is denied or the application is withdrawn | The requirement applies “whether credit is extended or denied or if the application is incomplete or withdrawn.”[3] |
| Electronic delivery | A copy may be provided in electronic form, subject to the consumer-consent and other provisions of the E-Sign Act.[3] |
The timing waiver
You may waive the timing requirement and agree to receive a copy at or before consummation, except where another law prohibits it.[3] The waiver must be obtained at least three business days before consummation, unless it covers only a copy of a revised appraisal that contains only clerical changes from a version you received three or more business days before consummation.[3] If you give a waiver and the loan does not close, the lender must send the copies no later than 30 days after it determines consummation will not occur.[3]
What the CFPB says in plain language
- You have the right to a free copy of your home appraisal for a first-lien mortgage.[1]
- For first-lien and certain higher-priced mortgage loan applications, lenders must provide a free copy of all appraisals and other written valuations that estimate the home’s value. For first-lien applications the copy is due promptly after the appraisal report is completed, and no later than three days before the loan closes.[1]
- Your lender “may need to get a new appraisal and may require you to pay for it,” and may also use other ways to check the value of the home.[2]
- You cannot be charged a fee for copies of an appraisal or other valuation, but you can be charged a reasonable fee for the lender’s cost of preparing it.[2]
The CFPB pages say “three days” where the regulation says “three business days.” The regulation text controls, so use the business-day count.
If you do not receive a copy
The CFPB says to discuss a problem with the closing process with your lender. You can also submit a complaint to the CFPB online or by calling (855) 411-CFPB (2372), and the CFPB says it will forward the complaint to the company and work to get you a response. The CFPB also says you may wish to have your own attorney look at the matter.[1] Our guide to the appraisal requirements that apply to higher-priced mortgage loans covers a separate set of rules.
How to verify this yourself
Read § 1002.14 in the eCFR (reference 3) and the two CFPB pages. Your Loan Estimate and the date each document reached you are your own record of when a copy was due. To check the person you are working with, use our guide to verifying a loan officer’s NMLS license. Our published standard covers how we check loan originators, and the Register shows that method; neither reviews a lender’s or servicer’s handling of your loan.
What this page does not cover
This page is general information, not legal advice. It does not explain how an appraiser reaches a value, what to do about a value you disagree with, or the separate rules for home equity and other non-first-lien loans. The CFPB pages were last reviewed in September 2020, with page updates in 2025. This page was last reviewed 6 October 2026.
Your next step
Ask your lender in writing when it received the appraisal and when it sent you a copy, and keep the date. Then return to the Mortgage help library for related guides.