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Regulators Lift 2026 HPML Appraisal Exemption Threshold to $34,200

The CPI‑W indexing drives this routine adjustment, affecting which higher‑priced mortgages trigger interior‑inspection appraisals.

Indoor damp & air quality (IAQ) testing.
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Overview

  • The CFPB, Federal Reserve Board, and OCC set the 2026 exemption level at $34,200, up from $33,500.
  • The new amount takes effect on January 1, 2026 and reflects a 2.1% CPI‑W increase measured as of June 1, 2025.
  • Loans at or below the threshold are exempt from Dodd‑Frank’s special appraisal rule requiring a written report based on an interior property visit.
  • A mortgage is treated as higher‑priced if its APR exceeds the CFPB’s APOR by 1.5 percentage points for first liens, 2.5 points for jumbo first liens, or 3.5 points for subordinate liens.
  • Regulators confirmed continued APOR publication this year after earlier uncertainty, and ICE Mortgage Technology introduced a separate APOR index.