WASHINGTON (8/18/15)--A mandatory registration period for the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) Electronic Appraisal Delivery (EAD) portal began Monday, and all FHA-approved mortgagees must register by June 26, 2016.

The portal is a web-based system designed to enable electronic transmission of appraisal data and reports to the FHA prior to loan endorsements. It will provide messages on compliance with FHA appraisal data, thereby providing earlier identification of compliance issues.

Use of the portal is intended to allow mortgagees to leverage industry data standards and appraisal practices, reduce error rates before endorsement and eliminate most paper-based FHA appraisal reviews, thus improving turnaround times.

As of Monday, mortgagees can migrate to the EAD portal during one of seven onboarding phases scheduled ahead of the portal’s June 27, 2016, mandatory use date.

The onboarding phases are: Oct. 15 to Dec. 15; Nov. 15 to Jan. 15, 2016; Dec. 15 through Feb. 15, 2016; Jan. 15, 2016, to March 15, 2016; Feb. 15, 2016, to April 15, 2016; March 15, 2016, to May 15, 2016; and April 15, 2016, to June 15, 2016.

While each phase is set for roughly 60 calendar days, the FHA estimates that most mortgagees can acquire the necessary knowledge and skills within five to seven days. Those entities building a direct interface to the portal will likely take longer to go through the process.

Delivery of an electronic appraisal through the portal will be required for all case numbers assigned on or after June 27, 2016.

According to the FHA, appraisals submitted through the portal remain subject to review for agency appraisal requirements, and mortgagees remain responsible for proper underwriting of the appraisal and for meeting FHA requirements and standards.