Your home's energy data now counts in mortgage appraisals—if lenders choose to use it

What it does

This bill requires federal mortgage agencies (FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA, USDA) to let borrowers provide energy efficiency reports when applying for home loans, and requires appraisers to consider that information when valuing the property. Borrowers get the right to request an energy report at no cost, and lenders must disclose that energy data may affect the appraisal value—higher or lower. The bill does not mandate that appraisers must increase valuations based on energy efficiency; it only requires they consider the data if provided.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core mechanism is a disclosure requirement and a procedural right for borrowers to submit energy data to appraisers. It does not mandate energy upgrades, subsidize retrofits, or impose new lending standards—only transparency and consideration of voluntary information.

What the text implies

• Appraisers will need 7+ hours of continuing education on energy-report consideration, creating a training market and potential bottleneck in appraisal capacity during the 2026 implementation phase.
• The bill does not require appraisers to increase valuations for energy efficiency—only to consider the data. If appraisers systematically discount or ignore energy reports, the disclosure right becomes hollow, and borrowers may face higher rejection rates if they rely on energy data.
• Lenders' underwriting systems must be updated by 2028 to accommodate energy-report-informed appraisals, imposing IT compliance costs on mortgage servicers and banks, which may be passed to borrowers via fees.
• The advisory committee includes energy-efficiency and renewable-energy organizations, creating potential for future regulatory expansion beyond disclosure into mandatory valuation adjustments or lending-standard changes.
• Borrowers in rural or low-income areas may lack access to certified HERS raters or DOE Home Energy Score providers, creating a geographic equity gap in the ability to use this disclosure right.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

Ordinary homeowners gain transparency and a tool to potentially improve their loan terms: they can now provide energy efficiency data that appraisers must consider, which may increase property valuations and borrowing power. The bill imposes no cost on borrowers (energy reports are provided free) and does not restrict their rights; it only adds information to the appraisal process. Lenders and appraisers retain full discretion over how much weight to give energy data.

Who stands to gain

• appraisers (increased demand for energy-report-informed valuations and training)
• HERS-certified energy raters and Residential Energy Service Network
• mortgage servicers and banks (IT system upgrades, compliance costs)
• home builders and energy-efficiency contractors (potential increased demand if energy data improves

Named in the bill

Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association), Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation), Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae), Rural Housing Service (USDA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Residential Energy Service Network (RESNET), Home Energy Rating System (HERS), Department of Energy (DOE), Appraisal Foundation, Appraiser Qualification Board

Where it stands

• Mar 27, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Mar 27, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and House Committee on Financial Services · Congress.gov: “Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a…”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.