The Federal Housing Administration is delaying the implementation of the new appraiser independence requirements by 45 days to give the agency and lenders more time to adjust their systems. 

The FHA announced in a memo that it will be delaying the implementation of the new appraiser independence requirements outlined in Mortgagee Letter 09-28 until Feb. 15, 2010.  The new requirements were due to come into effect on Jan. 1 

Mortgagee Letter 09-28 contained much of the same language as the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), the appraiser independence guidelines adopted in May by the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The new FHA requirements mean that mortgage brokers, loan origination officers and all those with a financial interest in closing a loan are prohibited from ordering the appraisal.

You can read Mortgagee Letter 09-28 here