The NCUA Board (Board) is amending the agency's rule requiring real estate appraisals for certain transactions. The final rule accomplishes four objectives: Increasing the threshold below which appraisals are not required for commercial real estate transactions from $250,000 to $1,000,000; restructuring the rule to enhance clarity; exempting from the rule certain federally related transactions involving real estate in a rural area; and making conforming amendments to the definitions section.