Hearing Officer means an Administrative Law Judge or Office of Appeals Judge authorized by HUD's Secretary or by the Secretary's designee to conduct proceedings under this part.

In the case of employment contracts that are covered transactions, each salary payment under the contract is a separate covered transaction.

A person who has a critical influence on, or substantive control over, a covered transaction, whether or not employed by the participant. Persons who have a critical influence on, or substantive control over, a covered transaction may include, but are not limited to:

(a) Loan officers;

(b) Staff appraisers and inspectors;

(c) Underwriters;

(d) Bonding companies;

(e) Borrowers under programs financed by HUD or with loans guaranteed, insured, or subsidized through HUD programs;

(f) Purchasers of properties with HUD-insured or Secretary-held mortgages;

(g) Recipients under HUD assistance agreements;

(h) Ultimate beneficiaries of HUD programs;

(i) Fee appraisers and inspectors;

(j) Real estate agents and brokers;

(k) Management and marketing agents;

(l) Accountants, consultants, investment bankers, architects, engineers, and attorneys who are in a business relationship with participants in connection with a covered transaction under a HUD program;

(m) Contractors involved in the construction or rehabilitation of properties financed by HUD, with HUD-insured loans or acquired properties, including properties held by HUD as mortgagee-in-possession;

(n) Closing agents;

(o) Turnkey developers of projects financed by or with financing insured by HUD;

(p) Title companies;

(q) Escrow agents;

(r) Project owners;

(s) Administrators of hospitals, nursing homes, and projects for the elderly financed or insured by HUD; and

(t) Developers, sellers, or owners of property financed with loans insured under Title I or Title II of the National Housing Act.

Ultimate beneficiaries of HUD programs include, but are not limited to, subsidized tenants and subsidized mortgagors, such as those assisted under Section 8 Housing Assistance Payment contracts, by Section 236 Rental Assistance, or by Rent Supplement payments.