Real Estate Specialist II - Grand Junction

About the role

The Right-of-Way Unit exists to define, acquire, and manage real property for the construction, operation, and maintenance of the State transportation system in Region 3, and provide guidance, support, and oversight of local agency transportation projects.

Responsibilities

• Drive to and participate in public meetings and other public involvement activities to advise potentially affected persons/owners/tenants of the acquisition and relocation processes and procedures;
• Participate in project meetings with both internal and external stakeholders to stay apprised of project status and informed about potential right-of-way issues, and offers assistance and right-of-way updates to project, traffic, and utility engineers, right of way team, and environmental personnel regarding acquisition and relocation matters;
• Participate in project development/engineering design meetings, right of way plans preparation and appraisal meetings to assist with advising project engineers, environmental staff, utilities staff, and other right of way personnel on appraisal, acquisition and relocation matters;
• Serve as a central point of contact between design consultants and Region personnel to assist in determining resources needed for right of way services, budget and schedule;
• Review and evaluate right of way and engineering design plans to proactively identify issues associated with the property interests to be acquired. Discuss any issues with engineering, right of way plans personnel, and the appraisal supervisor for correctness, thoroughness, and to understand and explain to landowners the impact of the project on the property and persons occupying such property;
• Aid in various aspects of retaining title companies through the contracting process for title and closing services. Order and obtain updated title commitments, tax certificates, and title insurance policies and facilitate closing and escrow services. Check commitments and closing document content and process payment through a standard purchase order or statistical purchase order. Estimate the value of a non-complex property using a waiver valuation analysis. Coordinate with CDOT Appraiser to determine whether a waiver valuation is appropriate depending on the initial estimate of value and its complexity and completing waiver valuations when determined by the Right of Way Manager.
• Describe the appraisal components to acquisition land owners. Although the agent does not prepare these appraisals, they must be familiar enough with the process and methodology to be able to describe each appraisal component to acquisition land owners;
• Serve as a Staff Real Estate Specialist responsible for acquisition of mid-level complexity real estate transactions on Region 3 construction projects;
• Compile and organize information from right of way plans, engineering, environmental, utilities, and appraisal reports in order to prepare written notice and offer packages, all in accordance with state and federal law. Prepare value findings, negotiate with property owners, tenants, or their representatives to acquire real estate interests needed, and to assist in resolving potential construction problems. Drive to project locations to perform site inspections of the property and attend meetings with landowners in person to review the proposed impacts, deliver critical correspondence and review agreements. Prepare negotiation logs of all contacts with affected parties, settlement documents, closing documents, and coordinate with title companies and attorneys, when required. Analyze counter offers made by property owners and prepare written recommendations for administrative settlements. Determine when negotiations become futile and prepare condemnation packages for the Attorney General’s Office. Presents the Department’s request for Permission to Enter Property notices and offer of Fair Market Value, acts as a liaison between the owner and department to address questions and concerns.
• Attend approved classes, seminars or conferences promoting relevant educational, policy or law topics, including but not limited to Right of Way Acquisition/Relocation classes/topics.
• Perform other duties and complete other assignments as assigned by or approved by the ROW Supervisor and/or the Region Right of Way Manager.

Requirements

Your schedule will primarily be 8:00 am – 5:00 pm work hours, Monday-Friday, with opportunity for a flexible schedule. You will likely work a hybrid schedule with a combination of in-office and remote work. Daytime travel during working hours is required to visit properties, building sites, meet with landowners and other meetings. Occasional overnight travel is required to meet with landowners or attend training.

Qualifications

• Experience: Five (5) years of professional work experience primarily focused on real estate abstracting/title work, right of way plan development, property management for a public entity, property appraisal/valuation, right of way negotiations, land acquisition, relocation or land-surveying. OR Education and Experience: A combination of relevant education and experience equal to at least 5 years. Education from an accredited college or university with coursework in real estate, public administration, accounting, business, urban/regional planning, law or a closely related degree will be considered. Experience primarily focused on real estate abstracting/title work, right of way plan development, property management for a public entity, property appraisal/valuation, right of way negotiations, land acquisition, relocation or land-surveying.