Real Estate Contract Specialist

Salary $37.86 - $53.85/hour; $6,562.40 - $9,334.00/month; $78,748.80 - $/year

This is highly responsible technical work involving real estate negotiations, including property acquisitions, disposition of city parcels, and/or development of city properties. Bargaining unit position.

Under general supervision, employees in this class are responsible for performing a variety of technical real estate assignments that are of more than average difficulty and that involve complex contract negotiations. Assignments, which are broad in scope, provide the opportunity for the exercise of considerable initiative and independent judgment with a minimum of oversight and may involve primary emphasis in one or more specific areas.

Employees must exercise a high degree of negotiating finesse while being mindful of the sensitivity and confidentiality of real estate transactions. Considerable discretion is required in determining what, when and to whom information is released concerning real estate acquisition, disposition or exchange goals, and pending real estate transactions. Some activities are complicated by various federal, state and/or county funding and approval requirements relating to acquisitions and dispositions of properties.

Work may involve numerous evening sessions and the ability to work a flexible schedule is required. Work is reviewed while in progress through conferences, observations, and reports submitted and upon completion through results obtained.

Confers with city representatives and elected officials, representatives of non-profit organizations and the general public regarding the nature of projects for which land or facilities are needed; determines acquisition parameters so that property search, determination of real estate ownership, and negotiations can be initiated; confers with city department managers concerning their specific needs and conducts appropriate searches to locate suitable land and/or facilities for their operations;

evaluates real estate needs for special programs such as the Florida Communities Trust, Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP), Emergency Shelter Grant, Housing Opportunities for People With Aids (HOPWA), Rails to Trails, etc.

Researches real estate ownership and contacts owners regarding the potential acquisition of properties needed by the city for public purposes; arranges for and reviews property appraisals; prepares and/or reviews legal descriptions; provides an analysis of title search results and opinions; visually inspects properties; conducts information searches of tax records, deeds, abstracts, office files, court records, private surveys, etc.; makes recommendations concerning purchases;

prepares resolutions for City Council relating to real estate acquisition, disposition or exchange.

Facilitates disposition, including the sale, leasing or exchange of city real estate; seeks potential buyers to promote sale of city property no longer needed; works with various public, private and non-profit parties to effect the exchange of city property where appropriate and mutually desirable; manages disposition of city parcels involving complex requirements related to adherence to laws of the State, CRA restrictions, etc.

Conducts or participates in preliminary and/or final negotiations for the acquisition of land, easements and rights-of-way on behalf of the city, as well as for the State and County on various cooperative projects; interacts with attorneys, developers, realtors, representatives of mortgage lending institutions, and others in the negotiating process.

Coordinates extensive property acquisition for major projects; deals with significant right of way issues on transportation projects; seeks to acquire major parcels for CIP projects funded by portions of the county sales tax.

Coordinates preparation of necessary documents, agreements and/or contracts to facilitate the purchase, disposition or exchange of property including eminent domain proceedings; coordinates final closing of acquisitions through negotiations or condemnation.

Negotiates and handles leases relating to the use of city…