Senior Real Estate Officer

The successful candidate will assist the City’s Real Estate Division in responding to requests for property interests from developers. Additional duties may include acquisition of property or property interests for City projects. Further information may be found here:
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/durhamnc/jobs/3749429/senior-real-estate-officer

This position is to acquire, lease, manage, and dispose of real properties for the City, to relocate displaced persons, and to acquire property for City projects.  This is accomplished by negotiating property transactions, conducting closings, preparing lease agreements, collecting rent, and overseeing records.  Other duties include verifying owners of record through research and preparing contracts for professional services and agenda items.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Acquires properties for City projects including rights of way, and sewer, water, and greenway easements by working closely with engineering; reviewing project plans, maps, surveys, and recorded documents such as deeds, plats, and restrictive covenants; verifying ownership; contacting and negotiating with property owners; evaluating damage to property; determining purchase price/fair market value; making written offers; ordering professional services as needed; preparing documents to authorize purchases; completing necessary final documents; coordinating closings; and updating Real Property Database records and notifying City departments of conveyances of property.
• Disposes of City-owned surplus property by collecting input from departments to determine if property is surplus; researching ownership; determining sales price through a comparative market analysis; preparing marketing method and sales documents; preparing recommendations to City Council; reviewing and coordinating the required documents to close with buyers and City departments; notifying City and County departments of the sale; and updating records.
• Manages City-owned properties by tracking City-owned rental properties; conducting inspections; scheduling and verifying repairs; responding to tenant requests; reporting income; and recommending demolition of obsolete structures.
• Leases City-owned commercial and residential properties by inspecting the property for defects; drafting orders for repairs; ensuring repair vendors are paid; accepting and processing applications from potential lessees; negotiating lease terms; submitting lease contracts to City Council for approval; executing the lease; collecting and depositing rents; updating property management software; handling work order requests; maintaining contact with tenants; and inspecting property on a regular basis.
• Manages non City-owned property for City use by determining departmental needs; identifying possible locations; showing the space to City personnel; negotiating lease with property owners; interacting with space planners, architects, and contractors; preparing required documents to formalize the lease; scheduling rent payments; coordinating maintenance requests to City personnel; and ensuring timely lease renewals; and updates records.
• As required for some City projects, relocates persons in compliance with the HUD Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 by providing assistance to home owners for the purchase of a house or to tenants for another leased property; and maintain necessary documents as required by HUD.
• Performs administrative support duties by responding to questions and requests for service/interest from City employees and private individuals interested in City property; responding to property owners offering their property to the City; preparing documents accordingly; working with attorneys and others on closings, deeds, plats, and leases; preparing letters/correspondence; maintaining records on HUD-related projects; and attending staff meetings.
• Inspects City properties by conducting monthly on-site inspections; preparing reports; forwarding findings; and completing work orders relating upkeep or repair of properties.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or a directly related field “or” equivalency.
• Five years of related professional real estate experience.
• A valid Real Estate Broker’s License from any U.S. state.  Holders of out-of-state Real Estate Broker’s License must obtain a valid NC Real Estate Broker’s License within 2 years of hire.
• Valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver’s license “or” if you currently have another states driver’s license, must be willing and able to obtain a valid NC driver’s license within 60 days of hire.