The Real Estate Division's mission is to provide accurate, equitable and timely real estate services in acquisition, appraisal, property management, relocation, title and administration.
Real Estate is responsible for the acquisition of property for city projects and the relocation of persons or businesses affected thereby. This Division is responsible for the management of recently acquired city property, rental agreements, city leases, and the granting of easements across city-owned land as well as the disposal of surplus real property.
Acquisition: The Acquisition Section acquires real property for the city of Phoenix through purchase, donation, or by the power of eminent domain. Services provided include the following:
- Negotiation with property owners
- Acquisition by donation or dedication for rights of way or other uses
- Acquisition by purchase of any interest in real estate (including fee title, easements of any type, leases, etc.)
- Negotiation with other governmental agencies
- Request appropriate city Council authorization
- Preparation of all necessary data for submission of parcels to the Law Department for acquisition by eminent domain where required
For additional information, call the Acquisition Section at 602-262-6267.
Appraisal: The Appraisal Section performs appraisals and reviews outside contracted appraisals. The State Certified General Appraisers provide data for market rates on comparable properties, review appraisal reports used to establish purchase prices and testify on behalf of the city in litigation. Recommendations are also made for just compensation. The staff act as valuation consultants when owners present settlement offers for consideration, and when preparing preliminary staff recommendations for site locations. The Appraisal staff can assist also in the preparaion of preliminary estimates for budget planning.
For additional information, call the Appraisal Section at 602-262-6098.
Property Management: The Property Management Section provides management services to city-owned real property; leases property where the city is either Lessor or Lessee, and disposes of surplus city real property. Some of the services provided are as follows:
- Negotiate property exchanges
- Perform walk-thru inspections of property to determine that the full terms and conditions of the escrow instructions have been met
- Manage leases which includes: locating the appropriate site, negotiating lease contracts and TIs, and processing renewal and cancellation notices
- Evaluate property to ensure that the appropriate Property Management services are in place. This may include:
- Monitoring utilities
- Boarding-up/fencing properties
- Maintaining/draining pools
- Providing landscaping, plumbing, air conditioning services, etc.
- Prepare/process utility easements across city-owned land
For additional information, call the Property Management Section at 602-262-6020.
Relocation: The Relocation Section relocates citizens or businesses displaced by city projects. This includes obtaining estimates for the physical ove of furniture and equipment, determining replacement housing and business relocation costs, and assisting with the transfer of utility services. Services provided include the following:
- Prepare relocation project area plans
- Conduct preliminary surveys of proposed project areas, and prepare relocation cost estimates and projections
- Determine and calculate the relocation benefits to be received by a business or a resident
- Provide counseling and information to residential displaces on prepurchase planning, contract negotiations, and escrow procedures for a home purchase
- Provide business and residential displaces with counseling on mortgage loan financing
- Provide advisory assistance information and referrals to a wide variety of social and community service agencies as appropriate
There are numerous city and federally mandated requirements for relocation projects. Our staff constantly monitor the requirements to ensure that all projects are in compliance.
For additional information, call the Relocation Section at 602-262-7389.
Title: The Title Section offers a broad range of services through its own Title Plant and technical writers. The Section processes ownership inquiries, prepares title reports, condemnation reports, ownership lists, legal descriptions, maps, exhibits for condemnation litigation, monitors property taxes levied by the Assessor's Office and provides full escrow services. Some of the additional services available are as follows:
Ownership lists can be prepared for the following categories:
- Geographic areas
- Property owner's name
- Zoning
- Acreage
- Sales price/date
- ZIP Code
- Council District
Title reports are available for the purchase, sale or lease of real property, and condition of title, as well as current Maricopa County tax information.
- Legal descriptions for real property can be prepared in the following formats:
- With corresponding charts, maps, graphs, overlays, aerial and oblique photo exhibits to be used as graphic displays or exhibits
- Customized legal documents (deeds, releases, etc.) For use in the purchase, sale, lease or encumbrance of real property
- Area calculations (acreage and/or square feet) for use in leasing, property appraisals and purchase or sale of real property
For more information, call the Title Section at 602-262-5053
