Real Estate Specialist

Real Estate Specialist

Under the direction of the Economic Development Administrator, the Real Estate Specialist performs complex duties involving the collection, or assistance in the collection, organization, and analysis of data, appraisals, and valuation opinions; as well as duties related to negotiation, property management, and budgeting for real property acquisition, sale, transfer, or leasing transactions involving the City and its related entities. The incumbent coordinates with outside agencies, including but not limited to title, escrow, appraisal, and brokerage firms, as well as private and public agencies, to facilitate the renewal, transfer, sale, or acquisition of real property across various City departments, and performs other duties as required.

Essential Functions

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as the lead contact for real property transactions by planning, organizing, monitoring, reviewing, budgeting, and reconciling acquisitions, sales, and leases for various City departments.
• Assists in negotiations and secures execution of deeds, permits, quitclaims, and other documents necessary for the acquisition or sale of properties such as vacant land, buildings, or other facilities, as needed.
• Coordinates lease negotiations and renewals for City-owned buildings, land, and other facilities.
• Assists with special lease transactions, such as cell tower agreements.
• Performs initial review of purchase proposals, new lease proposals, lease applications, and renewal requests, and makes recommendations accordingly.
• Initiates escrow openings for real property acquisitions or sales, as needed.
• Coordinates the preparation and execution of documents required to complete escrow transactions.
• Prepares requests for warrants or wire transfers to facilitate real property transactions.
• Administers site investigations, property record searches, lease surveys, rent studies, and adjustments needed to establish and/or maintain lease agreements.
• Makes recommendations to management and reviews the work and expenditures of outside consultants and service providers.
• Obtains and reviews preliminary title reports to ensure clear title and identify issues such as liens or boundary disputes that could affect ownership or transfer.
• Prepares and coordinates execution of documents required to secure clear title and title insurance policies for property sales or acquisitions.
• Gathers proposals and reports from independent professionals to obtain opinions regarding environmental conditions of properties, including potential contamination, and helps mitigate City liability.
• Assists in identifying surplus City property and coordinates the disposal, disposition, or transfer of surplus land and property in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 1486 and Housing and Community Development (HCD) Surplus Land Act (SLA) Guidelines.
• Coordinates with HCD and ensures surplus property is disposed of in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Meets, confers, and coordinates with City departments, agencies, real estate agents, brokers, property managers, engineers, utility companies, and other public and private entities, as necessary.
• Prepares special correspondence, including City Council/Board staff reports, resolutions, and memoranda regarding the status of property transactions, including leases, purchase and sale agreements, deeds, and related documents.
• Coordinates and communicates with City staff and legal counsel regarding agreements, amendments, and terminations, as needed.
• Maintains accurate project records, documents, and supporting materials, ensuring proper retention and disposition in accordance with departmental requirements.
• Monitors existing leases and agreements to ensure compliance with terms, including rent and utility collection.
• Coordinates with the City's billing and accounts payable divisions to establish and maintain rent billing.
• Conducts and reconciles lease revenues and expenditures related to agreements and contracts.
• Prepares budget recommendations for assigned areas of responsibility; tracks expenditures for compliance with budgetary limits; prepares monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports, as applicable; and ensures records are maintained in accordance with audit standards for all aspects of City real estate functions.
• Assists in the design and production of technical and marketing materials, including informational handouts.
• Safely operate City vehicles and equipment.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: High school or GED, supplemented by sixty (60) college semester units and five (5) years of full-time real estate work experience, including experience completing transactions involving the purchase or sale of real property is required. An additional one (1) year of full-time real estate experience, or experience completing transactions involving the purchase and sale of real property, may substitute for up to thirty (30) college semester units. A bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or Business Real Estate is preferred. License(s)/Certifications: Must possess a valid California Class "C" driver's license upon hire and maintain it throughout employment with the City of Victorville. Knowledge of:

• Laws pertaining to the acquisition, sale, and leasing of land, improvements, and rights-of-way.
• Factors involved in appraising real property and principles underlying the appraisal process.
• Legal procedures and documents involved in real property transactions, and common descriptions of real property.
• Principles and practices of public administration and organization applicable to a local agency.
• Statistical methods and methods of graphic presentation.
• Modern office methods, practices, procedures, and equipment, including software and database applications.
• English usage, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and basic mathematical principles.

Skill in and Ability to:

• Review appraisals of land and improvements.
• Interpret maps, legal documents, and engineering plans.
• Learn and apply condemnation and real property laws.
• Prepare accurate and effective reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, including City and other government officials, community groups, and the general public.
• Exercise initiative, discretion, and judgment within established procedures, guidelines, and rules.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Define problems, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Manage situations requiring diplomacy, fairness, firmness, and sound judgment.
• Interpret and apply City, State, and Federal policies, laws, and regulations.
• Gather and analyze data.
• Compose clear, concise, and grammatically correct correspondence.
• Read, interpret, and apply complex and/or technical information.
• Perform difficult and responsible administrative duties requiring independent judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.
• Prioritize and schedule workload to ensure timely completion under deadlines or during emergencies.
• Apply safe work practices.

Physical Demands & Working Environment

(Must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations) This position works primarily in an indoor office environment but may also work in the field and be exposed to weather conditions such as wind, heat, cold, and rain. Work is performed on-site; telecommuting is not permitted. Incumbents are exposed to conditions normally encountered in a business office environment. The position typically requires balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions, with or without reasonable accommodation. This is a medium-work classification, requiring exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally (up to 1/3 of the workday), 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the workday), and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly (2/3 or more of the workday) to move objects. Physical demand requirements exceed those of light work. Incumbents must be able to see and hear within the normal range, with or without correction, and communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and written form. Incumbents must also have the stamina to work extended hours and be willing to work irregular schedules, which may include evenings and weekends.