Border Fence Spikes Demand for Appraisers
December 1, 2008 by Eric OKeefe
670 miles. That’s the distance along the U.S.-Mexico border that the Department of Homeland Security wants to cordon off with its 18-foot-high border fence. The sheer size of this massive undertaking and the number of property owners already disputing the government’s valuations has led to a severe shortage of qualified appraisers, particulalry in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.
According to a report that ran in the Houston Chronicle, the Justice Department expects about 270 condemnation lawsuits against local landowners with the potential for 80 holdouts that could go to trial next spring. But there’s a catch: Uncle Sam has already got the Valley’s largest appraisal firm on retainer. That means for many landowners, the only option is an expensive one: an out-of-town appraisal firm, which could cost upwards of $10,000.
More Field Reports From The Land Report:- Library: Working Dogs of Texas
Both the author and the photographer are valued contributors to The Land Report, and there’s no doubt in my mind that landowners from coast to coast will be able... - Northeastern Landowners Get $165M For Natural Gas Rights
A coalition of landowners in one of the country’s emerging natural gas hot spots has reached an agreement to lease 30,000 acres to Fortuna Energy for natural gas drilling... - On the Block: Aubrey McClendon’s 271 Ranch
Aubrey McClendon’s 271 Ranch goes on the block Thursday, August 5. The National Auction Group is handling the sale, which is scheduled for 11 a.m. (CST) at the ranch... - Crossing the Divide with Al Biernat
When it came to the Colorado hamlet of Creede, it was love at first sight for Dallas restaurateur Al Biernat (standing front and center with wife Jeannie and writer... - Ask the Expert: Scott Jones
The second session of the 111th Congress is already under way, and landowners have a lot at stake. With that in mind, The Land Report turns to Scott Jones...
News Feed
