There’s nothing that makes one prouder than being able to say, “I’m finally a landowner!” After working so hard for years and finally making that life-changing purchase, it can feel like you’re on top of the world. There can be a lot of things to look into when it comes to purchasing land, however. One of these is eminent domain. Read on to learn more about what this is and how we can help you if you happen to find yourself dealing with an eminent domain situation.
What is It?
Eminent domain allows the government to seize private property for public use so long as compensation is offered to a property owner. This can include projects such as street expansions or the construction of government buildings. One thing to know is that property cannot be seized without payment. The amount of compensation depends on the land’s market value along with the size and shape of the parcel.
Condemnation and Inverse Condemnation
Condemnation is the actual process of taking property through eminent domain. When this happens, it’s possible for the amount of compensation offered to a landowner to be lower than expected. That’s where inverse condemnation comes in. This is where a landowner takes an informal action against the government to receive what he/she is owed. In other cases, the government might infringe on a landowner’s rights and essentially try to drive him/her out of their space by using regulations to their advantage.
Read the Fine Print
Before making a final purchase on land, a few things to consider is the zone where the property is located, which public utilities are available and if there are any usage restrictions. There may be many reasons for a property to be vacant, and it’s important to do your homework before taking any further action. Even after looking into every factor, there may still be the possibility of the government or assignors (utility companies) trying to acquire it in the future.
Contact Us
Our eminent domain lawyers in McAllen are familiar with various types of cases where property owners have had their land seized without receiving the compensation they’re owed. If you’ve been offered a lower-than-expected amount of compensation for your land, then give us a call at 956.686.6606 today!