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Relocation Guide for Owners
Steps to a New Beginning:
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General
Information Notice (GIN):
This is the first formal notice indicating the
acquisition and relocation process is starting.
You are cautioned not to move until you receive further
notice. Most importantly, you will be given the
name and contact information for your Family Advocate.
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Meet with your
Family Advocate:
You will receive your Family Advocate's name and
phone
number. The Family Advocate will meet with
you in
your home or in the Resource Center (your
choice!).
S/he will describe the relocation process, how
long each
step generally takes, the replacement housing
options you
may be eligible for, and the types of benefits
available
(under the URA and EBDI's supplemental benefits).
You
can request another family advocate if you are
not
pleased with the one assigned.
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City notifies you of its intent to purchase your home:
This letter will contain
contact information and states that your property will
soon be appraised and asks for your cooperation in
scheduling the appraisals (the appraisers will need
access to the inside of your home). This is when
the process begins.
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Your home is appraised and the city makes an offer:
The city obtains two
appraisals of your home. The highest appraisal
determines the Fair Market Value (FMV) of the house.
If the lien (debt) on your home does not exceed the
value of the property, you will receive an offer letter(
also called a Notice of Just Compensation) stating what
the City is willing to pay for your home. This
starts the formal relocation process
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Family Advocate assists you in developing a support
plan:
This details the specific
needs of each member of your household and the types of
services required to address these needs. Services
can range from credit repair counseling to afterschool
care for your children, to employment training and job
placement. Your family advocate is available to
help answer any of your questions regarding financial
benefits and specific services, to assist in removing
any problems to your move, and to identify the support
you need for a successful relocation experience.
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Meet with
your Relocation Counselor:
Your Relocation Counselor
will help you work through the relocation process,
determine the amount of money and assistance you will
receive, and find a home. Your Family Advocate
will provide you with a checklist of information needed
for this meeting and will help you compile it.
S/he will also help you find a new home. Tell your
Family Advocate all your problems and needs. If
you wish, your Family Advocate could attend the meeting
with the Relocation Counselor.
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You will receive your entitlement letter for benefits:
The Relocation Counselor
uses the information you provide in your interview to
determine your specific needs and interests, as well as
the financial relocation benefits that you may be
entitled to when the City purchases your property.
The counselor will begin a search for a comparable
home(s) for you in the City. The comparable home
will establish the upper limits of your benefits.
You do not have to move to this home; you can do your
own search with assistance from EBDI. Before you
start looking for a new replacement home, it is
important to know the approximate value of your benefits
so you can look for a home in the appropriate price
range. Let your Family Advocate know all your
problems and needs.
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Begin the
search for your new home:
You may also search for a
home on your own and there will be numerous listings by
neighborhood, housing type, and price level available in
the Resource Center. Remember if you choose to buy
a house in Baltimore, you may be eligible for additional
financial benefits.
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Settlement on
your current home:
You will receive a letter
from the City telling you of the settlement or sale date
of your current home. Once settlement occurs at
the City's Acquisition Office, the check will be held in
an escrow account for you until you purchase your new
home.
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You
will receive a 90-day notice to move:
You will then get a
letter from the City letting you know you have 90 days
to move. If you need more than 90 days to find a
new home, you can work with your Family Advocate to
request a time extension.
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Finalizing details for your new home:
Your Relocation Counselor
will assist you with all of the related details of your
move, including inspection of the new home, review of
the contracts, settlement, completing the forms to
obtain your URA payment and moving expense check, and
"turn offs/turn ons" of utilities. Your
Family Advocate will help you find services you may need
in your new neighborhood, like afterschool care, health
services, job training and placement, etc.
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