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Florida Department of Community Affairs

Florida Communities Trust

Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program

Acquisition Process

Once projects are selected for funding, the Acquisition Section works with the grant recipient to acquire sites. The following are summarized on this page:

Joint Acquisition Process with the Florida Communities Trust as the Lead Agent

  1. Florida Communities Trust receives executed Grant Contract, Confidentiality Agreement, and Willing Owner Letters from Grant Recipient
  2. Florida Communities Trust obtains a title search for each parcel, if needed for appraisal/acquisition purposes
  3. Florida Communities Trust obtains bids for appraisal(s) at the same time of ordering title work:
    • Selected appraiser(s) is retained by Purchase Order
    • Two appraisals required if an ownership's value is estimated to be $500,000 or greater
  4. Appraiser(s) prepares appraisal report(s) according to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Florida Communities Trust requirements:
    • Florida Communities Trust receives three sets of completed appraisal report(s)
    • Appraisal report(s) is sent to contract review appraiser for review
    • Upon approval, appraisal review memo certifying value(s) and establishing Maximum Approved Purchase Price is sent to Florida Communities Trust
  5. Appraisal review memo is sent to Recipient and Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff with copy of appraisal(s)
  6. Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff contacts Recipient to coordinate priority parcels, if applicable, and offer(s) to seller(s):
    • Option Contract for Purchase is prepared and sent to seller with a copy to Recipient
    • Ongoing negotiations or receive Option Contract signed by seller
  7. Recipient approval of Contract
  8. Management Plan is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval during the negotiation/contracting phase
  9. Upon receiving signed contract, a Project Plan (Recipient's request for money) is prepared and submitted to Florida Communities Trust

Joint Acquisition Process with the Grant Recipient As Lead Agent

  1. Florida Communities Trust receives executed Grant Contract, Confidentiality Agreement, and Willing Owner Letters from Recipient
  2. Recipient obtains title search for each parcel, if needed for appraisal acquisition purposes
  3. Recipient obtains bids for appraisal(s) from approved list of appraisers and contracts for appraisal services according to their contracting requirements:
    • Two appraisals required if an ownership's value is estimated to be $500,000 or greater
    • Appraiser(s) must receive three sets of appraisal reports from each appraiser to Florida Communities Trust for review
  4. Appraiser(s) prepares appraisal report(s) according to Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice and Florida Communities Trust contract requirements:
    • Recipient sends three sets of appraisal reports from each appraiser to Florida Communities Trust for review
    • Appraisal report is sent to contract review appraiser for review
    • Upon approval, appraisal review memo certifying value(s) and establishing Maximum Approved Purchase Price is sent to Florida Communities Trust
  5. Appraisal review memo is sent to Recipient and Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff with copy of appraisal(s)
  6. Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff assists Recipient in preparation of option contract:
    • Florida Communities Trust Option Contract must be used
    • Ongoing negotiations or Florida Communities Trust/Recipient receive Option Contract signed by seller
  7. Recipient approval of Contract
  8. Management Plan is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval during the negotiation/contracting phase
  9. Upon receiving signed contract, a Project Plan (Recipient's request for money) is prepared and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval
  10. When the Project Plan is approved the contract enters the closing phase
  11. Closing documents are ordered by seller or Recipient, depending upon contract requirements:
    • Survey, Title Commitment and Environmental Site Assessment are received by Florida Communities Trust and Recipient
    • Documents are reviewed by Recipient and Florida Communities Trust staff to determine if adjustments in purchase price are necessary
    • Recipient reviews, approves and signs the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and Reconciliation Statement
  12. Closing Warrant is ordered
  13. Upon receipt of warrant, closing occurs with selected closing agent

Partially Pre-acquired Process with the Grant Recipient As Lead Agent

  1. Florida Communities Trust receives executed Grant Contract, Confidentiality Agreement, and Willing Owner Letters on non-acquired parcels from recipient
  2. Recipient sends three sets of appraisals for pre-acquired parcel(s) to Florida Communities Trust:
    • Appraiser(s) must be on the Florida Communities Trust/Department of Environmental Protection approved appraiser list
    • Two appraisals required if an ownership's value is $500,000 or greater
  3. Recipient obtains title search for remaining parcels, if necessary for appraisal/acquisition purposes
  4. Recipient obtains bids for appraisal(s), from approved list of appraisers, and contracts for appraisal services for remaining parcels according to Recipient's contracting requirements:
    • If value of ownership is estimated to be equal to or greater than $500,000, two appraisals are required
    • Appraisal(s) provided by owner/seller is unacceptable; must be completed for Recipient
  5. Appraiser(s) prepares appraisal report(s) according to Uniform Standards of Professional. Appraisal Practice and Florida Communities Trust requirements:
    • Recipient sends three sets of appraisal reports from each appraiser to Florida Communities Trust for review
    • Florida Communities Trust sends appraisal reports to contract review appraiser for review
    • Upon approval, appraisal review memo certifying value(s) and establishing Maximum Approved Purchase Price is sent to Florida Communities Trust
  6. Appraisal review memo is sent to Recipient and Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff with copy of appraisal(s)
  7. Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff assists Recipient in preparation of option contract for parcels to be jointly purchase:
    • Florida Communities Trust Option Contract must be used
    • Ongoing negotiations or Florida Communities Trust/Recipient receive Option Contract signed by seller
  8. Management Plan is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval during the negotiation/contracting phase
  9. Upon receiving signed contract, a Project Plan (Recipient's request for money) is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval
  10. Closing documents are ordered by seller or Recipient depending upon contract requirements:
    • Survey, Title Commitment and Environment Site Assessment are received by Florida Communities Trust and Recipient
    • Documents are reviewed by Recipient and Florida Communities Trust staff to determine if adjustments in purchase price are necessary
    • Recipient reviews, approves, and signs the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and Reconciliation Statement
  11. Warrant is ordered
  12. Upon receipt of warrant, closing occurs for jointly acquired parcel(s) and preacquired parcel(s) is reimburse

Outline of Process for Pre-acquired Sites

  1. Florida Communities Trust receives executed Grant Contract from Recipient
  2. Recipient sends three sets of appraisal(s) for pre-acquired parcel(s) to Florida Communities Trust:
    • Appraiser must be on Florida Communities Trust/Department of Environmental Protection approved appraiser list
    • Two appraisals required if an ownership's value is $500,000 or greater
  3. Appraisal reports are sent to contract review appraiser for review
    • Upon approval, appraisal review memo certifying value(s) and establishing Maximum Approved Purchase Price is sent to Florida Communities Trust
  4. Appraisal review memo is sent to Recipient and the Florida Communities Trust negotiation staff with a copy of appraisal report(s)
  5. Management Plan is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval during the appraisal review process
  6. Recipient prepares Project Plan (Recipient's request for money) and submits it to Florida Communities Trust for approval
  7. When the Project Plan and Management Plan are approved the project enters the reimbursement phase
  8. Closing documents, such as the contract, survey, environmental site assessment, recorded deed and title policy are reviewed by Florida Communities Trust for approval
  9. Recipient reviews, approves and signs the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and Reconciliation Statement
  10. Warrant for reimbursement to Recipient is ordered
  11. Upon receipt of warrant, reimbursement takes place

Outline of Process for Reimbursement Acquisitions (Parcels Purchased by Recipient After Application Deadline)

  1. Florida Communities Trust receives executed Grant Contract and Confidentiality Agreement from Recipient
  2. Recipient sends three sets of appraisals for parcel(s) to be acquired:
    • Appraiser(s) must be on Florida Communities Trust/Department of Environmental Protection approved appraiser list.
    • Two appraisals required if an ownership's value is $500,000 or greater
    • Florida Communities Trust sends appraisal reports to contract review appraiser for review
    • Upon approval, appraisal review memo certifying value(s) and establishing Maximum Approved Purchase Price is sent to Florida Communities Trust
  3. Management Plan is prepared by Recipient and submitted to Florida Communities Trust for approval during the appraisal review process
  4. Appraisal review memo is sent to Recipient and Florida Communities Trust acquisition staff with copy of appraisal(s)
  5. Florida Communities Trust acquisition staff assists Recipient in preparation of Project Plan (Recipient's request for money) and submits to Florida Communities Trust for approval by the Florida Communities Trust
  6. Closing documents are provided to Florida Communities Trust for review:
    • Documents are reviewed by Florida Communities Trust staff to determine if adjustments in purchase price are necessary
    • Recipient reviews, approves, and signs the Declaration of Restrictive Covenants and Reconciliation Statement
  7. Warrant is ordered
  8. Upon receipt of warrant, Recipient is reimbursed

Additional Information

Appraisal Process, Negotiation, Project Plan Development, and Closings

Real Estate Contract Preparation and Negotiations, Project Plan, and Management Plan

Closing and Legal Matters