EXPERT APPRAISAL REPORT — EMINENT DOMAIN PROCEEDING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Cover Letter and Certification
- Summary of Salient Facts and Conclusions
- Purpose and Scope of Appraisal
- Property Identification
- Regional and Neighborhood Analysis
- Highest and Best Use Analysis
- Valuation Methodology
- Before-Condition Valuation
- After-Condition Valuation (Partial Taking)
- Severance Damages and Benefits
- Conclusion of Value
- Appraiser Qualifications
I. COVER LETTER AND CERTIFICATION
Date: [__/__/____]
Prepared For:
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
[________________________________]
Re: Appraisal of Property Located at [________________________________]
Case No.: [________________________________]
Parcel No.: [________________________________]
I, [________________________________], a [State] Certified General Real Estate Appraiser (License No. [________________________________]), certify that:
☐ I have personally inspected the subject property on [__/__/____].
☐ I have no present or prospective interest in the subject property.
☐ My engagement is not contingent upon the conclusions reached or the value reported.
☐ This appraisal was prepared in conformity with USPAP.
☐ No one other than those identified herein provided significant professional assistance.
Appraiser Signature: [________________________________]
II. SUMMARY OF SALIENT FACTS AND CONCLUSIONS
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Property Address | [________________________________] |
| Owner(s) of Record | [________________________________] |
| Legal Description | See Exhibit A |
| Total Property Area (Before) | [________________________________] |
| Area of Taking | [________________________________] |
| Remainder Area (After) | [________________________________] |
| Zoning | [________________________________] |
| Highest and Best Use (Before) | [________________________________] |
| Highest and Best Use (After) | [________________________________] |
| Date of Valuation | [__/__/____] |
| Fair Market Value (Before Taking) | $[________________________________] |
| Fair Market Value of Part Taken | $[________________________________] |
| Fair Market Value (After Taking) | $[________________________________] |
| Severance Damages | $[________________________________] |
| Special Benefits (if any) | $[________________________________] |
| Total Just Compensation | $[________________________________] |
III. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF APPRAISAL
Purpose: To estimate the fair market value of the subject property before and after the proposed taking for purposes of determining just compensation under the Fifth Amendment.
Intended Use: Litigation support in condemnation proceedings, Case No. [________________________________].
Client: [________________________________]
Definition of Fair Market Value: The most probable price that a property should bring in a competitive and open market under all conditions requisite to a fair sale, with buyer and seller each acting prudently and knowledgeably, and assuming the price is not affected by undue stimulus.
Effective Date of Valuation: [__/__/____]
Scope of Work: ☐ Complete appraisal ☐ Limited appraisal
IV. PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION
Street Address: [________________________________]
Tax Parcel ID: [________________________________]
Legal Description: [________________________________] (See Exhibit A)
Property Type: ☐ Residential ☐ Commercial ☐ Industrial ☐ Agricultural ☐ Mixed Use ☐ Vacant Land
Site Characteristics:
- Total Acreage/Square Footage: [________________________________]
- Frontage: [________________________________]
- Topography: [________________________________]
- Utilities: [________________________________]
- Access: [________________________________]
- Flood Zone: [________________________________]
Improvements:
- Year Built: [____]
- Gross Building Area: [________________________________]
- Construction Type: [________________________________]
- Condition: [________________________________]
V. REGIONAL AND NEIGHBORHOOD ANALYSIS
[________________________________]
VI. HIGHEST AND BEST USE ANALYSIS
Before Taking: [________________________________]
After Taking: [________________________________]
VII. VALUATION METHODOLOGY
The following approaches were considered:
☐ Sales Comparison Approach — Used / Not Used
☐ Income Capitalization Approach — Used / Not Used
☐ Cost Approach — Used / Not Used
Rationale for Selected Approaches: [________________________________]
VIII. BEFORE-CONDITION VALUATION
A. Sales Comparison Approach
| Comparable | Address | Sale Date | Sale Price | Size | $/Unit | Adjustments | Adjusted Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [____________] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] |
| 2 | [____________] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] |
| 3 | [____________] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] | [______] | $[______] |
Indicated Value (Sales Comparison): $[________________________________]
B. Income Approach (if applicable)
Gross Potential Income: $[________________________________]
Vacancy and Collection Loss: $[________________________________]
Effective Gross Income: $[________________________________]
Operating Expenses: $[________________________________]
Net Operating Income: $[________________________________]
Capitalization Rate: [____]%
Indicated Value (Income): $[________________________________]
C. Cost Approach (if applicable)
Land Value: $[________________________________]
Replacement Cost New: $[________________________________]
Less Depreciation: $[________________________________]
Indicated Value (Cost): $[________________________________]
Reconciliation — Before Value
Fair Market Value of Entire Property (Before Taking): $[________________________________]
IX. AFTER-CONDITION VALUATION (PARTIAL TAKING)
Description of Taking: [________________________________]
Remainder Property After Taking: [________________________________]
Fair Market Value of Remainder (After Taking): $[________________________________]
X. SEVERANCE DAMAGES AND BENEFITS
Diminution in Value to Remainder: $[________________________________]
Special Benefits to Remainder: $[________________________________]
Net Severance Damages: $[________________________________]
XI. CONCLUSION OF VALUE
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Value of Part Taken | $[________________________________] |
| Severance Damages | $[________________________________] |
| Less: Special Benefits | ($[________________________________]) |
| Total Just Compensation | $[________________________________] |
XII. APPRAISER QUALIFICATIONS
Name: [________________________________]
Designation(s): [________________________________] (e.g., MAI, SRA, ASA)
State License No.: [________________________________]
State(s) Licensed: [________________________________]
Years of Experience: [____]
Eminent Domain Appraisals Completed: [____]
EXHIBITS
- Exhibit A: Legal Description
- Exhibit B: Plat/Survey Map
- Exhibit C: Photographs of Subject Property
- Exhibit D: Comparable Sales Data Sheets
- Exhibit E: Qualifications of Appraiser
STATE-SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS
California: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1258.260 governs admissibility of appraisal testimony. Owner entitled to $5,000 reimbursement for independent appraisal under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 1263.025.
Texas: Tex. Prop. Code § 21.0111 requires condemning authority to provide copy of its appraisal. Landowner may challenge before special commissioners.
Florida: Fla. Stat. § 73.071 sets methodology for determining full compensation including business damages.
New York: N.Y. Em. Dom. Proc. Law § 508 governs appraisal exchange and expert testimony requirements.
This template is provided for informational purposes only. Appraisal reports must comply with USPAP and all applicable state and federal requirements. Consult a licensed attorney and certified appraiser before use in any legal proceeding.
About This Template
Jurisdiction-Specific
This template is drafted for general use across all U.S. jurisdictions. State-specific versions with local statutory references are also available.
How It's Made
Drafted using current statutory databases and legal standards for eminent domain. Each template includes proper legal citations, defined terms, and standard protective clauses.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: April 2026