The Office of Real Estate Management (OREM) provides comprehensive real estate services for state agencies, as described below:
Appraisal Valuation Services
The Office of Real Estate Management working in conjunction with competitively procured professional, and independent appraisal firms, provides land and property valuation services to client agencies, municipalities and private sector buyers involved in the acquisition, transfer, sale, or lease of surplus state-owned property. Deliverables range from limited "opinions of value" to comprehensive analysis of the current and future economic viability of the region and municipality as it relates to current and future land values. |
Environmental Acquisitions
Under 301 CMR 51:00, DCAM has authority of reviewing and approving the acquisition of real property interests by the Commonwealth for the purposes of conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources and open space. DCAM’s review process includes the assessment of such documents as attorney’s certifications of title and copies of encumbrances and defects, surveys, documents evidencing compliance with the M.G.L. Chapter 7 process, disclosure statements and any additional documents or attachments submitted to this agency. |
Land Use Planning Services/Community Planning Process
Complex real estate transactions often require the retention of certified land use planning professionals to determine likely benefits and investigate potential impacts on local communities as it relates to the proposed redevelopment of state-owned assets. The Office of Real Estate Management solicits and coordinates the activities of land use planning professionals, with corresponding community input, as a precursor to any public solicitation of proposals for the redevelopment of state-owned property.
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Legislative Land Bills
Legislative authorization is often necessary in order for the Office of Real Estate Management to convey state-owned surplus property to municipalities, non-profit entities, and occasionally private citizens. OREM assists these individuals and organizations in drafting legislation for the purpose of conveying said property for a myriad of public, private and socially conscious uses. |
Licensing
When there is no legislative authority to allow an entity to use state-owned real estate, OREM administers license agreements, which grant the right of entry and use of a particular property subject to certain terms and conditions. A license agreement does not convey an interest in real estate but allows the use of property for up to one year. DCAM uses several types of licenses (i.e., state to state agency agreement, state to private party agreement, state and private environmental agreements). Each licenses requires Licensees to provide proof of insurance consistent with the type of license issued. |
"MAssets" - Report on Real Property Owned and Leased by the Commonwealth
The MAssets [Massachusetts Assets] Unit records, maps and reports on the acquisitions and dispositions of all Commonwealth real property. The State owns approximately 12,800 parcels of land in nearly all of the 351 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. This totals over 615,000 acres. MAssets also tracks the 79.2 million gross square feet of structures that the Commonwealth owns. To learn more about the MAssets Report, click here.
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New Courthouse Construction Activities
Office of Real Estate Management staff are actively involved in the Commonwealth's ambitious statewide courthouse building initiative. Staff assist other diverse segments of the Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) in the planning, appraisal, and ultimate acquisition of property essential to the eventual construction of these proposed facilities. |
Real Estate Acquisition
OREM manages, negotiates and acquires private land on behalf of state agencies in accordance with the M.G.L. Chapter 7 process. Once proposals have been tendered, the due diligence process begins. This requires OREM and the DCAM Legal team to contract with private vendors to perform appraisals, environmental assessments, title exams, and surveys in order to deliver marketable title to the Commonwealth. OREM professionals perform all of the negotiations around the purchase price and terms of the closings. |
Real Estate Disposition
OREM staff are responsible for the disposition of a wide range of surplus state-owned property across the Commonwealth. This includes the fee sale of property and structures, the granting of easements across or under state-owned property, and the negotiation of long-term leases to use state-owned property and structures. The majority of this activity involves land under the care and control of the Massachusetts Highway Department. However, it also encompasses legislatively directed real estate activity related to property under the care and control of a variety of Executive Agencies. |
Redevelopment Planning
OREM staff will work with the Programming staff within the Office of Planning, Development and Construction to plan for the redevelopment of large state facilities that may continue to have a state presence after disposing of a portion of the facility.
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