Christian Torgrimson and Ashlynn Hutton wrote an article in The Real Estate Network magazine about the rules around what information property owners and other real estate professionals are entitled to receive when the government takes private property for public use through eminent domain or condemnation.

"Several questions need to be asked: Do you have the right to negotiation or notice before formal proceedings start? Are you allowed to see the government’s appraisal? What strategic information might be kept hidden, and how will this affect the property’s future?" they wrote.

"Behind all these questions are laws and procedures that help provide answers for real estate professionals trying to navigate the often opaque — and high stakes — world of government takings. Even small or seemingly minor takings can have outsized impacts on how a property operates, from loss of access and signage to changes in frontage that can spell the end for a commercial business."

"Adding to the frustration is a range of state practices and rules that owners need to familiarize themselves with when it comes to getting answers to these questions," they wrote.

You can read the full article starting on page 48 of the November-December 2025 issue.

The Real Estate Network serves an audience of real estate professionals across the United States. It is published by CREST Publications Group.