7.2.1 Buying, Selling and Leasing Archdiocesan Property
All property within the archdiocese (i.e., schools, churches, playgrounds, cemeteries, mortuaries, houses, and land) is owned by the archdiocese. If a location desires to sell, purchase or lease property, it must be coordinated through the
Real Estate Department. A location may not engage in negotiations to buy, sell or lease real property on its own.
Purchase or sale of real property
The location must comply with all of the following steps for the purchase or sale of real property:
The location must first contact the director of real estate to request the purchase/sale and be prepared to discuss all details and issues. The Real Estate Department will investigate the request, research the property, and advise the location of its findings and recommendations.
The location, in coordination with the Real Estate Department, shall contact the regional auxiliary bishop's office for its guidance and approval.
If applicable, the location, in coordination with the Real Estate Department, shall also contact the
Financial Services Department for approval (e.g., loans or proceeds).
If the recommendation is to proceed with the sale or purchase, the Real Estate Department will bring the matter to the Real Estate Committee for review and approval. If approval by the Real Estate Committee is granted, the matter is presented to the archbishop for final review and approval.
A location shall not represent or commit verbally or in writing to any offers to purchase or sell real property, nor sign any contracts for the sale or purchase of property. All transactions must be handled by the
Real Estate Department.
If a location receives information that it might be the beneficiary of a
donation of real property, the location must contact the
Real Estate Department to receive guidance on possible issues and costs associated with the gift. Donations of real property may not be accepted without permission from the Real Estate Department. For additional information, please see
Legacy Giving.
Lease of real property
Leases or outside uses of property must be coordinated through the Real Estate Department. These include such arrangements as renting housing to tenants, parking contracts, religious housing agreements, storage units, rental of school buildings. (Note, however, that the archdiocese is not renting school facilities to new charter schools.) Approved forms of documentation for such leases or outside uses are provided in subsequent topics in this Chapter.
5-13-21