COVID-19 Updates
Vaccine and Priority Group Information
We are a team of real estate specialists, working in conjunction with the Design and Construction Sections, to acquire various property interests needed to implement County transportation projects.
Our section is responsible for researching title issues, working with appraisers and other real estate professionals to assess a property's fair market value and negotiating contracts with impacted property owners. We also administer the process for abandoning public rights of way and the disposition of MCDOT properties.
We understand that due to the nature of our business, we are not likely to win many popularity contests - no one likes to have their property taken - but we strive to always deal professionally and fairly with those impacted by a public project.
Eric Willis - Section Chief Eric.Willis@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov
[SHORT BIO]
A lifelong resident of Montgomery County, Mr. Willis has worked for Montgomery County Government for over 14 years. A lawyer by trade, Mr. Willis spent several years in private practice in Rockville before joining the County Attorney’s Office in 2006, where he represented the Department of Transportation in a variety of areas, including eminent domain litigation and real estate transactions. After 9 years in the County Attorney’s Office, Mr. Willis moved to MCDOT, becoming Chief of the Property Acquisition Section in September of 2015. Mr. Willis received his B. A. from the University of Richmond (1993) and J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law (1997). When not in the office, Mr. Willis enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife and two children.
Demetries Oberc - Real Estate Specialist Demetries.Oberc@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov
Mr. Oberc spent his youth around Baltimore and Harford County. As many others, he took a practical route to Harford Community College to obtain his A. S. in Business (2006). He continued that education to Towson University where he obtained his B. S. in Business and Economics (2007). With a personal interest and a family employment history in our road systems, he obtained an internship at the Maryland State Highway Administration, Records and Research division. After the internship, he moved over to the Property Asset Management group where he spent 6 years working the whole state. During this time, he continued his education at the University of Baltimore where he obtained his MBA (2015). In 2015 he picked up and moved to Clarksburg and began his new adventure with the PAS team at MCDOT. In his spare time on his own or with the family, from Pokémon Go, Video Games of all genres, Dungeons and Dragons, board games with the family, or Magic the Gathering, he is a gamer.
Joshua Tracy - Real Estate Specialist Joshua.Tracy@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Mr. Tracy joined the Montgomery County Department of Transportation in 2017. Prior to his acceptance of his current position as a Real Estate Specialist, Mr. Tracy worked as a Right of Way Agent with O.R Colan Associates, where he was tasked with providing turnkey right of way services for a host of clients, including his principal client, the Virginia Department of Transportation. Mr. Tracy obtained his B. A. from Old Dominion University in 2012, and also holds several professional certifications from the International Right of Way Association.
Tiara McCray - Real Estate Specialist Tiara.McCray@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov
Ms. McCray currently serves the County as a Real Estate Specialist for the Department of Transportation. Having been with the County for just under two years, she is the newest Specialist to join the Property Acquisition team. Ms. McCray has been involved in the Right-of-Way field for more than five (5) years. Before joining the County, Ms. McCray worked extensively with the North Carolina Department of Transportation to acquire property interests and provide relocation services for large transportation improvement projects. A proud alumnus of the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Ms. McCray received her bachelor’s degree in Science for Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. Having joined the International Right of Way Association just last year, Ms. McCray currently serves as Chapter 14 Assistant Treasurer/Secretary and is the Region 4 Young Professionals representative.
Right-of-Way means any road, street, alley, crosswalk, pedestrian walkway, shared use path, water main, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, or storm drainage right-of-way used at any time by the public, including use by pedesttrians and bicyclists.
The County Council, by adopting a resolution, may close to public use or abandon the County's right-of-way. Before Council adopts a resolution to abandon public right-of-way and return the land to private use, the County will need to determine if the right-of-way is no longer needed for a present or future use. Montgomery County Code, Chapter 49 (Streets and Roads) - Section 49-62, explains the procedures by which the abandonment process must follow. A flow chart of the procedure is listed below.
Once you have reached a negotiated settlement amount, the Montgomery County Office of Procurement requires individuals and businesses to register on the County Vendor Registration System (CRVS) to receive payment. Please visit www.mcipcc.net and register yourselves individually as a new vendor. Please follow the directions shown in the video below carefully, failing to do so may result in extended processing times. Once complete, please notify your Property Acquisition Specialist to begin the process of drafting a check for you. After Vendor Registration is complete, the payment process should take approximately two weeks. If you have any questions, please contact your designated Acqusition Specialist.