A. If the parties are unable to negotiate a settlement, the condemnee may, within twenty-five days after written notice by the condemnor of its intent to file a condemnation action in district court, give written notice to the condemnor requesting an appraisal to determine the amount that would constitute just compensation for the taking of the condemnee's property and obtained from:

(1) one appraiser appointed by the condemnor;

(2) one appraiser appointed by the condemnee; and

(3) one appraiser jointly appointed by the appraisers for the condemnor and the condemnee.

B. The condemnee and condemnor shall appoint their respective appraisers within fifteen days after notice has been given by the condemnee to the condemnor pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this section and the third appraiser shall be jointly appointed within fifteen days thereafter.

C. The appraisals shall be in writing and signed by the appraisers. The appraisers shall deliver copies to each party personally or by registered mail or certified mail, return receipt requested.

D. The fees and expenses of the appraisers shall be paid by the appointing parties; provided however, the condemnee and condemnor shall share equally in paying the fees and expenses of the jointly appointed appraiser.

E. After receiving a copy of the appraisals provided for pursuant to this section, the condemnor may establish an amount which it believes to be just compensation and may submit to the condemnee an offer to acquire the property for the full amount so established. If the condemnor tenders an offer pursuant to this section, the amount offered for the property shall not be less than the amount of compensation shown by the final common appraisal of the three appraisers or if all three appraisers do not agree, the offer shall not be less than the appraisal prepared by the condemnor's appraiser. The condemnee must reject or accept the offer made by the condemnor pursuant to this section within fifteen days after the offer is tendered.

History: 1978 Comp., § 42A-1-3, enacted by Laws 1980, ch. 20, § 5; recompiled as § 42A-1-5 by Laws 1981, ch. 125, § 60.

Recompilations. — Laws 1981, ch. 125, § 4, recompiled former 42A-1-5 NMSA 1978, relating to the waiver of preliminary efforts to purchase, as 42A-1-7 NMSA 1978.