This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*
To be considered for appointment through NY Helps, or 55 b/c, candidates must meet the open-competitive minimum qualifications for this position.
For a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 1: A bachelor's or higher degree.
For a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 2: A bachelor’s degree and one year of professional experience in real estate work, including the performance of at least two of the following: inspection and appraisal of real property, legal research related to the sale of real property, title search, survey work in a responsible position determining property lines, and appraisal negotiations or related work with a public acquisition agency. A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
For a Real Estate Specialist 1: A bachelor's degree and two years of professional experience in real estate work, including the performance of at least two of the following: inspection and appraisal of real property, legal research related to the sale of real property, title search, survey work in a responsible position determining property lines, and appraisal negotiations or related work with a public acquisition agency. A Juris Doctor, master's or higher degree in a related field can substitute for one year of specialized experience.
Candidates may also be qualified for permanent competitive appointment if reachable from the appropriate Civil Service eligible list or eligible for reassignment or transfer in accordance with Civil Service Law.

Candidates eligible for appointment to a Real Estate Specialist 1 position may be appointed to a two-year traineeship. If appointed to the traineeship, the appointed candidate will participate in a formal training program that will consist of classroom instruction, the completion of lesson plans, and on-the-job training activities as it relates to the NYS Eminent Domain Procedure law and the Federal Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act. In addition to participating in the formal training program, the incumbent will perform supervised beginning-level professional work under close and continuous supervision in a variety of appraisal, property management, and property acquisition activities. The trainees in the title begin as a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 1, equivalent to a salary grade 13. After successful completion of one year as a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 1, the appointed candidate will advance to a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 2, equivalent to a salary grade 14. After one year of satisfactory service as a Real Estate Specialist Trainee 2, and completion of the two-year traineeship, the appointed candidate will advance to the journey level Real Estate Specialist 1, salary grade 18.
A Real Estate Specialist 1 works in a Regional Right of Way office under the direction of a Real Estate Specialist 2. Duties involve determining the value of property to be appropriated for public use, managing and disposing of State property, and negotiating financial settlements with property owners. This includes preparing reports of physical inspection, writing appraisals, negotiating claims, relocating residential and commercial occupants, administering outdoor advertising control regulations and other related work. The duties of this position may require considerable travel and field work within the regional area and occasional travel to other parts of New York State. At the time of appointment and continuously thereafter, possession of a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State is required or the ability to meet the travel requirements of the position must otherwise be demonstrated.

• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non-competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.