Real Estate Committee

Committee Description and Site Selection Guidelines

Overview: The Tibetan Association of Northern California’s Community Center Real Estate and Site Selection Committee has the following responsibilities:

• Identify appropriate real estate properties to serve as the community center and TANC office.  Committee members will be guided in their search by the following considerations:

1. that the building is affordable, accessible, and is not only adequate in size, but preferably has room to grow;
2. that the property is located in a safe and clean environment in an area within the East Bay cities of Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Oakland, and Richmond; and
3. that the building is in a zoning area which would allow TANC to use the property as a community center.

• Facilitate tours of appropriate properties for TANC Board and TCCNC team members.
• Identify and seek out the services (either paid or pro bono) of a licensed architect and/or an engineer to help with any planned changes and alterations to the property.
• Work with the real estate agent, architect, and other concerned parties to get the necessary zoning, change in use, or building permits.
• Work with the real estate agent in drafting a purchase contract agreement with all the important contingencies, and come up with a purchase offer after careful research and consideration.
• Work with the bank(s) to secure the necessary loan amount.
• Facilitate tour of the property under consideration for interested community members.
• Assist TANC Board members and TCCNC members as the building under consideration is presented to the community at a community meeting.

Site Selection and Decision-Making Process: The process for selecting properties and making decision on real estate purchase will consist of the following:

• Real Estate Committee members will seek out properties that meet the requirements of the community.
• Committee members will visit the properties and do the due diligence and appropriate research.
• Committee members will then invite TANC Board members and TCCNC members to tour selected properties.
• The Committee will gather feedback, do further research, and make a recommendation to the TANC Board.  Further research includes making sure that the building will allow for community center activities, and that all changes and alterations to the building is permissible and within reasonable costs.
• The Committee will arrange a community open house and a community meeting prior to making an offer on a property.  Since more than one offer could be made and certain situations might require quick action, these community meetings may be scheduled at short notices and will be held at the TANC office.
• The Committee will help facilitate the signing of the purchase contract by the TANC Board.  The signing of the contract and the purchase offer will mean that the TANC Board has made a decision (pending the fulfillment of all contingencies) to buy the property.
• TANC Board will convene a community meeting to present the offer made (and accepted by the seller) on the building, get feedback, raise funds for the down payment, and invite interested community members to tour the property.  The community meeting and tour will take place before the date of closing on the purchase contract.
• Committee members will work to ensure that the contingencies outlined in the purchase contract are all addressed adequately.  These contingencies could be both standard (mortgage, inspection, appraisal, and environmental contingencies) as well as few that are unique to our situation.
• Closing date occurs, and title of the property is transferred from the seller to TANC.

Terms:

• The TANC Board nominates new members.
• It would be beneficial of some of the Committee members have real estate or construction experience.
• The Committee will dissolve after the purchase of the community center.
• Members are not paid for their services.

Oversight: Committee members report to the TANC Board.

Current Committee Members: Kaydor Aukatsang, Eva Herzer, Chime Lhamo, Dechen Naga, Sonam Thunden, Dechen Tsering, and Ugyen Tsering.