“The property was appraised at $400,000 before the Murrs tried to sell it.”
How could that be when the regulatory taking occurred in the 1980s? Did their appraiser not know about it?
There is your problem - what valuation of land or even a house is valid? Better not sell it to the county it might create a tent city for Somalian refugees on it.
Perhaps the author misstated the facts ....
Because it was never appraised at $400know...