When any property is taken in eminent domain proceedings under the authority of any general statute or special act or is voluntarily sold to any purchaser having such eminent domain power, the owner or owners of the equity in such property may elect, in writing, to accept payment of any damages finally determined as payable to such owner or owners, or of the sale price mutually agreed upon, in annual installments over such period as the owner or owners and the taker or purchaser may determine, provided such damages or sale price exceeds three thousand dollars and provided no interest shall be payable on the unpaid balance of any such damages or sale price. The taker or purchaser of such property shall execute a statement of indebtedness setting forth the time for payment which shall bear no interest to such owner or owners as evidence of its indebtedness.