How do I buy a HUD home in Port St. Lucie, Florida?

Find the home on HUDHomestore.gov, get pre-approved or show proof of funds, and have a HUD-registered real estate broker submit your bid online during the bid period you qualify for. HUD homes are sold as-is.

Do owner-occupants get priority on HUD homes?

Yes. On most FHA-insurable HUD homes, buyers who will live in the home get a priority bidding period of up to 30 days before investors can bid. On uninsured homes, government agencies and nonprofits get priority first.

What is the HUD $100 down incentive?

On HUD homes marked as eligible, owner-occupant buyers using FHA financing can put down $100 instead of the usual 3.5% minimum. Not every HUD home qualifies.

Can I buy a HUD home without a real estate agent?

No. HUD requires bids to be submitted by a HUD-registered real estate broker.

Buying a HUD Home in Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie is the Treasure Coast's largest city, and it regularly has more foreclosure and bank-owned listings than anywhere else in Martin or St. Lucie County. Some of those are HUD homes: houses the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development took back after an FHA-insured mortgage was foreclosed. They're sold through a different system than bank-owned homes, with their own bid periods and incentives. Wayne Gebhardt, Broker/Owner of Homesaver Real Estate in Stuart, has worked with HUD, REO and bank-owned properties on the Treasure Coast since 2008. Here's how buying one works.

Where are HUD homes listed?

Every HUD home for sale is listed on HUD's official site, HUDHomestore.gov, and many also appear in the local MLS. You can't bid on your own: a HUD-registered real estate broker submits your bid online. You can search Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie County on HUDHomestore yourself, then call Wayne about any home you like.

Who can bid, and when?

Owner-occupants first. On most HUD homes that can be financed with an FHA loan ("insured" listings), HUD gives buyers who will live in the home a priority period of up to 30 days before investors can bid.
Uninsured homes. On homes in rougher condition that don't qualify for FHA financing, government agencies and nonprofits get first priority, followed by owner-occupants.
Investors. Investors can bid once the priority period ends, if the home hasn't sold.
Ties. If an owner-occupant and an investor submit identical bids, HUD picks the owner-occupant.

Each HUDHomestore listing shows its current period and the deadline date, so check it before you bid.

HUD incentives worth knowing

$100 down with FHA financing. On HUD homes marked as eligible, owner-occupant buyers using an FHA loan can put down $100 instead of the usual 3.5%. Not every HUD home qualifies.
Good Neighbor Next Door. Full-time teachers (pre-K through 12), law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs can buy eligible HUD homes in designated revitalization areas at 50% off list price, in exchange for living in the home for 36 months. These homes are rare and assigned by lottery when several qualified buyers apply.
Closing cost help. HUD may let an owner-occupant ask for part of their financing and closing costs to be paid, up to a limit set for the area. Wayne includes this in the bid when it makes sense.

How buying a HUD home works, step by step

Get pre-approved. Talk with a lender first, especially if you want FHA, a 203(k) renovation loan or the $100 down incentive. Cash buyers need proof of funds.
Find a home and see it. Wayne can open HUD homes for showings and help you size up repairs. HUD homes are sold as-is, and HUD won't make repairs.
Bid online. Wayne submits your bid on HUDHomestore during the period you qualify for. HUD generally accepts the bid that gives it the best net return after closing costs and commissions, with priority for owner-occupants.
If you win: HUD notifies Wayne, and the signed contract, earnest money and paperwork are due within short deadlines. Missing one can cost you the house.
Inspect, appraise and insure. You can usually have the home inspected, but check insurance early. An older roof can make Florida homeowners insurance expensive or hard to get.
Close with HUD's closing agent on HUD's timeline. Extensions are possible but usually cost a daily fee.

Thinking about a HUD home in Port St. Lucie?

See current foreclosure and bank-owned listings below, or ask Wayne to check which HUD homes are open to owner-occupants right now.

Search HUDHomestore

Call or text 772-600-4836.

Common questions about HUD homes

What is a HUD home?
A one-to-four-unit home HUD acquired after a mortgage it insured through FHA was foreclosed. HUD sells these homes to recover its losses.

Can I buy a HUD home without an agent?
No. Bids must be submitted by a HUD-registered real estate broker. Using one costs the buyer nothing extra in most cases, because HUD's net-offer calculation accounts for the commission.

Are HUD homes cheaper?
They're listed at HUD's appraised as-is value, so they can be good values, but they aren't automatically bargains. Repairs, insurance and competition all affect the real cost.

Can investors buy HUD homes in Port St. Lucie?
Yes, after the owner-occupant priority period ends on a given home.

Who can help me bid on a HUD home in Port St. Lucie?
Wayne Gebhardt, Broker/Owner of Homesaver Real Estate in Stuart, FL, helps buyers bid on and close HUD, REO and bank-owned homes across Port St. Lucie and the Treasure Coast. Call or text 772-600-4836.

This page is general information as of November 2026, not legal or financial advice. HUD's programs, bid periods and eligibility rules change; each listing on HUDHomestore.gov shows its current terms. Sources: 24 CFR Part 291 (HUD's property disposition rules) and HUDHomestore.gov.